The Service Team of Mary, Woman of Faith, Chapter of Magnificat is delighted to invite the women of the diocese to its Magnificat Breakfast on Saturday, April 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Elias Maronite Church Parish Hall, located at 836 8th Street South in Birmingham.  

The speaker, Cecilia Crandall, was raised by a very devout Catholic family who was very active at their parish in Wylam, AL. She was educated in Catholic schools and retired from the U.S. Treasury Department in 2013. She has been married to her husband, Jim, for over 43 years, and they were blessed with two daughters. Both Crandall and her husband have always been involved in their parish activities and have served on several committees. They are currently members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Jasper.

In 2009 Crandall’s daughter, Laura, passed away at the age of 25 after battling ovarian cancer for only 15 months. Crandall celebrated her daughter’s wedding in November 2008 and tragically lost her in December 2009. To honor Laura’s desire to help others who might face her same battle, her friends and family created the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation. The foundation's mission is to provide funding for early detection research of ovarian cancer and to raise awareness about the disease.  

Through the painful loss of her daughter, Crandall found strength to continue Laura’s legacy with the help of God’s guidance, the Virgin Mary’s faith in her Son, and the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and understanding. Crandall compares her story to that of the Blessed Mother watching her Son being tortured and led to death on the cross. After losing Laura, her prayer to Mary helped her see the need to assist others. Come hear this mother’s heart-wrenching journey of loss and hope. “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”  Psalm 73:23

Tickets for the April 25 Magnificat breakfast are on sale through April 19. A meal ticket is $20 and includes a catered breakfast. Student ticket cost is $15 for 13 years to age 22. Tickets are available online at BirminghamMagnificat.org or by e-mail at magnificat0296@gmail.com. If purchasing a ticket by regular mail, please send a check by April 15 payable to Magnificat to:  Magnificat Tickets, C/O Jan Smith 1367 Winola Lane, Birmingham, AL 35235. Tickets are also available at Alpha Church Supply and Gifts and Holy Roses Flowers and Gifts. Tickets for priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters are complimentary, but reservations are still required.   No tickets will be sold after April 19 or at the door. Please call or text Jan Smith at 205.381.8481 if you have ticket questions or would like additional information.