The Service Team of Mary, Woman of Faith Chapter of Magnificat invites the women of the diocese to its Magnificat Breakfast on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Hall, which is located at 1728 Oxmoor Road in Homewood.

Our speaker, Harriet Cloud, is a centenarian with an exceptional intellect and a mind which has remained sharp. She has a unique perspective on the world, and her story is a testament to the power of unwavering reliance on prayer which allowed her to persevere through different stages of her life.

Cloud was born into the Presbyterian Church of Ellsworth, Kansas, where she and her parents were very involved in the church. She graduated from Kansas State University and earned a master’s in nutrition at the University of Alabama. She began a career as a registered/licensed dietician that has spanned six decades. Her work with genetic disorders in children led to the creation of the Inherited Disorders of Metabolism Clinic at UAB/Children’s Hospital and the Sparks Center. 

Cloud converted to the Catholic faith after marrying her husband, Louis, who was Catholic. They moved to Birmingham in 1946 and became members of Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Her husband served as an usher, and Clous served as president of the Parish Council, as a member of the Altar Sodality, and as a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. Cloud and her late husband were married for 60 years and blessed with 8 children, 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She is always eager to remind the fallen-away younger generation that we Catholics have the Eucharist and other religions have communion. Cloud says, “There is no doubt that being Catholic has enriched my life and given me guidance for accepting the problems and joys that occurred in all aspects of my life.”

Tickets for the Aug. 23, Magnificat Breakfast are on sale through Aug. 17. A meal ticket is $20 and includes a catered breakfast. They 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 payable to Magnificat by Aug. 13 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, and religious brothers and sisters are complimentary, but reservations are still required. No tickets will be sold after Aug. 17 or at the door. Please call or text Jan Smith at 205.381.8481 if you have ticket questions or would like additional information.