The Service Team of Mary, Woman of Faith Chapter of Magnificat is delighted to invite the women of the diocese to its Magnificat luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Hall. The luncheon will feature speaker Lauren Franklin, a married mother of two boys. She was raised in Birmingham in a non-Catholic Christian home, but she began working at EWTN 15 years ago. Her employment at EWTN led to her conversion to the Catholic faith in 2015, and she is a member of St. Theresa Church in Leeds.  

Franklin feels the Lord granted her the desire to create. Inspired by the Holy Spirit with a deep spiritual wisdom and intuition, she writes Catholic real-life posts for social media, describing herself as a “media missionary.” She is also a creator of sacred art and owner of Southern Saint Designs. 

Franklin embraces St. Paul’s instruction to wear the full armor of God and hold the sword of the Spirit to defeat the tactics of the enemy. “Even when the wind and waves rage around you,” she points out, “He is the One Who commands the wind and the waves; step out of the boat and walk upon the ocean of His Mercy with your eyes fixed on Him.” 

To hear this tenacious speaker, tickets for $20 are available through Feb. 15 and include a catered lunch. Student tickets cost $15 for youth to age 22. To purchase, please visit BirminghamMagnificat.org, e-mail magnificat0296@gmail.com, or mail check payable to Magnificat by Feb. 11 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 Feb. 15 or at the door. The church is located at 1728 Oxmoor Road in Homewood. For more information, please call or text Jan Smith at 205.381.8481.