History of Our Chapter

On the Feast of the Visitation, May 31, 2003, five women gathered together to pray and discern the possibility of establishing a chapter of Magnificat in the Diocese of San Bernardino. Those in attendance

sensed the Lord was placing this ministry upon their hearts. Although no public advertisements were made, the Lord continued to expand what would soon become the chapter's first Advisory Team. This group continued to meet as women were personally invited to join the discernment efforts. Before long, close to fifty women were meeting monthly at the home of Donna Ross for praise, prayer, discernment and fellowship. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual direction of Fr. Mike Barry, SS.CC., the women continued to pray, fast and sacrifice for the establishment of this beautiful ministry. On June 3, 2005, Our Lady's Desert Roses received formal approval from Bishop Gerald Barnes. On Saturday morning, October 15, 2005, the first prayer meal was held at the Desert Springs Marriott with over 500 women in attendance! Praise God!

Magnificat encourages all women to take Mary as the role model of authentic femininity and encourages all to imitate Mary's Fiat to the Divine Will. This ministry takes seriously what the Vatican Council said to all women.

The Council Message to Women:

An excerpt from the Message To Women read on December 8, 1965 at The Solemn Closing ceremony of the Second Vatican Council.

"And now it is to you that we address ourselves, women of all states, girls, wives, mothers, and widows, to you also, consecrated virgins and women living alone. You constitute half of the immense human family. As you know, the Church is proud to have glorified and liberated woman, and in the course of the centuries, in diversity of characters, to have brought into relief her basic equality with men.

But the hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of woman is being achieved in its fullness, the hour in which woman acquires in the world, an influence, an effect, and a power when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women impregnated with the spirit of the Gospel can do much to aid mankind in not falling...

Women, you who know how to make truth sweet, tender, and accessible, make it your task to bring the spirit of the Council into institutions, schools, homes, and daily life. Women of the entire universe, whether Christian or non-believing, you to whom life is entrusted at this moment in history, it is for you to save the peace of the world."

The Objectives of Magnificat