By Gia Myers • Posted August 17, 2023

MagniFest returns this week on Saturday, Aug. 19 for its third annual summer festival filled with music and praise at St. Mary of Providence Center in the scenic rolling hills of Elverson, northern Chester County.

“We have grown in wisdom to keep the event simple, beautiful and impactful,” says Beth Riordan, a festival organizer. “Our goal is to give God praise through beauty in a setting that inspires wonder.”

Riordan describes her work in bringing MagniFest to the stage for three years as “a joyful experience.” She says, “Our team works in flow with planning and growing the impact of MagniFest.”

The festival’s name stems from the Magnificat, which is Mary’s song of praise that proclaims the greatness of Lord (Lk 1:46).  It was the suggestion of Sister Brenda McHugh, the center’s management director, for the title of the music festival when first approached by Riordan in early 2021 with the idea for the event.

MagniFest benefits St. Mary’s group Retreat Center and independent living center for seniors, both housed at the center’s Elverson location.

This year’s festival runs from 2-10 p.m. and features many faith-inspired musical performances.

Festival headliner Marie Miller is a folk/pop singer/songwriter and recording artist living in Nashville, TN.  She performed for Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to Philadelphia.

It was out of a period of personal doubt that Miller formed the idea for her latest album, “Little Dreams.”

“The songs are about being afraid but taking that first step even when you’re scared— believing in yourself even when you don’t feel like you can do it,” she says.

Her recently released song, “Imaginary Friend,” surpassed 300 thousand streams in its first two months on Apple Music alone. On Jan. 24th Billboard.com premiered “Little Dreams” Music Video.

Also performing at MagniFest is the band, Saints Alive, which debuted to a packed house at the Stotesbury Mansion in Rittenhouse Square last February. Saints Alive is a musical collaboration featuring local singer/songwriter Gus deSimone (who’s performed at MagniFest for three consecutive years) along with percussionist Fr. Hyacinth Marie Cordell, O.P, and multi-instrumentalist David Goldberg.

Their songs explore the stories of the saints from a multitude of perspectives, helping the listener contemplate God’s goodness through their heroic examples of virtue.

Last June, the band performed at the Philly March for Life, and they will also perform at Abbeyfest in September.

Hanna Mangiovillano is a songwriter, worship leader, and artist from Downingtown. She has also performed at MagniFest for three consecutive years. She will be performing with Pat Briley, a songwriter and musician from Salinas, CA, who graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2022.  Both have released recordings of their original music on a variety of platforms.

Sarah Carpenter, a Catholic singer/songwriter and a lay member of Regnum Christi, will also take the stage. After a powerful encounter on a Mission Youth mission in 2021, she felt called by the Holy Spirit to write music that not only reflects her relationship with Jesus Christ.

“I so desire for the music I write to uplift the souls of God’s children and bring them to a close and personal encounter with Him,” she says. “I pray that those who hear my music experience God’s healing hand, His heart of pure love, and His gentle embrace.”

Local singer and multi-instrumentalist, Jacob Springer brings his musical talents to MagniFest. Springer is a Phoenixville resident and a recent graduate from Temple University, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education. He was the music director at Temple’s Catholic Newman Center, playing piano and singing for Mass and Adoration.

At 4 p.m., there will be Visio Divina prayer with Mother of Divine Providence, led by Sister Brenda and Jillian Speranza, program coordinator with the Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. by Father Shaun Mahoney, parochial administrator at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Philadelphia.  Eucharistic Adoration will be at 9 p.m. with inspirational music provided by headliner Marie Miller.

The event ends with Benediction at 9:45 p.m.

A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase, and you can shop for religious merchandise from different vendors at the event.

Tickets can be ordered here and for questions, contact magnifest@stmaryprov.org.