Mustard Seed Communities Holds Retreat

Published: October 28, 2004

ROSWELL—In spite of the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in Jamaica, Father Gregory Ramkissoon, founder of Mustard Seed Communities, and over 62 people attended the first chapter retreat for MSC Sept. 17-19 at St. Peter Chanel Church.

Supporters came from California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, as well as England.

Over the last 25 years, many Americans have made mission trips to Mustard Seed sites, mainly in Jamaica, where Father Ramkissoon established a home in 1978 for children with severe disabilities who were abandoned or orphaned to the streets. Those who visited as missionaries have returned to their home parishes and encouraged others to support the children, monetarily and spiritually. Many have had conversion experiences because of their immersion into communities of poverty. The missionaries all say that the love and acceptance that they received from these children was what brought about a deeper relationship with Christ through the poor.

Mustard Seed Communities is now a nonprofit community development organization that cares for over 300 children in 14 communities in five nations, with over 20 community outreach programs. In addition to Jamaica, sites are in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe and Haiti.

The chapters have evolved in different areas of the United States as groups return and share their experience with others in their community.

Archbishop John. F. Donoghue, who has offered his spiritual support to Mustard Seed Communities and serves as U.S.A. patron, opened the retreat with prayer. In his remarks he said he had sent a letter to pastors encouraging them to have a second collection for Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica for hurricane relief.

To assist the hurricane relief effort, the retreat began with participants stuffing 5,000 letters to supporters requesting help in repairing the substantially damaged orphanages and buildings of MSC. They have suffered damaged and leaking roofs, lost bedding for the children and destroyed chicken coops, one of the industries used to help support the ministry. Father Ramkissoon gave an update on the devastation in an already desperate situation. He also talked throughout the retreat about the importance of Mustard Seed spirituality—simplicity, freedom, generosity and community—in the lives of Americans.

Father Tim Gadziala, a canon lawyer who has been donating his time to MSC, described the laying of the groundwork for Mustard Seed Communities to become a public association. Maria Nordone, executive director of Mustard Seed Communities-USA, led discussions about chapter development. Laura Doherty from Massachusetts explained the Christmas Banana Bark Card Campaign for 2004, which will allow the women of Kingston, Jamaica, to help bring in revenue for themselves and the children of MSC. The fund-raiser can be adapted for schools, youth groups, confirmation programs and other groups within Catholic communities.

Father Tim Sullivan, who came from New York, Nat Samuel from Jamaica, and Martha Gaynoe, who is based in Atlanta as director of faith formation for MSC, gave an explanation of “Work the Word: Beyond our Boundaries.” This Catholic formation program of prayer and service to the most vulnerable in one’s community and around the world was written by Father Ramkissoon and Mustard Seed Communities staff. Paulist Press and Mustard Seed Communities will be introducing this 10-session program for adults to dioceses and parishes in February 2005.

For more information visit www.mustardseed.com. For information on banana bark cards, contact Laura Doherty at (888) 351-1709 or

Laura.Doherty@version.net. Contributions to help with hurricane relief can be sent to Mustard Seed Communities—Hurricane Relief, 217 E. 86th St., Mail Box 276, New York, NY 10028.