November 24, 2009
- Our Second Harvest Dinner
On November 7, Mustard Seed held our second annual Harvest Dinner at St. Francis de Sales parish hall in McAfee, NJ. 180 people enjoyed a meal of chicken; rice; tamales; pork; and refried beans and more as well. Our chefs Margarite, Patty, and Emma worked from 9 AM to 6 PM to prepare the dinner, [...]
October 28, 2009
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
On Saturday, October 24, Mustard Seed hosted a procession and ceremony in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of the ministry, and has interceded to help and guide the mission of the ministry; especially in the building of the pool.
According to tradition, the image of Our Lady appeared [...]
October 19, 2009
- Our Second Harvest Dinner
Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry will hold our second annual Harvest Dinner on November 7, 2009, at 6 PM at St. Francis de Sales parish hall.
The dinner features outstanding genuine Mexican cooking and will be served by MSMM board members. We will also have a Day of the Dead ceremony and dinner attendees are urged to [...]
October 15, 2009
- MSMM Board Members
Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry recently added some new board members, and some previous ones retired. An updated list of our board follows.
Dr. Christopher Bump; Doctor of Functional Medicine; Sussex, NJ
Sr. Kristin Donworth; Religious of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion; White Plains, NY
Gary Grey; environmental water specialist; Sussex; NJ
Edith Gonzalez; social worker; Brooklyn, NY
Sr. Fran [...]
September 14, 2009
- Recapping the summer
The school buses are on the roads. The nights are turning cool. The pool is closed up. Incredibly, summer is over. Let's revisit some of the sensational events in the summer of 2009 at Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry.
The Gratitude Garden was started by the kids. They grew various vegetables and salad items which they themselves consumed.
The pool [...]
August 28, 2009
- Here Come the Yankees!
Well, actually, here comes Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry to visit the Yankees. As part of Con Edison Youth Clinic at Yankee Stadium, Orange and Rockland Utilities funded a trip for MSMM to the new Yankee Stadium on August 11.
The kids were permitted to go on the field and actually had a practice session and workout with [...]
August 14, 2009
- Summer Activity at Mustard Seed
Summertime and the living is easy; or at least, great fun and a very active time at Mustard Seed. The pool is getting prolific use; the outdoor games are in full swing; and birthday parties are always a highlight. Here are some photos of the summer action.
July 21, 2009
- The Capuchins visit
During the week of June 29 to July 3, several students from the Capuchin Youth and Family Ministry in Garrison, NY, visited Mustard Seed. This has become an annual visit by the Capuchins, who do this as a service to the Mustard Seed community.
For some of the Capuchins, this is a renewal of old friendships. [...]
July 15, 2009
- Eating from the Garden
Our first harvest from the Gratitude Garden was accomplished on July 2. The kids created a salad consisting of lettuce; radishes; kale; nasturtium (an edible flower); basil; oregano; marigold; leeks and purslane.
Purslane is an interesting and a bit unusal salad choice. Purslane (portulaca oleracea), also known as verdolaga and pigweed, is a common garden weed. [...]
July 2, 2009
- Founder's Day at Good Counsel
On Sunday, June 28, Sisters Fran and Pam, together with board members Joseph Maggio and Eileen McManus and 10 of our kids, attended the Founder's Day mass and picnic at the Good Counsel campus in White Plains, NY. This year is the 123rd anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Divine Compassion, by Mother Mary [...]
- The Blessing of the Pool
On Saturday, June 27, the Mustard Seed pool was formally blessed and dedicated. About 110 people attended the ceremony and picnic lunch. Speeches of appreciation and thanks were made by Sisters Pam and Fran, as well as by some of the Mustard Seed kids and parents.
Father Boland blessed the icons of Mother Mary Veronica and [...]
June 10, 2009
- The Gratitude Garden
Through the efforts of one of Mustard Seed's fine benefactors, Dr. JoAnn Quattrone, we now have a new garden plot. The garden will be known as "the Gratitude Garden", in acknowledgement of the many blessings we have received. Dr. Quattrone organized and taught the kids how to plant vegetable and herb plants. She also solicited [...]
May 26, 2009
- Three Kings Day redux
On May 2, Sisters Pam and Fran took several Mustard Seed kids to Preston High School in the Bronx to celebrate Three Kings Day. Three Kings Day, or the Epiphany, is actually January 6, but due to inclement weather, the trip had to be postponed in January. So, Mustard Seed had the oppotunity to celebrate a [...]
May 17, 2009
- A Day of Retreat
On April 26, the sisters hosted a day of reflection and listening at the Mother House of the Sisters of Divine Compassion. Those attending included several members of the Mustard Seed Board of Directors, as well as some members of the volunteer team.
Old and new members enjoyed meeting each other and gathering with the common [...]
April 5, 2009
- Gratitude from an alumna
Blanca Noyola is a 26 year old young woman who grew up having a great deal of association with Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry. The following are excerpts from a letter of thanks that Blanca recently wrote to one of our generous donors. This is used with permission of Miss Noyola.
"I was born in San Luis [...]
March 30, 2009
- Welcome Spring!
On Saturday, March 21 the BFF's again visited the young children of Mustard Seed. It was a bright, sunshiney day and a welcome respite from the cold and damp of winter.
It was a great day to play outside with our young friends and the students from Pope John High School. The sun was out, the [...]
February 26, 2009
- Staying warm in the winter
Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry recently received a gift of a beautful and ornate homemade quilt.
The quilt came to us from the mother of a former Kennedy Catholic High School student, Erik, who had donated his time and talent for 2 summers at Mustard Seed. It is a thanks for the wonderful experiences her son had here. [...]
February 24, 2009
- The BFF's return
The BFF club met again at Mustard Seed on Saturday, February 21. The young girls focused on learning about modesty, and created paper models and held a fashion show.
Later, the girls had an exchange of stuffed animals, so that every one went home with a little new friend.
The BFF club will again return to Mustard [...]
January 21, 2009
- New Best Friends
As a part of their Confirmation covenant several high school students from St. Francis de Sales parish have made a commitment to Mustard Seed Migrant Minsitry.
These students will work with some of our younger people on reading, cooking, and crafts. The children themselves created a name for this group: the BFF's, or Best Friends Forever.
We [...]
December 31, 2008
- Christmas cheer!
Several good friends of Mustard Seed dropped by on Tuesday, December 23 to make Christmas cookies and other goodies with some of our young people.
Our baking friends were several teens and adults from St. Francis de Sales Church. We created a fine sample of holiday treats.
The Mustard Seed house is always well decorated for the [...]
