Parishoners and members of the Holy Name of Jesus Church in Valhalla, NY visted Mustard Seed on Saturday, December 12 with donations of several car loads of gifts for the annual Christmas  sale. The Christmas sale is a shop set up by the nuns from donated items, which are then put on sale for members of the Migrant community. Holy Name of Jesus Church is one of several organizations who donate to the shop.

 

 

Some of the gifts brought by Holy Name. They are later sorted and catagorized by Mustard Seed board members and volunteers.

 

 

Holy Name members who delivered the gifts pose by the Mustard Seed Christmas tree.

 

On the same day, some men from the Lion's Club dropped by to take some kids and their families for holiday shopping. Below are some photos of the Lion's Club group and some of the kids.

 

 

 

The Christmas sale is December 17 to 19 at the Mustard Seed house. We will post some photos of the event soon.

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, and, as expected, it was outstanding.

We reprised the Day of the Dead table which we first celebrated last year. Dinner goers brought photos of deceased loved ones who were memorialized. Jenny and Rachel dressed in their formal quinciera gowns and demonstrated some of the ritual involved. Zenia and Edith gave talks about their experiences growing up in the Mustard Seed family.

Our guests were very gracious and anxious to come again next year. Everyone went home well fed and possibly a bit more knowledgeable in Mexican culture.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 miraculously on the front of a peasant's cloak. The image still exists and is displayed in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. She is likely the most popular religious and cultural image of Mexico. She is said to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City between December 9 and 12 of 1531.

In the present day, Mexican and Mexican-American families share a statue of Our Lady, and it is sent from one home to another. It remains at any given home for a week. Our Lady is now housed at Mustard Seed for the week from October 24 to November 1.  Saturday, October 24 was a day of rain and clouds but the heavens guided Our Lady and her many followers. A beautiful ceremony welcomed her and the rosary was recited in her honor. Father Boland was present to assist in the ceremony  and bless all who attended. Children gathered in their traditional  clothing to welcome Our Lady and celebrate her beauty and presence.  A feast was then served to commemorate the special moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                          

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe is life-size and she will be on display in the great room at the Mustard Seed house until November 1, 2009. She is enclosed in a glass case containing the Mexican and American flag and  is adorned with rosaries and honored with live flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 bring photographs of deceased loved ones. In addition to the Day of the Dead ceremony, we will also have presentations by two former Mustard Seed children who are now grown adults.

The cost of the dinner is $25 for adults and $15 for children. To reserve tickets, please call 845 651 2246.

Below are some photos from last year's dinner. Hope to see you this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Liston; Religious of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion; Goshen, NY

Joseph Maggio; migrant education tutor, SUNY New Paltz; Pine Island, NY

Mary Lou Magnan; elementary teacher; Vernon, NJ

Catherine Giattino Moore; photo journalist; Sussex, NJ

Colleen Reilly; elementary teacher; Greenwood Lake, NY

Sr. Peggy Scarano; religious member of Sparkill Dominicans; Sparkill, NY

Diana Vazquez; legal secretary; Newburgh, NY

Sr. Pam Wagner; religious of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion; Goshen, NY

Mirta Zapata-Popoca; nurse; Hudson River HealthCare; Middletown, NY

Nick Zayatz; retired firefighter (Passaic, NJ) ; Vernon, NJ