Various churches and schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta are participating in Mustard Seed Communities mission trips in the Caribbean and Nicaragua to serve at their orphanages for children with disabilities who were abandoned and others in great need.

On their spring breaks, Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, students will return to Kingston, Jamaica, and St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, teens will visit Hogar Belen orphanage in Managua, Nicaragua. Also, Our Lady of Mercy High School, Fairburn, has a Lenten fundraiser to raise money to aid children living by a dump in the Dominican Republic.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Atlanta, parishioners are currently on a trip to Mustard Seed orphanages in Jamaica, while the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, will lead an April 22-29 trip to the Dominican Republic. Teens from St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Smyrna, have a trip to Jamaica on June 24-July 1 and St. Pius X Church, Conyers, has a Jamaica trip on Sept. 30-Oct. 7. Immersion trips to Jamaica to “come and see” their work will be held Sept. 13-16 and Nov. 15-18, and Atlanta adults will make a trip to Jamaica July 29-Aug. 3. One for young adults is scheduled for Nov. 18-25, and University of Georgia students are trying to generate enough interest to lead a trip.

The organization’s founder, Father Gregory Ramkissoon of Jamaica, and his associate Brother Garvin Augustine, who runs feeding programs in Zimbabwe amidst the threat of massive starvation, will visit Atlanta in April and speak on their work. Father Ramkissoon will preach at Masses at St. Brigid Church, Alpharetta, at 5 p.m. on April 22 and on April 23 at the 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. Masses. A potluck dinner celebration will be held in the parish hall for all Mustard Seed ministry supporters following the Saturday Mass and updates will be given and exhibits will be displayed on their work. Rosaries and pottery will be sold. Mustard Seed-USA board members will attend. Attendees are requested to bring a dish.

St. Brigid’s is located at 3400 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta. For trip and other information, contact Mustard Seed Atlanta at (404) 936-7333. Their Web site is www.mustardseed.com.