A musical production based on the life of the prophet Isaiah will be performed at the Gwinnett Center June 27 and 28 to help build a crisis center for women and children in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Missionaries of the Poor, founded by Father Richard HoLung, will present “Isaiah,” assisted by a corps of volunteers in the archdiocese who support the order’s work.

The Missionaries of the Poor is an international monastic order of brothers dedicated to joyful service with Christ on the cross to serve the poorest of the poor. Father HoLung began the order in 1981 in Jamaica and there are now over 500 brothers serving there and in India, the Philippines, Haiti, Uganda and Kenya.

In 1988 Father HoLung brought a nonprofit musical event to Holy Cross Church and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta, beginning a deep connection between the Missionaries of the Poor and archdiocesan parishes. Awareness of his mission work and worship music began spreading throughout the community. Many parishioners became active volunteers and made mission trips to Kingston, where they assisted the brothers in caring for the poor while learning the order’s way of prayer and worship.

“I’ve made 10 trips to Kingston over the past 10 years,” said Lynne Murray of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Alpharetta. “To say they’re life-changing could hardly begin to describe the experience. These brothers are so rich in love with the Lord and devote their lives to serving him by caring for the poor. To be the hands and feet of Christ is a humbling experience.”

In 2002, Atlanta became home to the U.S. headquarters of Missionaries of the Poor. A largely volunteer team manages all American donations and inquiries and organizes and promotes nonprofit events hosted by Father HoLung and Friends. There are over 100 active volunteers, missionaries and community leaders at nearly 25 archdiocesan parishes.

“Isaiah” will be performed June 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and June 28 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Gwinnett Center with tickets ranging from $15 for senior citizens and students to $20 for adults. One hundred percent of ticket sales will go directly to the building of Holy Innocents Crisis Center in Kingston. Holy Innocents Crisis Center is designed to help teenage pregnant women or mothers who are poor and in difficult situations due to pregnancy. Father HoLung and the Missionaries of the Poor have received numerous cries for help from single mothers and parents seeking assistance with day care facilities for children in order to find work or to continue their work to provide for their families.

Tickets may be purchased on the Web at www.missionariesofthepoor.org or by e-mail at mopevents@yahoo.com.

“The Atlanta community has been particularly involved with the production and promotion of ‘Isaiah’,” said Jane Rodgers of St. Matthew Church in Winder. “Dozens of community volunteers have spent months preparing this show with Father HoLung and the brothers. We are confident that the building of Holy Innocents will further the Lord’s work by saving innocent lives and enriching the Kingston community.”

Representatives will be at the Eucharistic Congress on June 12 and 13 and at the following parishes: St. John Neumann in Lilburn and St. Lawrence in Lawrenceville, June 6-7; St. Benedict in Johns Creek, St. Jude the Apostle in Atlanta, St. Monica in Duluth and St. Peter Chanel in Roswell, June 13-14.

The order welcomes all who are interested to join the growing Atlanta community and brothers on a mission trip to Kingston or one of the other foreign sites.