JOHNS CREEK–Julia Castillo, administrator of Hogar Belen Diriamba, a Mustard Seed Communities home in Nicaragua, died June 7 after a brief illness. Castillo was a member of the Mustard Seed Communities’ family for almost 15 years. She knew and loved each of the 44 children living Hogar Belen Diriamba as her own.

Julia Castillo

Hogar Belen Diriamba is an apostolate of Mustard Seed Communities, which provides lifelong residential care to children and young adults with disabilities who have been abandoned.

Castillo managed Mustard Seed Communities’ mission volunteer program in Nicaragua and inspired hundreds of mission volunteers from throughout the Atlanta community. A mission volunteer from St. Brigid Church said, “Julia had an immense impact on everyone she touched. She was a true inspiration; loving, kind, generous and a true leader.”

A memorial Mass to honor the life of Castillo will be celebrated by Father Garvin Augustine, executive director of Mustard Seed Communities International, on Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at St. Brigid Church located at 3400 Old Alabama Road, John’s Creek. For those who cannot attend, the Mass will be livestreamed.

To honor Castillo, memorial gifts supporting the children and young adults of Mustard Seed Communities Nicaragua may be made at www.mustardseed.com/honoringjulia or mailed to Mustard Seed Communities, 29 Janes Avenue Medfield, MA 02052.

Inspired by the healing and caring Ministry of Jesus Christ, Mustard Seed Communities provides lifelong residential care to more than 650 children and adults with disabilities in Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe and Malawi. All of Mustard Seed Communities’ programs are rooted in a long-term commitment to contribute to local communities with outreach and community development initiatives, nutrition programs, early childhood education, vocational training and sustainable agriculture.

Some 1,400 volunteers participate in Mustard Seed Communities’ mission volunteer program each year. The mission volunteer program is deeply grounded in Catholicism and provides a spiritual environment where people grow in their faith. Mission volunteers from around the United States live among Mustard Seed Communities’ residents and work alongside local staff.