Celebrating 25 Years of Partnership with St. Brigid Parish

For 25 years, the people of St. Brigid Parish in Johns Creek, Georgia have lived out a timeless truth: that faith calls us beyond our own walls and toward the most vulnerable among us. 

What this community has built with Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) reveals what is possible when people commit themselves, together, to the belief that every human life — no matter how overlooked or how far away — carries infinite dignity and deserves to be cherished.

That commitment has revealed just how generous the St. Brigid community can be. They have organized and fundraised, packed their bags and boarded planes, picked up hammers and served meals and knelt in prayer alongside MSC residents they have come to call friends. 

Year after year, trip after trip, St. Brigid parishioners and their friends have stood alongside the residents of MSC homes across Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, ensuring that children and adults with disabilities not only receive care, but know they are loved.

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A Parish’s Faith Felt Around the World

The story begins in 2001, when a mission trip planted the first seed of what would become one of MSC’s most enduring partnerships. At the prayerful recommendation of parishioner Janice Givens and under the pastoral leadership of Msgr. Joseph Corbett, St. Brigid’s community embraced MSC’s caring mission wholeheartedly.

Reflecting on the 25 years of partnership, Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, founder of MSC, said, “The passion for serving others present within the St. Brigid Parish community is a cornerstone of the mission of Mustard Seed Communities.”

The spirituality and faith in God that we share have allowed this transformation, across Jamaica, Nicaragua and the world, to grow beyond anything I could have imagined.

“Whenever there is a need for the children, I know I can count on the people of St. Brigid’s,” Msgr. Gregory reflected.

The relationship endures today, thriving through several initiatives anchored in faith and prayer. The Catholic spirituality of St. Brigid’s community and the charism of MSC speak the same language: go to the margins, serve the most vulnerable, and do it with joy.

Mission Trips: Going Where They’re Needed

Mission trips are the lifeblood of our relationship-driven mission. St. Brigid’s connection to MSC began with a mission trip to Nicaragua. Nearly every year since, St. Brigid has sent multiple mission teams to MSC, each equipped with their own special gifts.

In Nicaragua, Al and Daphne Nordone have led mission trips year after year with extraordinary dedication. The Nordone family has become synonymous with MSC Nicaragua in the Atlanta community, not only leading volunteers on the ground but serving as tireless advocates at home. Families in the Atlanta area have even opened their homes to residents traveling to the United States for medical treatment. All stemming from connections made on mission trips, these relationships fuel support that lasts for decades.

In Jamaica, a team of builders and volunteers from St. Brigid and the surrounding communities make their mark. Bob Lehrer and the Lehrer Family have assembled a team of skilled builders, Bob’s Builders, who travel annually to Jacob’s Ladder. Their work is practical and powerful: fixing roofs, installing benches, maintaining the infrastructure that keeps MSC’s homes safe and welcoming.

They host the Mustard Seed Market during their trip, a place where residents can choose their own clothing, hygiene products, and more. It is a tradition that excites both residents and volunteers, empowering a sense of dignity and agency.

Also traveling to Jamaica each year is the Dare to Care Women’s Team, led by parishioner Terry Newton. This group of women found a home at Gift of Hope and Mary’s Child, pampering MSC’s dedicated caregivers with spa days, working in the gardens, and nurturing the teenage girls and their babies with friendship and care. Their presence is a gift the residents look forward to every year.

Colleen O’Hara, Director of Volunteer Engagement at MSC USA, said, “The volunteers from St. Brigid have become part of the Mustard Seed Family.”

“Their generosity, compassion, and commitment have touched countless lives, and we are incredibly grateful for the many ways they continue to walk alongside our residents in solidarity year after year.”

Running for a Reason at the Annual 5K

Since 2016, the Mustard Seed 5K has been a beloved tradition in Johns Creek. Children, adults, and families from across the community gather to run or walk in support of MSC Nicaragua. Rain or shine, the energy is resounding and the smiles are bright.

“The St. Brigid volunteers inspire me year after year,” says Chantel Ellis, Volunteer Engagement Manager at MSC. “Experiencing the 5K firsthand and witnessing this incredible community come together is a powerful reminder that compassion in action truly changes lives.”

Thanks to the steady leadership of Dianne Cole, the 5K has raised thousands of dollars for MSC Nicaragua over the years. Every step, every dollar, and every finisher’s medal represents real change in the lives of real people.

Every Gift and Talent Serves the Mission

Truly unique ways of supporting MSC have grown from the lasting partnership. From children at Holy Redeemer Catholic School to the Men of St. Brigid, this community derives generosity from their many other talents. 

Each year, first-grade students at Holy Redeemer Catholic School, also in Johns Creek, receive a single dollar and a challenge to use their God-given gifts and talents to multiply it. The results of this “Multiplying Our Talents” challenge are remarkable. Through lemonade stands, art shows, athletic competitions, and more, the children find ways to bless others with what they’ve been given. They demonstrate discipleship in its most joyful form.

On Super Bowl Sunday, the Men of St. Brigid prepare and sell smoked pork dinners for the community, bringing neighbors together for an unconventional meal while bringing proceeds to MSC’s mission. The men find that good food, good company, and a good cause are a winning combination, no matter who wins the big game.

The Dare to Care fundraiser, an initiative taken on by parishioner Terry Newton, has been a celebration to look forward to in the St. Brigid’s community. With creative themes like Football Game Day and Denim and Diamonds, friends gather for enjoyable evenings that directly make a positive impact.

Tamara Tucker, Development and Partnership Manager for MSC Jamaica, has collaborated with the St. Brigid team for several years. She shares, “The St. Brigid Parish community has shown that even the simplest acts of love — children ‘multiplying their talents’ through lemonade stands, families preparing Super Bowl dinners, and countless participants walking the 5K — can become extraordinary blessings in God’s hands.” 

Even the simplest acts of love can become extraordinary blessings in God’s hands.

“The parish community’s faithful generosity has transformed lives across Mustard Seed Communities and has reminded us that in every act of love and service, He is Here!”

25 Years of Impact and Counting

In 2026, Mustard Seed Communities presented a prayer of blessing to St. Brigid Parish, a small token of gratitude for an immeasurable gift. The celebration, led by current pastor Rev. Fr. Neil Herlihy and Msgr. Gregory, was a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks.

A year earlier, in 2025, Al and Daphne Nordone received the inaugural Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon Award, MSC’s highest honor for individuals whose enduring commitment has made a lasting impact on the mission.

Over decades of dedication, the Nordones have helped raise more than $2 million for MSC Nicaragua. Even when they could not travel in person, their advocacy for people living with disabilities never wavered.

Each year, Al Nordone gives his fellow parishioners an update on MSC during a special Mass, with the second collection supporting the mission.

“Even in the way they tell the story of Mustard Seed Communities, a story centered around the joy and dignity of even God’s least among us, this community does God’s work,” said Msgr. Gregory after attending Mass at the parish.

This community update is a moment that keeps the parish connected, reminding each person in the pews that their prayers, their presence, and their contributions matter to people living thousands of miles away.

Thank You, St. Brigid!

To the entire St. Brigid community: the mission volunteers, the runners, the builders, the parishioners, the organizers, the fundraisers, and the faithful who give and pray year after year — thank you. Every prayer dedicated to bringing care to the most vulnerable, just as Jesus did, makes a difference.

Founder of MSC’s mission and vision, Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, has always believed that when we reach out to the most vulnerable, we encounter the face of God. For 25 years, St. Brigid Parish has been living that truth. 

“All the individuals and families who have stepped up over the past twenty-five years are really and truly our family members. They make an impact that will continue for generations, and I want them to know that their dedication, generosity, and faith have changed countless lives.”

May the next 25 years bring even more transformation, for the residents of MSC and for all of you who give so generously of yourselves.

With deep gratitude, The Mustard Seed Communities Family