Spirituality
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV, ushering in a new chapter for the Catholic Church. In the days since his election, we at Mustard Seed Communities have been reflecting on his message of humility, dialogue, and service: all values that are at the heart of our mission.
My Friends,
With deep gratitude, our Catholic family welcomes the election of Pope Leo XIV!
Pope Leo XIV’s first words as Holy Father resounded with a message that dwells in the heart of our mission at Mustard Seed Communities: a call to serve as a missionary Church. We are a Church that builds bridges, seeks dialogue, and walks alongside the poor.
From Chicago to Peru, Pope Leo XIV resided among the people like a shepherd caring for his flock. He has chosen time and again to live simply, to listen intently, and to prioritize those whose voices are often ignored. His election is a reminder that the heart of discipleship is found in proximity to the most vulnerable.
At Mustard Seed Communities, we believe the Kingdom of God is revealed in the smallest acts of love. We see it in feeding a child who cannot feed herself; in singing with someone who cannot speak; in faithfully being present for those society has cast aside. This love does not discriminate. The Kingdom of God abandons no one, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John:
In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you. Where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus’ healing ministry, as Pope Leo XIV reminds us, is boundless. We are instructed to “be in dialogue with love” in the daily choices we make to include, uplift, and defend the dignity of every person. Seeds of love are planted in quiet footsteps on the road in Jamaica, in simple moments spent with a child in the Dominican Republic, and in the choice to walk alongside those most in need across every bridge in every nation. The Holy Father’s example strengthens our resolve at Mustard Seed Communities to continue building communities of hope where love is our common language.
As we pray for Pope Leo XIV, we pray in tandem for a world that listens and responds to the cry of the poor. Remember, Christ is not distant: “He is here” in the burdens we help each other carry and in the beckoning hands of the most vulnerable.
May Pope Leo XIV’s leadership inspire all of us to walk humbly in the light of Christ’s mercy. God bless our new Holy Father!
In Christ,
Fr. Garvin Augustine
Executive Director, Mustard Seed Communities International