Spirituality
On June 3, the Mustard Seed Communities family gathered at Jacob’s Ladder for a celebration of our sustaining faith that places love at the center of everything.
Jacob’s Ladder’s Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Chapel hosted the Diaconate Ordination of two seminarians of MSC’s Missionarii Grani Sinatis, Louis Dalmas Agan and Roger Raymond Goodwill, as transitional deacons.
For MSC, every act of care—whether for residents with disabilities, staff members, or volunteers—is grounded in faith and sustained by prayer. To keep this foundation of faith strong for generations to come, MSC invests in forming future spiritual leaders at St. Andrew’s House of Formation. Missionarii Grani Sinatis (MGS), or Mustard Seed Missionaries, is MSC’s Canonical body formed to guide and promote the spirituality of our organization.
Deacon Roger and Deacon Dalmas, students at St. Andrew’s House of Formation, are on the sacred path to priesthood within the Mustard Seed Missionaries. Their recent ordination to the transitional diaconate marks the final stage before ordination to the priesthood. Deacon Dalmas summarizes his view of his new role:
“To be a deacon in the Catholic Church is purely for service. We are ordained in the Word, Sacrament, and Charity: we proclaim the gospel and are called to serve the poor and the marginalized in our society. It is my great pleasure to incorporate these three key roles in our ministry of the Mustard Seed Communities,” Deacon Dalmas shared. “Being a deacon is not just about what I do, but about who I am becoming for the sake of others”
Deacon Roger Goodwill, a native of Jamaica, was introduced to Mustard Seed Communities in 2011 and was deeply moved by its seamless integration of faith and service. His journey of formation took him through Philosophy studies in the Dominican Republic and Theology in Florida. Now fluent in four languages, he leads MSC’s Spirituality Office in Jamaica, guiding others in deepening their faith through service.
Deacon Louis Dalmas Agan, originally from Kenya, began his formation with Mustard Seed Communities in Zimbabwe in 2019. Deeply moved by the joy and faith of the children and adults living with disabilities at MSC, he discovered, in his own words, that “there is greater joy in self-giving at the service of humanity, for indeed our God works differently.” Since coming to Jamaica in 2021, he has continued to serve with humility and love, hoping to help MSC grow and share the joy of Christ with others in need.
The ordination ceremony was a celebration of faith, service, and the enduring spirit of Mustard Seed Communities. The Most Reverend Kenneth D. Richards, D.D., CD, Archbishop of Kingston, served as the principal celebrant. Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, founder of MSC, Fr. Garvin Augustine, executive director of MSC international, and other priests and leaders joined in affirming the deacons’ readiness and calling to this sacred role.
Supported by the MSC community and their families, Deacon Dalmas and Deacon Roger professed their faith and commitment to consecrated life in the Catholic Church’s ministry. Following the Prayer of Ordination and investiture with the stole and dalmatic, a vestment reserved for priests and deacons, smiles and tears of joy filled the chapel with a tangible gratitude.
For me, standing at the altar, the weight of the stole and dalmatic and the hushed reverence of the congregation filled me with a trembling humility, knowing this ancient calling was now irrevocably mine.
Beneath the overwhelming awe, a deep, quiet certainty settled like a long-awaited homecoming anchoring my soul to a purpose far greater than myself.
Deacon Roger
Deacon Dalmas and Deacon Roger look forward to their priestly ordination as Mustard Seed Missionaries. We are deeply grateful for their witness and the continued ways they share the love of Christ with our residents and the wider community fills us with hope.
It is in our shared spirituality that Mustard Seed Communities finds strength, purpose, and a profound connection that transcends every endeavor we undertake.
Learn more about the spiritual root of our organization and see how you can get involved in prayer today.