Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) hosted the official opening ceremony of the Hogar Immanuel in Cangrejo, Puerto Plata , Dominica Republic on February 5.

This marked the culmination of the organisation's activities in that country over the past five years.

Over 200 dignitaries were in attendance at the dedication, at which Archbishop Julio Cesar Corniel Amaro of the Dominican Republic officiated.

Fr Gregory Ramkissoon and Wayne Grant ministering at the dump

Cutting the ribbon to open the centre

The head of Ocean World, Alfred Miester who played an integral part in the development of the apostolate addressed the gathering, while commendations were received from several delegations including Honduras , Jamaica , the USA , Germany and Canada .

The Hogar Immanuel Apostolate is now home to children with disabilities and the facility is immediately being expanded to accommodate more children on a separate parcel of land recently donated to MSC.

An American mission group is also currently setting up another branch of the Zinc Link Internet Café at the home, which will provide mental stimulation and activities for the children.

The Mustard Seed Communities' work and philosophy of serving the needs of the disabled and the forgotten, has taken the organisation into the city garbage dump where many live.

These persons are visited twice per week with food for the body as well as the soul. In an effort to teach life skills that will sustain the community a work area is being constructed to enable the poor and talented to produce art and craft for sale.