Move A Mountain Missions

MOVE A MOUNTAIN MISSIONS (MMM) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH AND INSPIRED BY THE HEALING AND CARING MINISTRY OF JESUS. IT IS OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE GENUINE ENCOUNTERS WITH CHRIST THROUGH SERVICE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE. WE SEEK TO ACHIEVE THIS BY ORGANIZING MISSION TRIPS TO MUSTARD SEED COMMUNITIES, A HOME FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND RAISING FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS AT MUSTARD SEED. WE ALSO SEEK TO BRING A MISSIONARY CHARISM OF CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) TO PITTSBURGH. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS PRIMARILY THROUGH BROTHER ANDRE'S CAFE, A COFFEE SHOP THAT EMPLOYS ADULTS WITH IDD.

AT THE HEART OF THE ORGANIZATION IS OUR MISSION TRIPS TO MUSTARD SEED COMMUNITIES, A HOME FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN JAMAICA. MUSTARD SEED PROVIDES LOVING AND LIFE-LONG CARE FOR OVER 600 RESIDENTS. THESE TRIPS HAVE PROVEN TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HAVE ATTENDED. OUR MISSION TEAM MEMBERS REALIZED VERY QUICKLY THAT WHILE THEY WENT TO JAMAICA TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS AT MUSTARD SEED, IT WAS THE RESIDENTS WHO WERE HELPING US. THEIR GRATITUDE AND INFECTIOUS JOY WAS TRANSFORMING OUR HEARTS AND TEACHING US HOW TO LOVE. IN ADDITION TO ORGANIZING THESE MISSION TRIPS, WE ALSO SOUGHT TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS TO SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN PITTSBURGH.

ANOTHER GOAL IS TO BRING BACK A MISSIONARY CHARISM OF CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE TO PITTSBURGH AND TO HELP CREATE A CULTURE THAT RECOGNIZES THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD). THEY ARE A TREMENDOUS BLESSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE REALIZED THIS GOAL THROUGH THE FORMATION OF BROTHER ANDRE'S CAFE, A COFFEE SHOP THAT EMPLOYS ADULTS WITH IDD. WHILE THOSE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT BEING ABANDONED IN THE STREETS OF PITTSBURGH LIKE THEY WERE IN KINGSTON, MANY PERSONS WITH IDD DO NOT FEEL WELCOMED INTO THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THEIR NICHE IN SOCIETY. THE PURPOSE OF BROTHER ANDRE'S IS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR ADULTS WITH IDD AND TO CREATE AN AVENUE FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR LOVE AND JOY WITH THE WORLD. THE CAFE ALSO SEEKS TO BE A PLACE OF CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE BROADER IDD COMMUNITY THROUGH ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. IN 2022 WE INCREASED TO 13 EMPLOYEES WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WE LAUNCED AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY VOCATIONAL PROGRAM TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES GAIN CONFIDENCE AND GROW IN INDEPENDENCE IN THE WORKPLACE.

IN ADDITION TO COORDINATING ANNUAL MISSION TRIPS TO MUSTARD SEED COMMUNITIES AND OTHER SIMILAR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, MOVE A MOUNTAIN MISSIONS EXISTS TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO ARE MENTALLY AND/OR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, THE ORGANIZATION WILL SUPPORT PROJECTS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY OTHER ESTABLISHED US BASED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHO SHARE OUR COMMON VISION OF CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE.