Philippines: SVD Farm Holds Advent Weekend Recollection Series

The SVD Laudato Si' Farm of the Society of the Divine Word holds an Advent Weekend Recollection Series starting December 2 until December 23 in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

The series is to nourish the soul in preparation for Christmas.

Each of the four Saturdays will be facilitated by SVD Tagaytay priests—Fr. Arlo Yap, SVD; Fr. Joseph Anacleto "Titus" Mananzan, SVD; Fr. Franlou Bardon, SVD; and Fr. Stanislav Orecny, SVD.

The regular Saturday morning Holy Mass (10:00 a.m.) at the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor will come after these recollections, which will start at 8:00 a.m. at the Prayer Hall of the Eco-spirituality Center (for the first Saturday) or at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo (for the following three Saturdays).

For reservations and other information, look for Ms. Clariz Cruz or contact 0905-106-5499.

The Farm takes inspiration from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si’ the Latin phrase “Praise Be,” on caring for the Earth as “our common home”. 

Fr. Samuel “Sam” Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, Executive Director of the SVD Farm and Rector of the SVD-Tagaytay Community, said that “in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SVD Community prayerfully thought of ways and means to financially support the community.”

A cottage was then being built in the middle of the five-hectare vacant area adjacent to Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies as an additional place for community reflection and a venue for meetings. 

It was named the “Laudato si Kubo (cottage), as it is an ideal space to reflect on “our common home”, said Fr.  Agcaracar.

This led to the realization that this vast piece of land, which is part of the 11-hectare property of the SVD Community had been left unutilized for a long time.

The plan to develop the SVD Farm was then conceived. The idea was that the farm would espouse the teachings of the Church about environmental protection.

It would be a farm that would provide sustainable resources to the SVD community, support indigent families and at the same time promote ecological integrity.

With the approval of the SVD-Philippine Central Province Leadership Team, the members of the SVD Community began clearing and preparing the land for cultivation in September 2020.

The plan was to plant high-value vegetables and fruit trees and to raise livestock. It would also include a prayer sanctuary and a “Laudato si” trail where people can reflect on God's creation.

A coffee shop where one can get a caffeine kick and experience the sweetness of milk tea and savour different snacks, and a market where visitors can buy organically produced fruits and vegetables will be put up. 

On January 30, 2021, four months after intensive land clearing, cultivation, and building of the initial infrastructures, the SVD Farm was blessed and opened to the public.

The project was developed to generate income for the seminary. The Farm is a direct response to the need for self-reliance due to greatly reduced revenues and contributions from benefactors. And this was a result of various factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also meant to contribute to the ecological awareness among the members of the SVD community and the nearby towns and communities. As a formation institution, the SVD Farm serves as a concrete response to Laudato siˈ by promoting an environment-friendly atmosphere 

The farm also intended to raise funds for the community’s program for the poor and the needy. As part of its  Corporate Social Responsibility, SVD has been supporting around 100 indigent families. 

The SVD Farm tries to provide a stable and steady source of income for them through livelihood activities linked to the Farm.  (MTV)