The first client of the Farm of Hope completes the program

It was a joyous day: Mario Ramos, the first graduate of the Farm of Hope in Corpus Christi, completed the year-long program. After decades of battling addiction and several stints in prison, Mario has now embarked on a path leading to a new life: he has found God and a renewed purpose. Now, he hopes to assist others in having the same experience: overcoming addiction at the Farm of Hope, where prayer, work, and community serve as the pillars of this unique therapeutic program.

During a Thanksgiving Mass at the new SOLT Motherhouse, located next to the Farm of Hope in Violet, Fr. Darryl D’Souza, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Corpus Christi, quoted the reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, where Moses presents the Ten Commandments to the chosen people: “He has chosen you to be his own—God is also saying that to each one of us.” To Mario, “He looked upon you with love and guided you on your journey.” 

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, those who oppose us: “Love is not just an emotion; it involves doing good to others.” Love and mercy are not signs of weakness but of strength. 

At the end of the Mass, Cassiano Silva, the director of the Farm of Hope – the first in the United States – congratulated Mario for his success and presented him with a certificate for completing the program. Mario expressed his gratitude to the couple who had introduced him to the Farm of Hope, Cassiano, and everyone who had supported him on his way: “I wanted to stay for just three months, but I understood that the Lord was telling me, ‘Stay, you need this.’ And it was the right decision.” He mentioned that he had learned so much and found a new meaning in his life. Now, he wants to remain as a volunteer at the Farm and assist other addicts on their journey to live a life free from addiction.