“You manifest the Lord Jesus in your work”

There could not have been a better date for the one-year celebration of the Farm of Hope than the Feast of the Annunciation: Mary said her yes, accepting God’s will, which led to the incarnation of Jesus. And the missionaries who give their lives to those struggling with addiction help bring Jesus’ healing presence to many.
 
Fr. Jose Luiz, the president of the Farms of Hope and the Family of Hope, which sustains their work, was visiting Corpus Christi for this important milestone. A Mass at the Farm in Violet, concelebrated with Fr. Matthew, was the main element of the celebration, giving thanks to God for all that has happened in this first year. In his homily, Fr. Matthew connected the Feast of the Annunciation with the work of the Farm of Hope: “All of you who work here or support them, you manifest the Lord Jesus, making Him incarnate in the flesh.”
 
At the end of the Mass, attended by board members and friends of the Farm of Hope, three missionaries made solemn commitments. Ayres Rocha from Brazil made his first commitment as a volunteer. Leticia Castillo, from Guadalajara, Mexico, made her first vows as a volunteer for one year. Cassiano Silva, the leader of the Farm of Hope in Corpus Christi, made his lifelong commitment as a consecrated member of the Family of Hope with vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, along with a “vow of hope.”
 
Fr. Jose Luiz was pleased with this year's progress: “We have the first concrete fruits – one client has completed the program and wishes to become a missionary, one is currently enrolled, and we have four additional applications.” The Board of Directors accompanies the entire process, and the first Living Hope groups that support the Farm are forming. “We are more deeply rooted in the life of the local Church.”
 
The following steps will aim to ensure financial sustainability and expand egg production at the Farm of Hope. The Diocese of Biloxi in Mississippi also seeks to establish a Farm of Hope—they have already identified a property. Fr. Luiz and Ayres Rocha are visiting the diocese to discuss the plans. Two more missionaries are prepared to come to the U.S. to assist and are currently waiting for their visas.