St. John Paul II Seminarians Thrive in Agriculture Integration as a Way of Planting Faith, Nurturing Futures

St. John Paul II Seminarians Thrive in Agriculture Integration as a Way of Planting Faith, Nurturing Futures

By Sr. Henriette Anne FSSA

Following up on the quest of Bishop Eduardo, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY), that each Parish or Institution to own at least one-acre farm for the cultivation, St. John Paul II Institute of Philosophy known for its commitment to holistic education and spiritual formation has embarked on a unique journey of not only transforming the lives of its seminarians but also that of the landscap

Seminarians firm

In an interview with Rurugene Online Newsletter, Fr. Natale elaborated that “incorporating farming practices in the Seminary enables the Seminarians to cultivate the spirit of creativity and initiative as they depend on their own effort to produce their own food and it’s a source of income for the Seminary in case they produce enough food that the surplus can be sold and the money be repurposed”, he also added that farming in the Seminary also helps Seminarians to learn new methods of crop production.

Maize harvested from this season

 As the second season of planting approaches, the Seminarians community has gathered to celebrate the fruits of their labor with smiles on their faces since they have reaped the rewards of their hard work.

During the interview, Fr. Natale underscored that aligning farming with the mission and vision of the Seminary is part of formation stressing that “training seminarians on how they can farm will help them when they make it to priesthood not only to value nature and environment but also to help them provide food for the Parishes and Institutions they will be heading”.

The rector further disclosed that apart from cultivating deep spiritual connections in the process of cultivation, seminarians were able to learn practical skills and knowledge in agricultural activities like crop rotation and shift farming methods.

Rector and the Seminarians during the harvesting

The rector added they have learned different key lessons from this harvest season. “The key lesson we have learned from this harvest season is that the earlier we plant our crops the better harvest we can get, and weeding of our crops is paramount for a successful harvest”, Fr. Natale said.

As they prepare for the second season of planning, he said that they will introduce the two systems of farming; “crop rotation and shift farming”, keeping up with rearing sheep and planning to rear pigs and ducks.