A Vatican official from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development visited the Laudato Si' Farm, managed by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in Tagaytay City, about 59 kilometers south of Manila, the Philippine capital.
Fr. Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, coordinator of the Sector of Ecology and Creation at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is a leading voice in the Church’s environmental efforts. He is an Indian and a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco congregation.
Fr. Kureethadam also serves as chair of philosophy of science and director of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.
Warmly welcomed by two SVD priests, Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, the farm’s founder, and Fr. Stanislav Orecny, chaplain of the SVD Farm, the visit began with a meal featuring the farm’s signature fresh lumpia and crispy banana heart spring rolls.
Guided by Fr. Orecny, Fr. Kureethadam toured some of the farm's cherished spaces: the serene St. Thérèse Flower Garden, the inspiring Ecospirituality Center, the Adoration Chapel where he paused in prayer, and the statue of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, where stories of faith and creation were shared.
Also present during the visit were his fellow Salesians: Fr. Ernie Cruz, SDB, and Fr. Marc Will Lim, SDB.
The visit concluded at the peaceful Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, a fitting end to a day filled with gratitude, reflection, and shared commitment to caring for our common home.
Established in 2020, the SVD Laudato Si' Farm is an ecotourism destination devoted to faith, farming, and food. The 5.8-hectare property is located along Arnoldus Road in Tagaytay City, Cavite Province, and is surrounded by three religious communities: the Divine Word Seminary (DWS), the Pink Sisters (Contemplative Nuns), and the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit.
The farm offers accommodations for retreats and recollections at the Ecospirituality Center, liturgical celebrations at the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, and tranquil spaces for prayer and reflection throughout the grounds.
Visitors can also enjoy guided farm tours, buy fresh produce from the Gulayan ni San Rafael, and experience farm-to-table dining at the SVD Café/Oies Kitchen and Oies Kitchenette, which serve traditional and heirloom dishes.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
