College blesses sustainable farm on feast day of St. Francis

The Center for Faith, Action and Ministry at Saint Mary’s blessed the chickens and pollinators that live on the campus sustainable farm in honor of St. Francis’ feast day Wednesday.

The chickens are known on the College’s campus as the “smickens.”

Christopher Cobb, an associate English professor who oversees the farm, said the event — the second annual Francis Fest — was a good opportunity to reflect on the harvest.

“[It’s] a time when we celebrate the abundant harvest that we’ve received through the year, and we have a service in which we ask for blessing on the land and the creatures,” Cobb said.

This year, the fest took place at the end of the farm’s first growing season, Cobb added.

“It’s not a very old tradition, but it’s not a very old farm,” he said.

Cobb said those involved in the farm came up with the idea for Francis Fest because they wanted to mark the feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of nature.

In addition to reminding Saint Mary’s students that the farm is available to them on campus, Cobb said he hoped the students who participated in the fest would walk away knowing the farm is a place for spiritual enrichment.

“The farm is a place for spiritual enrichment, as well as for food and for care for the soil,” he said. “Those activities are spiritually as well as materially important.”

He added that the College’s farm is a place where the life of earth, spirit, mind and heart can all grown in tandem.

Cobb started off the service by guiding students and guests to the chicken coup for the liturgy portion of the fest. Student leaders provided the musical accompaniment, and attendees joined in the singing of “Canticle of the Sun.”

There was a reading from the first chapter of Colossians, in which St. Paul the Apostle talks about the glory of creation and humanity’s place in it. After a his reflection on the scripture passage, Fr. Aquinas Beale blessed the farm and the animals.

Those in attendance then raised their hands in blessing.

Students finished off the final verse of “Canticle of the Sun,” and then College President Katie Conboy gave a welcoming speech.

“This is not just our care at Saint Mary’s. This is something that infuses the Catholic Church and infuses people,” Conboy said.

She added that farm was established because people like Cobb advocated for the need of such a space.

“I know how much commitment there is to the farm,” Conboy said. “I know how much it adds to the lives of our students, so I just want to thank everyone who is involved.”

Following the blessing of the land and the creature, Francis Fest attendees enjoyed apple cider and donuts as well as time for socializing and games.

Junior Abbie Kawalec, a student involved in planning the fest, encouraged students who want to get involved in the sustainable farm to email the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry.

“We’re always here, and there’s always ways you can get involved,” Kawalec said.