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Merry Christmas 2022!

¹⁰ The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ^11 [e]For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

^14 [f]“Glory to God in the highest
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:10-14

Dear Benefactors and Friends,

We wish you a Blessed Christmas from St Isidore Farm. The year 2022 has come and gone with a few changes. We continue to pray, work, and study as we strive to live Dorothy Day’s Catholic Worker Rule: A life dedicated to the Works of Mercy.

2022 News: We focused on the Work of Mercy “bury the dead.” We began a $5000 bereavement fund for families needing financial assistance after the loss of a loved one. We were able to financially help four orphaned children after their father died unexpectedly. Our field caught fire while harvesting alfalfa this year.  We are currently trying to rehab the land and plant native grasses in the alfalfa’s place.

2023 Goals: We plan to focus on the Works of Mercy “feed the hungry and shelter the homeless” in a new way for us.  We are discerning a different approach to homeless prevention; possibly start a scholarship fund for trade schools and/or trade apprenticeships.  It has been my experience over my many years working with those in need; a trade can keep you from becoming homeless and help pull you out of homelessness.

We keep the intentions of those in need and those of our benefactors and friends in prayer. Thank you for your prayers and support for us.

Sincerely,

Ellen, Randy, Geneva, Janey and Sister Beverly

PENTECOST PRAYER

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit
that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit
that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit
that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit
to defend that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit
that I always may be holy.
St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)

Merry Christmas!

Dear Benefactors and Friends

We wish you a Blessed Christmas from St Isidore Farm. The year 2021 has come and gone without much change. We continue to pray, work, and study as we wait with all of humanity for an end to the covid-19 pandemic.

2021 News: We partnered with Rose Advocates to provide short term emergency housing for abused women in our area. Shawn moved to Boise to live and work. Strong winds blew down a big elm tree next to the old farmhouse.  We thank God it did not fall on the house!  We were blessed to have Randy, Tristan, Geneva and Doug use their chainsaws to cut up and remove it.  We plan to remove several other dangerous elm trees when we can afford it.

2022 Goal: We will focus on the Work of Mercy “bury the dead.” Low-income families need financial assistance for burial cost in our area. With your help, we hope to begin a $5000 fund as a start toward answering this need.

We look forward to a good year for all in 2022.  We keep the intentions of those in need and those of our benefactors and friends in prayer. Thank you for your prayers and support for us.

Sincerely,

Ellen, Randy, Geneva and Janey

Works of Mercy

Dorothy Day said: “Our rule is the Works of Mercy.” Here at St Isidore Farm we try to put that rule into action and perform both spiritual and corporal works of mercy as we are able in our rural setting. Such as the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead. At least once a year we read in our local paper or on a bulletin board a request for financial assistance to help with burial cost.

Our 2022 work of mercy goal is to start a fund to provide financial assistance as we are able to bury the dead in our rural area. If anyone is interested in helping us build this fund please send a donation to St Isidore Farm, Inc. 2259 Kilborn Ln, Mesa Idaho 83643.

Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy

Corporal Works of Mercy

To feed the hungry. To give drink to the thirsty. To clothe the naked. To visit the imprisoned. To shelter the homeless. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To care for our Earth.

Spiritual Works of Mercy

To admonish the sinner. To instruct the ignorant. To counsel the doubtful. To comfort the sorrowful. To bear wrongs patiently. To forgive all injuries. To pray for the living and the dead. To pray for protection and care of our Earth.

About Us

Vision.  We envision a farm environment with structured living that combines solitude with community, farm work with creativity and prayer with process.

Mission. Dorothy Day, cofounder of Catholic Worker, said “Our rule is the Works of Mercy”.  St Isidore Farm’s Mission is the “Works of Mercy”, both corporal and spiritual.  It is our desire to make St Isidore Farm a place of hospitality and healing for all who need a place and time to process life’s challenges.  Our works of mercy include mercy for our earth in the spirit of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” On Care for Our Common Home.

Progress.  As catholic workers, we started a mini-farm in Mesa, Idaho in November 2015.  In July 2016 we took in our first homeless guest. That same summer we installed a small manufactured home to use as a guesthouse.  Its not always easy on the Mesa. During snowmagedden 2017, we lost our shop and barn under extreme snow weights. However, God does provide; that same year we replaced both by purchasing the adjacent 10 acre property with a simple house, wood shop and barn. Since then, we have hosted guests in recovery from all kinds of life challenges; single individuals and even a family.  Short term and long term.  As a work of mercy for our earth, we planted 150 trees in 2019. We grew alfalfa and during this pandemic donated a portion of this years crop to a neighbor having a hard time feeding his calves.  We prayed.