Caption: Abbot Fr John Pereira with layer hens at the farm in Mount St Benedict. AZP News/Prior Beharry
By Prior Beharry
THE members of the Benedictine Order at Mount St Benedict in Tunapuna live by one of their mottos: “ora et labora,” which means pray and work.
The Rt Rev John Pereira, Abbot of Mount St Benedict, said, “We try to hold these two (prayer and work) in harmony. We cannot pray for the whole day because we need to keep food on our table and also help people who come to the mount. A lot of poor people come here seeking assistance, and we try to assist them.” He was speaking to AZP News on Tuesday at the farm that the monks of the mount are running to make it self-sufficient.
At the farm, nestled on the slopes of the Northern Range, Pereira and manager Maxine De Comarmond explained the different products of the abbey, from yogurt and crops to eggs, with pig rearing on the agenda.
The farm specialises in chickens for the production of eggs. Pereira said the farm has 440 chickens, with 220 more on the way.
He stated, “After that, we will have another batch, so we want continuous egg production.”
Pereira added, “Our first batch of chickens has been laying eggs. Just last week Sunday, we invited the people who attended the mass to come down, and several of them purchased crates of eggs. Other than that, other people have been hearing about our egg production, and they have been reaching out to us.”
He continued, “We also produce things like short crops, such as cucumbers, etc.”
Pereira mentioned that the farm was established in September.
He noted, “But at Mount St. Benedict, farming has been part of our culture for many years. Even when I was a little boy growing up in St. Ann’s, one of the brothers would come on his motorbike every Thursday to sell eggs to our family. So farming has been a long-time practice at the mount.
“However, for about 20 years, we had leased this property to a group helping people suffering from AIDS—the Caritas AIDS Ministry. The lease didn’t end, but they broke it, and we took that as an opportunity to establish the farm.”
Comarmond said they also have hot peppers, pimentos, pak choi, tomatoes, lettuce, and cassava on the farm.
According to its website, Mount St. Benedict is the oldest monastery in the region, having been founded in 1912. Benedictines are those called to live in community and strive to conform their lives to the teachings of the Bible and the Rule of St. Benedict, guided by an Abbot or Abbess, the spiritual leader of the community.
@azpnews.com Prayer and Faith: Mount St Benedict becomes self-sufficient with eggs, crops and pigs to come. Abbot Fr John Pereira speaks with AZP News’ Prior Beharry. Video editing: Errol Fabien of Gayelle the Caribbean @gayellethecaribbean@errolfabien83 #mountstbenedict #church #prayer #faith interview
The monks at the mount include:
- Rt Rev John Pereira, Abbot
- Most Rev Francis Alleyne
- Bro Rupert Alexis
- Bro Richard Diaz
- Bro Lancelot Herbert
- Bro Paschal Jordan
- Bro Yamnick Kabi
- Bro Samuel MuhindoÂ
- Fr Benoît Standaert  (long-term  guest  from  Belgium)
