Lent Week 2: Week of March 2
As we continue our Lenten journey, we are pleased to share a letter from our foundress, Zulena Pescatore. We are deeply grateful for her words and for her continued leadership of Farm of the Child. For over thirty years, Zulena has carried this mission forward with extraordinary faith, strength, and humility, offering a living witness to what it means to lead with hope and deep trust in God’s providence.
In her letter, Zulena reflects on Lent and the 30th Anniversary of the passing of her husband, Vincent, as well as the 30th Anniversary of the founding of Farm of the Child. Her words offer us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to carry our cross and also hope in the offering:
Dear Friend of Farm of the Child,
As we begin this season of Lent, we enter a sacred time of preparation—preparing our hearts to walk with Christ and share in His cross. Lent invites us to slow down, to reflect, and to return more fully to the Lord through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
And as we journey toward Easter and the Resurrection, we also find ourselves approaching another meaningful moment: the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Farm of the Child and the 30th anniversary of the passing of my beloved husband, Vincent. I would like to reflect with you on what it means to embrace this holy season of penitence, to walk closely with Jesus, and to honor the ways God has sustained our mission over these past 30 years.
In these days of Lent, I find myself returning to the Gospel of St. Matthew 16:24, where Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Jesus was teaching his disciples about the true cost of following him, because the cross in that time meant suffering and death. When I meditate on the suffering of Jesus—from his scourging to his death on the cross—for the salvation of all humanity and to fulfill the will of God, I ask myself why we are so indifferent to that immense love of Jesus.
How can we remain indifferent, if Jesus died for you and for me—if he gave himself in that immense love for our salvation? Jesus continues with his arms open, waiting for us every day of our lives. Let us unite ourselves in this holy time; for me it is an opportunity to reflect and to implement in our lives these important pillars, which are prayer, fasting, and penance.
Through your prayers and generosity, you have already been walking this Lenten journey with us and with the children entrusted to our care.
Holding together the spirit of Lent and the remembrance of the 30th anniversary of Vincent’s passing, my heart is drawn to the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John (15:1–5): “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. Every branch that bears no fruit he cuts off, and every branch that bears fruit he prunes so that it may bear more fruit.”
I have many memories of this extraordinary man, Vincent, and first I thank God for giving me the gift of knowing him in my life and for him being my husband. From him I learned so much, especially about faith and about carrying the cross each day. He taught me not to carry it by my own strength, because as human beings we think we can do everything, but no—we are nothing apart from Jesus.
When we felt God’s call as a married couple to care for and love orphaned and abandoned children, Jesus had always been the center of our lives, of the lives of the children, and of all those who are part of our Farm of the Child community. Through his faith and his example, and through his final project of building the Holy Family Chapel, we now have Jesus present among us in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle.
Jesus said it would not be easy to follow him; it is not only about believing in Him, but about giving one’s life for him, if necessary. Vincent passed from death to life because he loved his brothers. His death has been difficult for me, but his example of remaining united to the Vine and valuing the eternal destiny with God above all fills me with peace, knowing that he is enjoying eternal life.
I also have so much joy in celebrating our 30th anniversary of Farm of the Child, first expressing my gratitude to God for his immense love for each one of his children, and also for all the disciples he has sent over these 30 years to the mission. Our first bishop told us that this work is guided by the Holy Spirit, and I can see how the hand of God is there and how he does not abandon orphans or widows.
I thank you for your hands and feet as part of this mission, for your generosity as instruments of God to make this mission of love possible. We thank you for serving and for making a difference in the lives of our children and youth. Your continued generosity allows this mission of love to remain alive for the children who depend on us each day.
I invite you to unite your prayer, sacrifice, and generosity with the mission of Farm of the Child. Each day, this mission provides food, education, and loving care to children and support for families who have nowhere else to turn. Your Lenten donation becomes an act of love, a concrete expression of hope, and a way of walking the Way of the Cross that leads to new life.
This Lent, in honor of our 30th Anniversary, we are seeking to raise $30,000 to provide food, education, and loving care for the children entrusted to us. As you prayerfully consider your Lenten sacrifices, I invite you to consider making a larger gift than in years past, in recognition of this historic milestone. Your gift today helps lay the foundation for the next 30 years of care, faith, and hope.
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ for our children. May God bless you abundantly this Lent and always.
Peace in Christ,
Zulena Pescatore
President, Farm of the Child USA
P.S. During this season of Lent, I ask you to prayerfully remember Farm of the Child in your almsgiving. Your gift helps provide food, education, and loving care to the children God has entrusted to our mission.