Tarus-Noelbaki, Indonesia. Eugenius Paul Madoni, CMF (Delegation Econome), accompanied by Fr. Cyprianus Asa, CMF and Fr. Celestinus Panggarra, CMF, visited the rice fields in Tarus-Noelbaki. The heat of the coral city did not discourage the three missionaries to walk through the green fields that usually supply rice for the three formation houses in Kupang.
Some of these rice fields have been managed by Claretian Missionaries in collaboration with several growers for several years. Mr. Marianus Raya, one of the growers and crop coordinators, shared his joy and how much he enjoys the work he has been doing for the past few years. However, the 2020 planting season, almost all rice fields in Tarus and Noelbaki experienced poor harvests due to a long drought. The planting season in 2021 is expected to yield better results.
Pater Dony, in a WhatsApp message, expressed that he was optimistic about the current rice crop; “Sawah Kupang, the first season of 2021 is quite promising,” he wrote. The missionaries are hopeful that the “cooking smoke” from the three formation houses —Pre-Novitiate Claret, Hati Maria Seminary and Claretian House Kupan— will continue to rise to the sky.
