A text by John Tomory to mark the Jubilee of Workers from May 1 to May 4, 2025. 

This year marks the special occurrence of a Jubilee year. Along with other Catholics, I use this as a unique opportunity to reflect on my faith and vocation in a more tangible way. The timing of this reflection has a certain Providence for me. Being an owner of a maple syrup business, this is the season when we are at our busiest. The weather is warming, the trees are preparing to bud and the sap is flowing. Making maple syrup at our home in Stouffville is something that I have been doing since I was a little boy. My father instilled in his children and cheerfully shared with others a love of nature and trees. Through his example I gained an understanding of the principle of the universal destination of goods and the Christian tradition of stewardship, which holds that God has “…entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor and enjoy their fruits.” (CCC 2402)

Naturally, one could imagine my “enthusiasm” at the notion of preparing a reflection at a time of sleep deprivation (add two little girls to the mix…) and exhaustion. In truth, it is a great joy for me to share my experience as a business owner and maple syrup producer and reflect upon the importance of work to my vocation. It is precisely because it is challenging at this moment to write this reflection that I ought to do so and do so well. This is the same ethos that I apply to the vision for my business and the approach to my day-to-day work. We are called to do our work well at all times, regardless of how little or aggravating the job may be. Not only is this the calling for any person working "in the world," but it is also simply a good way to do business.

The notion of a pilgrimage of hope is one that is relatable to an entrepreneur. It is the way we must walk each day throughout our whole life, not just this year of Jubilee. Before going out on my own, I studied and practiced as a Chemical Engineer for several years. Although I enjoyed my work, I felt called to something else that could exercise my natural leadership qualities and my desire to build relationships and connections. My siblings and I purchased a family farm that presented a “sweet” opportunity to start a commercial maple syrup operation. I was able to take the entrepreneurial plunge and take my hobby of working the forests to the next level. 

Building a business has been a journey with many peaks and valleys. I strive to be a virtuous leader for the good of my employees and colleagues and for the success of the business. The difficult or challenging times call for fortitude, requiring me to maintain a hopeful and cheerful disposition and a spirit of abandonment. The prosperous times require magnanimity in order that I may rise to the occasion to make the most of the opportunity and empower others to do likewise.

Nature can be a force to contend with at times but it is a great joy for me to be able to make a passion of working our forests each spring into a profession!  By working with our forests and enjoying the fruits that they provide, I have the unique ability to live this in a tangible way and enjoy the reward of a lifestyle so close to God’s creation. I always seize the opportunity to encourage others to seek ways of connecting to nature, something that we have become increasingly unaccustomed to with such a virtually connected world.

John Tomory is president of Pefferlaw Creek Farms in Uxbridge and a fellow of this year’s Lumen Gentium Forum, which guides young professionals in the study and application of Catholic social teaching and virtuous leadership principles.

Originally published at https://www.archtoronto.org.