‘We’re not building a house, we’re building a community’
Members of five Shelby churches, including St. Mary Help of Christians, are building a house for a single mother and her children. The project has brought together the parish’s Spanish- and English-speaking communities. Father Peter Ascik. (Photos provided by Ralph Jones) SHELBY — Well before November, on the corner of Young and Oak streets in Shelby, parishioners of St. Mary Help of Christians Church have been living the spirit of Thanksgiving in a very real way.
Since early July, they have gathered to share food, teach each other new trades and create community among diverse groups of volunteers, all while building a new home – and a new life – for a deserving family.
Twice a month they arrive ready to work with volunteers from four other churches – Shelby Presbyterian Church, Eastside Baptist Church, Rayburn Memorial Presbyterian and New Creation Christian Center. They’re building a three-bedroom, two-bath house for a single mother and her children.
It’s the first time Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland County has attempted a “church build,” and it’s going exceedingly well, says Father Peter Ascik, pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians, who is helping build the home with his parishioners.
“It started when we were invited to a meeting to propose the project, and after gathering information, we asked parishioners in a survey whether they thought we should embrace the project and whether they would be willing to donate volunteer time,” he says. “That survey came back overwhelmingly in favor of the project, so we committed to it.”
And the numbers grew from there. With 80 people currently signed up, there is a waiting list to volunteer at the site, which typically has about 30 people at a time, organizers say. For most of the build St. Mary works with members of other churches, but some workdays are reserved for the individual churches.
Because the Catholic parish has such high participation, with nearly 1,000 volunteer hours logged so far, St. Mary volunteers are able to help on the additional Habitat build next door and lend a hand when extra help is needed. The future owners of the house also work on the home, which is due for completion by July 2024.
“It has been a very positive experience for our parish,” Father Ascik adds. “It has given us the opportunity to work together and cooperate with other Christians in Shelby.”
Each of the five churches has two project coordinators. For St. Mary, it’s parishioners Sean O’Connor and Ralph Jones.
“It turned out to be fun. It’s sort of like playing a game of Tetris,” Jones said about organizing the project. “We had ourselves a big meeting and invited everybody in the church to attend. I was astonished by the turnout.”
Jones, a retired general contractor, offers a helping hand and answers questions at the build site, leaving it to the licensed contractors from Habitat to oversee the construction.
Jones says he has thoroughly enjoyed the experience so far and that it has strengthened the bonds between the people of the parish.
“There’s been a tremendous boost to the coordination between our Spanish- and English-speaking communities,” Jones says, noting that more Spanish-speaking parishioners have joined the Knights of Columbus as a result. “We were already coming together, but this strengthened the relationship.”
He also appreciates the rotating schedule of meals brought by members of each church, noting the excellent Mexican food he would otherwise not have experienced as well as the fellowship opportunities.
“I love all the food. That’s part of the camaraderie, getting people together not only working in individual teams on part of the project but also coming together at the beginning of the day for a devotional, safety instructions, light breakfast and coffee, and then again around lunchtime to just talk and meet.”
Everyone Jones has talked to says they’re enjoying the project, and they’re learning something, he says. Most have never worked in anything construction-related, and they’re getting the opportunity to learn why things are done a certain way and a certain order.
“We’re not building a house, we’re building a community,” Jones says. “That home we’re working on? That’s just an excuse for us to get together and have fun.”
Winston-Salem's Frassati young adult group volunteers for Habitat for Humanity twice a year. In October, they added flooring to one of the new homes.Frassati young adults embrace service with Habitat project
Other Catholics throughout the Diocese of Charlotte are also involved with Habitat for Humanity projects. One example is the Frassati young adults group at St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem. The group completes a Habitat project twice a year and recently had nine members tile a floor for one of the homes in the eastern part of the city, building friendships as they worked.
“We especially enjoy working with Habitat because the service is enjoyable, fun, and makes a tangible difference. It’s really rewarding to look back at the work you did all day and see the progress you made,” says Lori Obendorf, a teacher at St. Leo School and the coordinator of the Habitat projects.
“When we walked into the house in October, the only flooring tiles laid down were in the hallway,” she says. “Seven hours later, we had completed the flooring in 3.5 rooms. It’s fun to look back and say, ‘We did that.’”
The group has adopted four pillars: prayer, study, fellowship and service. Their patron is Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a devout Italian man known for his charity and activism.
“Frassati regularly went to the slums to distribute food, supplies, and even the clothes off his own back. He developed relationships with the people he served and, through his actions, reminded them that they are beloved children of God,” Obendorf says.
The group enjoys activities related to the other pillars, but a major focus is community service. In May, the group attended a dedication ceremony at one of the new homes and were moved by the gratitude expressed by the receiving family.
“We want to make a difference in the lives of people in our own community,” Obendorf says. “Volunteering for organizations like Habitat for Humanity allows us to do just that. Attending the dedication was a great reminder that the homes we have worked on are going to be a game changer for families in need.”
St. Peter parishioners join Charlotte homebuilding effort
St. Peter Parish in Charlotte is participating in the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (CWP), which includes local church partners and many other volunteers from around the world. The project involves the building of approximately 25 homes in Charlotte on a nine-acre property called the Meadows at Plato Price, off Morris Field Drive.
St. Peter parishioners will co-host a build day Dec. 2. Look for a full story in a future edition of the Catholic News Herald.
— Annie Ferguson
