By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Members of the diocesan staff recently chipped in during a pair of Jubilee Habitat Home Build Volunteer Days as progress is made on a new home in Evansville.
Earlier this year, the Diocese of Evansville announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Evansville to build a home for a family in need. The diocese contributed $50,000 for the build, with partnering parishes, schools and individuals contributing the additional funding. The home for Mi’Kyla will be on the 1500 block of Florence Street.
A blessing and groundbreaking was held Oct. 9. Diocese of Evansville Catholic Center and Catholic Charities teams helped with the build on two designated build days Dec. 9 and Dec. 10. Over the two days, over 20 members of the diocesan staff helped with the build.
“It was a blessing for our more than 20 diocesan staff to contribute during their first of several volunteer days on this diocesan-sponsored home,” Diocesan Chancellor and COO Dean Happe said. “We are grateful to partner with Habitat for Humanity and our parishes and the more than 180 volunteers who are helping build this home.”
Happe said being on site with the team during the Jubilee Year of Hope and supporting the new family’s home “was truly inspiring.” He said they are looking forward to the next volunteer work days.
Among the diocesan staff who helped during the build days was all four staff members of the diocesan Catholic Schools Office. Superintendent Michelle Priar said having the opportunity to be a part of a diocesan-wide effort and knowing their work would make a difference for a local family, they immediately decided to get involved.
“It was a fun and rewarding day,” Priar said. “And it was great to work alongside colleagues and friends on such a fulfilling project. A huge shout-out to the Habitat team that we worked with that day, who provided great instructions and direction. They were amazing.”
Diocesan Director of the Office of Worship Matt Miller was at the site on both build days. He said when he arrived Tuesday, the home had its foundation and the floor in place. By the end of the day Tuesday, exterior walls were up. And by the time he walked away Wednesday, the interior walls were up, he said.
“To see that much progress and to see it go from just a foundation, then all of the sudden you can see OK, this is the home,” Miller said. “This is going to be the bedroom. This is going to be the kitchen. This is where this family is going to live. And it just makes it so much more real.”
Miller credited the Habitat crew who facilitated the diocese’s participation. They gave diocesan staff roles where they felt appreciated but also did not give diocesan staff tasks that were beyond their skillset.
“It was fun,” Miller said. “I’ve had several people say that afterwards, just that it was fun. It was work but it was fun.”
The home is expected to be completed in the spring.