By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Members of the diocesan community joined Habitat for Humanity and future homeowner Mi’Kyla in breaking ground for a new home.
The Diocese of Evansville recently announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Evansville to build a home for a family in need. The home for Mi’Kyla will be on the 1500 block of Florence Street.
At the Oct. 9 Diocesan Jubilee Build Blessing and Groundbreaking, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel said it was good to be with everyone in attendance for this momentous day for the family, the diocese and the community to have a new homeowner with a new start. He said they asked for God’s blessing on this effort, home and land, that all the work will be kept safe and brought to fruition.
Bishop Siegel said every 25 years, the Catholic Church has a special Jubilee Year, with the focus this year on hope, with a theme of Pilgrims of Hope, basically proclaiming the hope in Jesus Christ won by his death and resurrection, the source of our hope.
“We’re making that concrete. Actions of mercy, of service, of giving,” Bishop Siegel said.
Diocese of Evansville Chancellor and COO Dean Happe said it was “really invigorating” to see so many in attendance for the Oct. 9 groundbreaking. He said it was a true blessing to welcome everyone to the groundbreaking of the new Habitat for Humanity Home. The groundbreaking was not just about turning over soil but about turning over a new chapter in someone’s life, he said.
Happe thanked the volunteers, donors and partners at Habitat for Humanity in the Building Hope partnership for being instruments of God’s grace. The diocese contributed $50,000 for the build, with partnering parishes, schools and individuals contributing the additional funding.
“This is the gospel in action,” Happe said. “Faith not just spoken but lived. May this house become a true home, a place of peace, a place of safety and joy for Mi’Kyla and her daughter. And a lasting sign really of what we can build together, when we’re united together, when we’re united in Christ. So thank you and may God bless this build and all who take part in it.”
Mi’Kyla will be at least a second-generation Habitat for Humanity homeowner. She said her parents got a Habitat house in 2006. Mi’Kyla and her daughter will move into the house upon its completion.
“I went ahead and applied after I had her, and then I started the progress in March of this year,” she said. “And then I’ve just been putting in hours. I graduated school in May. So between school, being a parent, work and here, I’ve been spread pretty thin, but it’s been nice. It’s been a good journey.”
According to Beth Folz, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, each homeowner contributes 300 sweat equity hours to a Habitat build. This includes helping to build their home but also taking home ownership classes, money management classes and just learning the maintenance of the home. She said it is not an easy program and the future homeowner “has just been knocking it out of the park.”
Folz said Habitat is very grateful to the Catholic community and their friends in the Catholic faith who support Habitat and make homeownership possible for those who otherwise would not be able to afford it.
“They’ve been very generous to us over the years,” Folz said. “And we are just super grateful for their partnership.”
Mi’Kyla expressed appreciation for the support she has received.
“I’m really grateful for the support,” she said. “It always takes a village, especially one in Christ. And I’m glad I have so many people behind me and supporting me and encouraging me…”
Prior to breaking ground on the property, Bishop Siegel prayed for God’s blessing on those who will make the house on Florence Street their home. During the prayer, Bishop Siegel also asked for God’s blessing for those who have and will contribute to the success of the endeavor, and for the courage to recognize Christ in the faces of all those in need.