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St. Petersburg Edition
A labor of Christian love Pastoral Center employees participating in small Christian communities help paint a Habitat for Humanity home. St. Petersburg Paint splatters and construction dust failed to hide a message carried on the backs of about a dozen Pastoral Center employees Jan. 17. "Offer prayer. Share faith. Gather hope."
Perhaps it was because, on that day, the message was visible not just on T-shirts, but in the actions of those working on a Pinellas Habitat for Humanity house in St. Petersburg. The Pastoral Center team, made up of members of small Christian communities and, in several cases, their spouses, picked up brushes and rollers and spent six hours painting the walls and trim of a home being built for a woman and her two children. Most members of the Pastoral Center's small Christian communities volunteer in the general community as individuals, but the faith groups also work together on projects that help the community. "We try to do something at least a couple times a year," said Kathy Proefke, associate director of the diocesan Office of Worship. "We want to put our Christianity into action." "Scripture tells us to feed the poor, clothe the poor," she said. "It's a privilege to be able to do that." In the past, most of the small Christian communities' group projects have centered on taking and delivering donations for service programs such as Catholic Charities' Pregnancy Plus Centers and the diocesan port ministry. This year, members decided to volunteer on-site. The employees decided last fall to make a Habitat project part of their outreach efforts. "I knew about Habitat for Humanity so I … asked who would be interested in this project," Proefke said. "They were all very supportive." Habitat for Humanity has been active in Pinellas County since 1985 and has built more than 100 homes, according to the organization. The program operates on the premise that home ownership contributes to family stability, which leads to community stability. Robert Reeves, Pinellas Habitat for Humanity's volunteer and development coordinator, said the house the Pastoral Center staffers worked on will be sold to at no profit to a low-income homeowner and financed with a no-interest loan. "It will be new home construction — three bedrooms, two baths," she said. "We provide simple, decent, affordable housing for low-income people." Although he was not part of the group that painted Jan. 17, Steve Zientek, manager of the diocese's Real Estate and Planning department, has worked on several Habitat homes and long has been impressed by the organization. "I used to take unholy joy in telling people I personally put the roofs over the heads of 10 Habitat families. … "I was in charge of nailing up the wood," he said. "I very much believe in the community-building and responsibility-taking that is involved in (Habitat's) process," he continued. "The families (who buy the homes) have to put in sweat equity. They have to put in so many hours — not just on their own home, but on other people's homes as well." Engram said the building program draws volunteers of many levels of experience. Some are construction professionals, but a person who has never worked on a home also can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. "Actually, the majority of our volunteers do not have construction experience," she said. "All they need is a willingness to learn." Habitat for Humanity is currently constructing nine homes in Pinellas County. Church groups often are active in the organization. "We have several Catholic churches that send out groups regularly, but we can always use more," Engram said. "It's very easy to get started volunteering with us." For more information on Pinellas Habitat for Humanity, call 727-536-4755 or visit the organization's Web site at www.phfh.org. |
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