A Hand-Up Builds UNITY, ONE HOME AT A TIME

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1 Let us be renewed by God's mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of His love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation, and make justice and peace flourish. Pope Francis A Hand-Up Builds UNITY, ONE HOME AT A TIME Texas State Regent Eve Trevino said that our commitment to Unity and Charity is the cornerstone of the Catholic Daughters. We are committed to improving the quality of life for families; one family at a time. CDA in partnership with Habitat for Humanity (HfH) is a team building for a common goal. We are grateful to the National Order of the Catholic Daughters for providing Texas a $25, grant, and for the generosity of Texas Catholic Daughter courts and individuals that have donated another $25, for the Corpus Christi Habitat build. By Terrie Vacek, State Public Relations & Website Chairman Pope Francis lead by example the quest towards a vision of a more just and merciful world. He is an ardent supporter of service saying, Help one another as Jesus teaches us. To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete; it means seeing in every person and face, the face of the Lord to be served, and to serve him concretely. This message not only aligns itself with the Catholic Daughters motto and the theme of National Regent Shirley Seyfried, Whatever you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me (Matthew 25:40), it also mirrors the Habitat goal and CDA mission to embrace the principles of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all. That is why Catholic Daughters build, that s why we give a Hand Up ; it s not a handout. Building a Habitat home is not simply providing a family a worthy place to live or the opportunity to becoming a contributor to society and community, we re leading by example and becoming God s instrument of compassionate discipleship. We are the mission and His voice uniting others to God s love and light. These CDA volunteers stand firmly on the concrete foundation where, in less than six (6) hours, they raised the walls of hope just moments before they raised all four exterior walls of the 7 th Texas state build on September 19, 2015.

2 This unified symbol of service, compassion, cooperation, time and generosity, continues to invigorate the Church and our Order. Do we as women naturally take this step forward feeling qualified for such a huge task? The reality is that the Lord never calls the qualified; He qualifies the called. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to reveal Himself to a watching world. When Henry T. Blackaby shared these profound words, he actually provided CDA a subtitle to every Habitat home built by Catholic Daughters. In the ground breaking ceremony, Texas CDA State Chaplain Reverend Bob Dunn said, Help us to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we seek to build a just society and proactive Church bless this site and guard over all who will work here. Now, let s go hit a nail, we re beating the Devil. Nail after nail volunteers raised one wall after another. Building a home and developing community has been most significant in offering us a fundamental meaning in life. At the end of the day, do we really judge the value of our lives by how much money we make, how many things we collect, or how much fame we achieve? Don t we simply feel most satisfied when we know that we have truly affected another person positively, when we have contributed to our communities? In the Joy of the Gospel apostolic exhortation (37-203) Pope Francis states, Works of love directed to one's neighbor are the most perfect external manifestation of the interior grace of the Spirit. At the very heart of the Gospel is life in community and engagement with others. The content of the first proclamation has an immediate moral implication centered on charity. Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. The dignity of each human person and the pursuit of the common good are concerns which ought to shape all to live it more fully and more deeply, to reach out to the poor and broken, to end injustice, to build peace. And to find the joy in all of it. With hearts of love and hands of service Catholic Daughters across Texas, packed with hammers and determination, dedicate their time, talent and treasures beginning with the ground breaking, working through days of sweltering 95-degree temperatures, humidity, and the winter and spring storms. In building a habitat home our members become a beacon of love and present opportunities for volunteers to serve, love, and laugh while building friendships and developing skills.

3 Taking a break from the construction of walls are five Past Texas State Regents Sheila Martinka, Libby Ramirez (Past National Regent), Olga Samaniego (currently First Vice National Regent), Carolyn Malik, and Duchess Collins (Past National Director). Texas State Officers grace the background. Everything is possible to the one who has faith (Mark 9:23), the theme of Texas State Regent Eve Trevino, takes on a new dimension when you hand a woman a hammer or a saw and provide her the means to become the solution to the problem. She gets busy and her selfless acts of kindness built a home and hope. As Catholic Daughters build Habitat homes they develop unity among each other; this process of building community offers an opportunity to share experiences, spirituality, hope and joy. The challenge for each person is to respect and learn from these differences while building on common values. All Community development requires time, effort, and sacrifice while getting back many wonderful, unexpected gifts and an opportunity to create deep, life changing relationships. Regardless of your time and ability to participate in a habitat project, even the smallest of donations toward a Habitat build will enable a qualifying family a home with a zero interest mortgage that will recycle back into future builds. Each home presents the opportunity for Unity within a community; a vibrant community where all individuals, families and neighborhoods can prosper. Members from several Knights of the Columbus counsels, BAY Berry volunteers, Education Service Center volunteers, and young adult volunteer s with Create a Pepper (fighting childhood cancer) were all on site working side by side with CDA members. On the current build, a nine year HfH Care-a-Vanner donated five months working on the Corpus Christi Habitat builds. Twice a month teens from York House, Corpus Christi s Halfway facility, worked on the home learning life, vocational, and educational skills. They were also on hand to set-up and prepare the property for the house blessings and dedication.

4 CDA Campus Court members from St. Mary s University, San Antonio, made a couple road trips to work on the home. Several Catholic Daughter courts cooked and served meals for volunteers each Saturday workday. Younger students helped with meals and the clean-up process. Students from the Corpus Christi Texas A&M Campus spent many long hours of hard labor to improve another s life. God empowers us to go beyond the norm and step into opportunities that walk a journey with individuals working to the best of their ability to more than just survive. The opportunities to grow in unity and charity are endless and have a wide ripple and positive domino effect. And at the end of a productive work day, volunteers take a knee giving thanks for the blessings of community, faith and hope. Texas CDA Campus Court members gathered in Corpus Christi for a State Retreat and Conference working on both the CDA and Pope Francis builds for two days. Pictured with them are JCDA members from Court St. Maria Goretti #2380, Corpus Christi donating work hours and a check for $600.00; their proceeds from a bake sale. Catholic Daughters illustrate the definition of community with each home they build, each time they work together in support of others, or come together and create things to make their lives better. With love as our nourishment, and a unified voice based on our common understanding of God s Will in our lives, we step forward in faith and action knowing that we are working together for a common good.

5 Texas CDA members have a tradition of surrounding the exterior walls of each Habitat home with a message of love, support, and prayers; thus providing a hedge of protection around the house. Back in September 2015 when National Regent Seyfried helped to raise the walls of this home, she left a message of love on one of the exterior wall studs saying, May God Bless you always. At the dedication of the home on April 30 th, Seyfried spoke to the members of the Texas Catholic Daughter Courts who built this home and said, May God Bless you always. This simple act of faith illustrates unity in community! It doesn t have to be a moment in the spot light, but as simple as a prayer or a message on a wooden stud. We are sisters living His love and light inside out! The first Texas CDA state build broke ground in Corpus Christi in The blessing and dedication of that build signified the growing support by National and their eighth sponsored home. Texas Habitat builds became a state project for each State Regents term with the second build in Wichita Falls in 2007, followed by a Texas built and sponsored International home in Mexico in 2008, Eagle Lake in 2011, Victoria in 2012, and Columbus in Texas now celebrates the blessing and dedication of the 7 th CDA Texas State Habitat build (6 th in Texas). Building a Habitat home is giving a deserving family a Hand Up, not a handout. This was the collective message shared at the blessing and dedication Saturday, April 30 th by Most Reverend Bishop Michael Mulvey, Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX; CDA State Regent Eve Trevino, Texas; CDA National Regent Shirley Seyfried, Minnesota; Corpus Christi Mayor Pro Tem Rudy Garza; and Habitat for Humanity Corpus Christi Executive Director Barbara Sweeney.

6 Bishop Mulvey said that in this year of mercy, the efforts and sacrifices of these women have built not only a shelter from the elements, but a home where love may dwell and where a family can know true happiness. It s a home where God, as a welcomed guest, can protect them from harm and be their companion when away. He concluded by thanking the Catholic Daughters for their visible, strong, and concrete love. Community is central to everything we need to feel peace, happiness, and belonging. It s a sense of connectedness and a bond we share as CDA sisters, one of understanding and purpose as we contribute and receive something of importance in return; an intimate relationship with God and others. With each Habitat build the recipients of the homes have shared profound statements that serve as words of encouragement and gratitude: This is a day of new beginnings, new friendships, and a true witness of what Catholic Daughters call unity and charity. It s a home built by angels as they built my house, God was building my heart. I have the prosperity of a new home and the love of CDA Angels. The sky is the limit. I want to be a good role model for my boys by actions and decisions. This home was my wildest fantasy and an answer to my prayers. In just seventeen work days, you built us a home and a future. You put a tile in the concrete at my front door that says As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I want you to know, we will. Everything is bigger in Texas; big hearts with amazing determination, Catholic Daughters, you rock!

7 National Regent Shirley Seyfried shared that when she first got out of college she worked as an Appalachian volunteer in eastern Kentucky. There was a line in her volunteer song that really stuck with her, We believe that in giving we are the ones who receive, we believe that to be a friend, we help friends to believe. Seyfried concluded by saying, CDA and Habitat for Humanity have helped to change the lives of deserving families beginning in 1995 with our first build in Oklahoma City following the Oklahoma City bombing. The National order of the Catholic Daughters has partnered with Habitat in building thirty-two (32) homes. State and Territorial Courts have built an additional twenty-three homes. Catholic Daughters is a place that supports both members and community in many ways; friendships, encouragement, opportunity, growth, resources, prayer and play time. CDA is home and a community; a home built across our nation uniting women and girls from age six to one hundred and six. It s a community that doesn t see the color of skin, how deep your pockets are, or what you can do for me. Catholic Daughters are sisters seeking to be available through our participation in the One who made us, who redeems us, and who transforms us by His continual grace. Our hope touches others in Unity as we share His life and love. Unity in Community is the respect, hope, solidarity, care and love for others. It is an extension and invitation where the purpose in life to know, love, and serve God transforms individuals with a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. Pope John Paul II said We are all one family in the world. Building a community that empowers everyone to attain their full potential through each of us respecting each other s dignity, rights and responsibilities makes the world a better place to live.

8 Among the guest gathering for the April 30 th dedication were CDA National Regent-Elect Helene Shepard, New York; First Vice National Regent Olga Samaniego, Texas; Second Vice National Regent Sherry Nilles, Iowa; National Secretary-Treasurer Vicky Feist, South Dakota; National Director Carolyn Bachmann, Texas; Past National Director and Past Texas State Regent Duchess Collins, Texas; First Vice Texas State Regent Rosie Stockwell, Edinburg, TX; State Secretary Becky Brown, Angleton, TX; State Treasurer Terri Beltran, EL Campo, TX; Past State Regent Sheila Martinka, Victoria, TX; Texas state chairmen, district deputies, and local court members. Habitat volunteers say We build because we believe that everyone, everywhere, should have a healthy place to call home. More than building homes, we strengthen families through affordable homeownership, we build communities, we build hope, and we build the opportunity for families to help themselves. Change takes place in living systems from within and from the efforts of many entities occurring simultaneously. Benjamin Franklin gave us a great reminder about making continuous committed change in our personal lives and for our communities proclaiming that When you're finished changing, you're finished. This reality is important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. Without community service, we wouldn t have a strong quality of life. 1 Corinthians 14:26 Let all things be done for building up. Hands of Service!!!

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25 Sincere gratitude is extended to CDA State HfH chairs Minnie Dennis and Patsy Cantu for their amazing devotion to this build and for providing some of the build photos.