Volunteer Spotlight

Pictured left to right: Sister Mary Catherine Holicky, Nick Olson, Brother Paul Vincent Niebauer, Miguel Salazar, Danae O'Brien and Corey Friend.

St. John's Abbey and St. Benedict's Monastery

Alternative Spring Break Vocation Retreat

 Group led by Brother Paul Vincent Niebauer and Sister Mary Catherine Holicky

"Habitat helps move a cynical society to a respectful society," said Brother Paul Vincent as he spoke about how he wished more community members understood the family selection process.  "Helping families have a stronger foundation helps create a healthier economy."  Brother Paul talked about how complicated the family selection process is and how hard the families actually work for their home. Partnership is a key word for Habitat's vocabulary because all members of the community partner to help build the homes, whether it is families with their sweat equity, volunteers with their labor force or donors for their monetary contributions.

                When we asked Sister Mary Catherine what her favorite part of volunteering with Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity was, she said it was the energy and enthusiasm of the students and how eager they are to work and get the job done. "It's working in relationship with others." She enjoys meeting the CMHFH staff and working with the families and other volunteers on the site. She mentioned how great it is that there are opportunities in our own community in which the students can partake in. She also spoke of how important tasks like sweeping and cleaning are, even though they might appear to be insignificant at the moment. "It's the little pieces that make up the whole."

                Together Brother Paul Vincent and Sister Mary Catherine believe in bringing out their students together to work and worship. They mentioned how none of the students have met each other before their spring break and how amazing it is that they have come together, working for a good cause while living out their values. We at Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity want to thank all them for coming out to the site, getting their hands dirty and living the mission!

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