The Home Dedication Ceremony was held on July 23
rd for our two Habitat homeowners, Bobbie Dicking and Carmen Sanchez. Seven organizations sponsored building this duplex; however, at this dedication there were two represented – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Mark the Evangelist.
South Collin County Habitat had a great ceremony planned for the 93
rd and 94
th home build (and St Elizabeth Ann Seton’s 2
nd home build). South Collin County Habitat was represented by Sid Buniff, Development Director who said the opening remarks and Erin Johnson, Family Service Manager who introduced the families and remarked on the match of personalities of Bobbie and Carmen. From St. Elizabeth, Fr. Jacob Dankasa blessed the duplex after Jeri Phillips said an opening prayer.
Two spokespersons, one from each of the sponsors represented (Jim Parente from St. Elizabeth and Frank McElligott from St Marks) provided remarks on what the build meant to each of the organizations. Thankfully, due to the heat, both kept their remarks to a minimum.
Jan Sloan, who spent many days at the build site registering the volunteers, then led the group in the Litany of Dedication. If you have been to the build, you would remember that Jan provides homemade cookies at most of the build site days. Bobbie and Carmen were then presented with several gifts (bible, quilt, bread, candle, flowers, home care products, juice, toolbox, and the house key), each of which symbolizes what it takes to make a house a home. Thank you to everyone who contributed these gifts including the Quilt Ministry for the prayer quilt for each homeowner.
Finally, Bobbie and Carmen each shared with the group what this home means to them and their families. They were both very thankful for this home and thanked God, Habitat and St Elizabeth for their blessings. They were surrounded by their families, many of our parishioners and Habitat volunteers who participated on the build. It is important to remember that families that receive a Habitat home pay back the cost of the house with a 30-year interest-free loan. Habitat has been very successful in identifying families that can pay for and maintain the houses they receive.
With the formal part of the ceremony concluded, there was a house walkthrough with the new owners and refreshments, which included ice cream, which was very welcome since the temperature was 100°. See some of the pictures here. Check out all the pictures at www.setonparish.org/habitat.
For more information or to volunteer for the Habitat Team, go to the Habitat for Humanity section of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton website (
www.setonparish.org/habitat). Affordable housing in South Collin County is a challenge for many people. We urge you to join the Seton Habitat Team in Building God’s Kingdom in Faith Through Serving. The Habitat Team will be meeting on September 21
st to plan the next build. This includes both fund raising and the actual build that follows. There will be an announcement in the bulletin on the meeting time and location. The Team welcomes any Seton Parishioner who want to help!