Benedictines Wield Hammers for Habitat

When Sr. Phyllis McMurray, OSB, arrived at the Habitat for Humanity home-building project in East Moline, Ill., on a brisk September Saturday recently, she took a step toward fulfilling a dream for not only the home's future resident, but for herself as well. The reason? She always wanted to build a house.

"The house was in a very raw stage yet," Sr. Phyllis says. "We spent our day taking braces off the wall, hammering nails into boards, cutting roofing shingles and taking nails out of boards. I loved it."

The home's future owner was there to help, too. Elisa Hodges (second from right, above) enjoyed the work as much as did Sr. Phyllis, but also enjoyed picturing where her furniture would go.

While five Sisters (pictured above and listed below) hammered and sawed, five other Sisters provided lunch for the laborers at a church down the street. Those who provided lunch included Sisters Marlene Miller, Anne Newcomer, Catherine Maloney, Charlotte Sonneville, and Rosemary Becker.

"Knowing you're helping a family is a great feeling," Sr. Phyllis says. "It's fun to get to know the other workers, too. You have a lot of respect for them because they are volunteering their time, just as you are. It was a wonderful experience. I look forward to doing it again!"

Pictured above: Elisa Hodges, second from right, poses with, from left, Sisters Ruth Ksyki, Claudia Scharf, Susan Hutchens, and Sheila McGrath. Sr. Phyllis McMurray - another hammer-wielder pictured at right - took the picture. Pictured at right, in descending order, Sr. Anne Newcomer ladles out lunch, Sr. Claudia Scharf hammers a board, Sr. Marlene Miller welomes a guest to lunch, Sr. Ruth Ksycki moves a board, Sr. Sheila McGrath cuts shingles, and Sr. Susan Hutchens hammers a board.

---