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Lucinda Thompson

April 20, 2002, was a day of celebration for the UNC Student/Chapel of the Cross Partnership of Habitat for Humanity, Orange County.

At 10:00 a.m., our parish's partnership held a dedication of the home built for the Castaneda family in Habitat for Humanity's Richmond Hills community in Efland, NC. The day was warm and filled with sunshine as those Habitat volunteers who helped build the house joined with the family who would live there for a brief but moving dedication ceremony organized by the UNC student chapter of the partnership.

The Reverend Martha Hart of the Chapel of the Cross led those gathered in prayer and dedicated the home to the glory of God. In recognition of the Castaneda's native language, Spanish, part of the dedication was spoken in both English and Spanish. The family was presented with the gift of a Spanish Bible by the parish. The UNC students presented the family with a gift as well, a tool shed they built for the Castanedas -- but not in the Castaneda's back yard, as you might think. From April 8-10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. each day, the student chapter conducted what they called a Pit Build, they literally built the Castaneda's shed in the Pit on the UNC campus. They conceived this project as a way to construct a much-need storage shed for the Castaneda family and as a way to draw attention to and build support for Habitat for Humanity. Once the shed was completed, UNC chapter co-chair Scott McDonald borrowed a flat-bed tow truck, backed it into the Pit, and, with the help of volunteers, hoisted the shed onto the truck and transported it to the Castaneda home site in Efland in time for the dedication ceremony.

The dedication ceremony, which is traditionally held as each of the partnership's Habitat homes are completed, was attended by many participants of the Chapel of the Cross partnership, students and parishioners alike. UNC students, members of the parishioners' Wednesday and Friday on-site work crews, and members of the partnership board were there. Henry and Blanche Clarke, founding members of the parish's partnership, were on hand and brought with them a group from Carol Woods that ranged from long-time Habitat supporters to those newly interested in the Habitat effort.

Immediately following the dedication of the Castaneda's home, Habitat for Humanity Orange County hosted a 100th House Celebration at 11:00 a.m. Later this year, the second Habitat home constructed for the Ramirez family by the Chapel of the Cross Partnership will be dedicated. Please look for the announcement of the dedication in an upcoming "Crossings" and join us.

© 2002: Chapel of the Cross