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St. Francis said, ‘Go out and preach the Gospel to the whole world.’ Our preaching is done with hammers and nails seven days a week.”
Those words were spoken by Jim Killoran, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, in an interview with CNY.
He was discussing the mission of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester and, specifically, Pope Francis House now being built in South Yonkers.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, a house on High Street was purchased and named for Pope Francis well before the papal visit was announced. “This really was a God-incidence, instead of a coincidence,” Killoran said.
“We decided to name it for Pope Francis for his great outreach to the needy and the poor,” said Msgr. Dennis Keane, pastor of Holy Family in New Rochelle who has worked with Habitat for many years. Habitat for Humanity of Westchester is headquartered in New Rochelle.
U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Velazquez, 24, and his family will live in the Yonkers home, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in December. His father, sister and brother and other family members will be living with him. In total, six people will reside there.
Sgt. Velazquez, a religious affairs specialist stationed at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, told CNY that receiving the house is “a dream fulfilled.”
His time in the Army has taught him how to set priorities. “As a leader, I have learned that the most important thing under accomplishing the mission is to always keep the team together,” he said.
“Family is a bond that lasts forever,” he said.
As a soldier, Sgt. Velazquez isn’t afraid of hard work, which is good. Each family puts in 500 hours of “sweat equity” on the home. The family will pay a 20-year mortgage as well.
Speaking about hard work and life challenges, he said, “Though life may bring its challenges, I believe that the harder the battle we face, then the sweeter the victory will be that we obtain.”
Sgt. Velazquez said he was “honored” that his new home is being named for Pope Francis.
“In the U.S. Army, I have learned that you have to stand for more than yourself,” he said. “My military uniform doesn’t have my first name on it. It has my last name. Therefore my actions as a soldier represent my family as I represent them.”
He added, “In the same way this home won’t only be the residence of the Velazquez family, this building at the top of the hill in Yonkers represents the Kingdom of God, His goodness, and His blessings which overflow.”
Helping to build the home are students of the archdiocese, including those from Fordham University, the Bronx, and Iona College, New Rochelle, and School of the Holy Child, Rye, and Mount St. Michael Academy, the Bronx, among others. Parishes providing assistance include Holy Family, New Rochelle; St. Augustine’s, Larchmont; and St. Joseph’s, Bronxville. Other religious and non-religious groups have also volunteered.
“I just think of St. Francis who this pope took his name from,” Msgr. Keane said. “St. Francis was told to ‘rebuild my church.’ We are rebuilding a home for God’s people. It’s great to see people actively involved in this.”
Killoran explained, “Pope Francis has brought to the agenda again that poverty needs to be ended. This is a catalyst for every person of faith, no matter what religion, to help to end poverty in one of the wealthiest counties in the world.”
“This is a call to rebuild communities,” Killoran added. “The pope is reinvigorating the mission of the Church to love one another and to care for the poor for the love of God.” The pope’s environmentally alert spirit also drew his praise.
Since 1996, Habitat for Humanity of Westchester has built “green” houses. For example, the Yonkers house is being rehabilitated, a sustainable form of construction that utilizes parts of the previous structure as well as recycled materials. Also, the home will feature solar panels, energy-efficient insulation and appliances, and a tank-less water heater.
“The pope’s encyclical is written on the walls,” said Killoran, speaking metaphorically. The pope’s second encyclical, Laudato Si’ (“Praise Be to You”), with the subtitle “On Care for Our Common Home,” issued in May, calls on society to take better care of the earth.
“This is an imperative to have green communities in New York.”
At the end of the interview, Killoran emphasized, “We aren’t just doing this in honor of Pope Francis, we are doing this in honor of the Lord.”
