CCC - On the Local Scene
by
Karl Huebner
On July 24th and 31st work was performed by members of the Catholic Construction Corps at the Christian Bros. Edmund House in Joliet. On Saturday, the 24th, Vern Witte finished the frame work for a small porch roof on one side of the house, Karl Huebner put up flashing and tar paper on another small porch roof on the north side of the house. The work on the two porches had been started on May 22nd by Steve Foght, Vern, Vern's friend Bob, and Karl. On that day one dilapidated roof was completely dismantled and the other was repaired in preparation for a new layer of tar paper, flashing and shingles. It happened that there was an all day fish fry at a neighboring church on that day, so the CCC had fish and spaghetti for lunch.
On Saturday, July 31st, Jeanne and Art Sheridan, Sue Vilim and Karl worked at the house. Karen Carlson also had volunteered to help, but her 15 year old cousin was killed in a tragic accident. Our prayers go out to Karen, Bruce and their family. On the 31st Art shingled the porch roof on the north side, while Jeanne, Sue and Karl worked on filling in some drywall and flooring in an upstairs bedroom. The room originally was a kitchen in the four flat house. The brothers removed the cabinets and sink so drywall and flooring repairs were needed to convert the room to a bedroom. The brothers made sandwiches for the CCC and pop was provided by some roving young adults. They were with a religious group called Vineyard and were walking the neighborhood, pulling a wagon with an ice cooler in it, giving away free pop and information about Vineyard. We exchange information about our two ministries, the CCC and Vineyard. Brother Pete and Brother Allen discussed their work in the neighborhood.
Food and drink seem to be a part of the CCC's ministry. When we were in Bolivia if Father Jouquin was not trying to feed us, Hermana Celina and the other sisters were. Even in the barrios our friends shared potatoes, corn on the cob and tea with us as we worked at their homes. The Charismatic youth groups provided us with pop and dessert. And none of us who went to Birmingham can forget the wonderful fellowship and food that we shared with our Mennonite friends; cooked by Amish ladies from Indiana.
The adventures of the CCC continue. The Brothers need some upstairs rooms divided to accommodate sleeping rooms for lay volunteers. The roof on the south porch needs to be shingled. There's painting to be done, maybe some yard work and mostly getting the word out that the brothers are in the neighborhood and are recruiting lay volunteers for the Lord. Next Saturday morning, August 14th, Vern, Bruce and Karl are meeting Angie Clements in Hopkins Park. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart are taking our group to see three elderly couples' homes that are in need of repair. We are going to evaluate the needs and see if there is anything the CCC can do to assist. There has been a request from a parish in Kankakee for remodeling a home for wheel chair accessibility. The CCC needs to look at that also. September will be here soon and the MDS trip to OK/KS. Then October and a group of CCCers go to Sucre. And the Lord only knows where the Catholic Construction Corps will go from there. Lead us on, God....... Digo Si!