When we give back to the community, the Lord often arranges things so we receive even more than we give. Such was the case at Irondale, Alabama-based EWTN Global Catholic Network’s 10th Annual Service Day at Habitat for Humanity.
Deacon Chuck Kelly, EWTN Viewer Services Manager
“Over the course of the day, individuals who do not know how to work together learn to work together and we accomplish more than we ever could on our own,” said Deacon Chuck Kelly, EWTN Viewer Services Manager. “Today, we settled into natural teams, and we were able to accomplish a great deal. It’s the opposite of the Tower of Babel!”
Brother Pier Giorgio and Advancement Services Director Matt Leonard
Deacon refers to the Biblical story of the Babylonians wanting to build a tower that they thought could reach the heavens. But, in that case, God wanted the work to fail so he confused the language of the workers so they could not understand each other.
This year’s Bessemer, Alabama build included employees who participated in all 10 builds, those enjoying their first build, and everything in between. All had very personal reasons for joining the all-volunteer effort.
HR Manager Cristina Sigafus and IT Project Manager Chad Key
“I like to help somebody trying to get a new start,” said EWTN IT Project Manager Chad Key, who celebrated his 10th build. “As a young man, I remember how hard it was to get a start. God gives us the opportunity, through EWTN, to help people get that fresh start.”
EWTN Viewer Services Representative Katie Endrey
EWTN Viewer Services Representative Katie Endrey decided to participate in her first build for an even more personal reason. “I’m new to the area. I moved here to work at EWTN. I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet co-workers, and to do something good for Lent.”
Every year, Habitat names one of its builds after Pope Francis and holds it during Lent, 40 days in which Catholic Christians reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ suffered and died for us in order to open the gates of heaven. In His Name, they also do good deeds and make atonement for sin through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
(L to E) Deanna Agbay, Fulfillment Services Associate, and Cathy Bailey, Viewer Services Representative
EWTN Chairman & CEO Michael Warsaw makes an annual donation to the Build and encourages employees to attend by allowing them to work for Habitat instead of their EWTN jobs. EWTN also provides breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks for everyone on site, including the Site Supervisor and, frequently, those for whom the house is being built and their family members.
(L to R) Stephen Lunsford, Viewer Services Research Specialist, Friary Postulant Anthony Pouliot, and Maintenance Supervisor Charles Agby
Anthony Pouliot, who is discerning a vocation as an EWTN Friar, noted that: “It’s important to not just feed people spiritually, but also temporally.”
EWTN television, radio, and shortwave signals traverse the globe spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but Maintenance Supervisor Charles Agby, another employee who has participated in all 10 builds, noted: “It’s important for EWTN to not only do things globally, but locally.”
EWTN HR Manager Cristina Sigafus
At the beginning of the day, Habitat Site Supervisor Eric Click told employees that, contrary to popular belief, Habitat does not give houses away. The organization provides recipients with interest-free mortgages, so they must have jobs to pay for those mortgages, and they must put in many hours of sweat equity to earn their right to homeownership.
“It’s a good mission and it aligns with our values at EWTN,” said EWTN HR Manager Cristina Sigafus.
EWTN Chief of Staff Sue Smeltzer
Perhaps EWTN Chief of Staff Sue Smeltzer summed up the day best when she said: “God calls us to help those in need. This is our way of giving back to the community we live in.”