Partner Family members, volunteers and friends of Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, Inc., gathered to dedicate the property that will soon hold its newest home during a blessing Thursday, September 9, 2009.

Father Don Wolf, pastor of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Shawnee, led the blessing.
The dedication included a prayer for the property, the family which will own the home and the workers who will construct the house on site. Richard and Anita Codopony, one of the Partner Families of Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, Inc., will be the homeowners of the property on Emerald Court.

Habitat for Humanity Partner Families commit to invest in their new home through “sweat equity,” home ownership education, on-time payments and home repair and maintenance.
Sweat equity includes construction work on, or in support of, Habitat homes.

Also at the event, Mrs. Codopony drew the name of the winner of a quilt donated by Carolyn Haywood and Mary Ellen Johnson as a fundraiser for Shawnee Habitat.
The winner was Joyce Stewart, who purchased her raffle ticket when the quilt was displayed at Richards Drug, Inc., on Main Street in Shawnee.

A few weeks ago a group of children and teens from my church in Shawnee loaded up the vans and carpooled over to the Kendell Habitat sites. Our purpose was to pray a blessing on the families who would soon be inhabiting these homes. So as our kids gathered around in a circle under the stars (and curious neighbors peeked out their windows) we prayed an old Celtic prayer of house blessing:

God Bless the corners of this house, and be the lintel blessed. And bless the hearth, and bless the board, and bless each place of rest, bless each door that opens wide to strangers and to kin. And bless each crystal windowpane that lets the sunshine in. And bless the rooftree overhead and every sturdy wall the peace of humanity, the peace of God, the peace of love to all.

These are good times to be a part of Shawnee Habitat for Humanity. As the weather improves this spring, we will be finishing up a home for a single mother and her infant son and beginning construction on a home for a family with four children and a baby on the way. The impact this has on these families and the neighborhoods these new homes are built in is an unfolding reality. Your donations and volunteer spirit makes it possible. Thank you for every ounce of help. You make a difference.
Tim Sean Youmans

Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, Inc. is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit housing ministry based on Christian principles.

We welcome those of any faith-or no faith-to join in the work of building simple, decent, safe and affordable houses in partnership with God's people in need.

Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, OK