Arthur Tafoya exchanged his traditional bishop’s staff for a hammer recently as he joined a group of volunteers in building Pueblo’s newest Habitat for Humanity home.
The three-bedroom home was being built as part of Habitat for Humanities’ “Building on Faith Week” in which approximately 10,000 homes were being constructed worldwide.
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that uses volunteers to construct homes for low-income families. Families who receive Habitat homes are required to put in at least 500 hours of “sweat equity.”
“The diocese got involved because we want there to be decent housing for all families,” said Tafoya, bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo. “This is part of our social justice mission, to have housing for all.”
So, Tafoya joined members of St. Pius X, St. Peter’s in Pueblo West and several other Catholic volunteers in building the walls to the house, which will become the home of a single mother and her two children.
“I’ve been out here pounding nails,” said Tafoya, decked out in a baseball cap, T-shirt and khaki pants. “It’s pretty exciting to be working with people who care to see that others have a decent place to live.”
Donna Maes was among the individuals who volunteered to work on the house. “It’s really a neat feeling to work with so many people who get together for the good of someone else,” she said.
Maes, who works for the Pueblo District Court, said she was able to spend the day building the house, thanks to a new program offered to judicial district employees.
She said employees are granted administrative leave to participate in community service activities.
“This is a really good opportunity for the employees to give back to their community,” she said.
Ginny Weller, volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, said approximately 30 people from the diocese worked on the project.
“We usually have 5 to 7 people out each week, so to have 30 was really good,” she said. “Most of these people have had no experience but they’ve done a wonderful job. They already have two walls put up and are working on a third.”
