Apostle Build house becomes a home
Dora Miller’s job at GraceMed does not involve carpentry, but she learned a few things about that trade in the months leading up to the day on which she and her son accepted the keys to a house that had been restored as the Catholic Diocese of Wichita’s 2025 Apostle Build project.
Home recipients in the program, which is a partnership between the diocese and Wichita Habitat for Humanity, not only pursue 40 hours of home buyer education classes, but also must contribute at least 250 hours of “sweat equity,” in which they also help with construction work. Apostle Build volunteers need not have any homebuilding expertise or experience, thanks to the on-site supervision and help they receive, and Miller invested more than 300 hours of work in restoring a house that was to become her home.
But she found herself questioning the supervisors’ judgment the first time they handed her a nail gun, which made her anxious for the safety of those in her immediate vicinity. “In the back of my mind, I was like, ‘I’m gonna kill somebody here, because I don’t have a clue what I’m doing,’” she said.
But as she invested that sweat equity into helping restore a boarded-up and vacant Northeast Wichita house, Miller said she not only learned a thing or two about building a home, but also maintaining one.
“Now if you tell me, ‘We’re gonna get you a nail gun,’ I say ‘Okay, let’s get it done,’” she said. “That helped me with a lot of my fears that if something needs to be fixed, I can do it.”
Miller took possession of the home, on which she will make payments that fit within her budget, on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 25, at a dedication ceremony and blessing of the home and family that was led by Bishop Carl Kemme, Wichita Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Danielle Johnson, and Diocese of Wichita Office of Respect Life and Social Justice Director Bonnie Toombs.
Bishop Kemme noted that the diocese sponsors an Apostle Build home every two years and planned to continue doing so.
“It’s always a sign of great hope and encouragement when we see people moving into new homes and getting all that they need to flourish as families,” he said. “It’s a wonderful way for us, as the Catholic Church, to partner with Habitat for Humanity. It is very, very much within our Catholic values and priorities – helping people in their needs. That’s what Christ wants us to do.”
Johnson began the dedication by expressing appreciation to everyone who helped make the day possible. “I want to thank each and every one of you that have come out to volunteer, support, engage,” she said. “This has been a labor of love.”
She noted that Miller’s house was part of a boader undertaking to restore an entire block of houses in the neighborhood. “We don’t generally do a whole block of rehab; we generally do new construction,” she said. “We are so blessed to have the initiative and vision to ensure that we are moving right along.”
Miller acknowledged she was excited that her new neighbors also would soon take possession of homes on the street, and noted that one of her closest friends was scheduled to be among them. “This has been one of my biggest dreams,” she said. “It has a very exciting journey.”
