Habitat for Humanity Finishing Up 'Pope Francis Home'

Photo: the Veteran family chosen to live at 79 Kendig St.

Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester announced that in conjunction with Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. the organization is in the final stages of building a four-bedroom, single family home at 79 Kendig St in Worcester, which is referred to as the Pope Francis Home, said an announcement.

Major funding for the house has been made possible by an anonymous donor. On their selection, the Veteran family that was chosen to live in the Pope Francis home noted, “The effort, energy and time that countless volunteers have shown on our behalf is unbelievable. The true community that is at work is amazing. The words “thank you” hardly seem enough. By partnering with Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester and our community, we are poised for greatness.”

The purpose of the Pope Francis House is to:

• Honor Pope Francis for his commitment to social justice and reinvigorating the Catholic Church;
• Provide a unifying, celebratory opportunity for both Catholic and non-Catholic volunteers to work together toward a common goal; as Pope Francis says, “Work confers dignity;”
• Further Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building and preserving homes for families in need. As with all our home builds, the Pope Francis House is being built with volunteer labor.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester selected Marc and Sophie Ewings of Worcester as their first Veterans Build Partner Family for the Pope Francis House at 79 Kendig Street in Worcester. Marc Ewings is a Marine Corp Veteran and currently serves as an Administrative Director for Advocates, a Framingham nonprofit that serves individuals who face developmental, mental health or other challenges. Sophie Ewings, his wife of 11 years, is a professional massage therapist. She has put her practice on hold as she focuses on the daily therapy that their 3 young boys with autism need. She was born in Worcester, graduated from Burncoat Senior High and has played an active role in non-profits in the city, most notable working at the Joy of Music Program for many years.