KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas is different in nearly all ways from their native Cuba but, by coming here, Alvaro and Idania Pino have found friends, opportunity and their own little future home on the range.
The home is being built courtesy of a partnership between the Church of the Nativity in Leawood, Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan., and Heartland Habitat for Humanity.
The three parishes and Habitat are working with the Pinos to build the home just a few blocks from the cathedral, at 224 N. 13th. A groundbreaking ceremony and blessing were held on April 2.
The Church of the Nativity donated $20,000 to Habitat in 2010, in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The funds came from proceeds raised during the parish’s annual fall festival and a donation from the parish’s outreach ministry.
“In this, our 25th anniversary year, we wanted to touch people’s lives in a meaningful way in keeping with the spirit of the Church of the Nativity mission statement,” said Tom Garbach, director of ministries at Nativity and the staff liaison for the project.
“We also wanted,” he continued, “to give a tangible and visible contribution to the community to demonstrate our parish’s ongoing commitment to help those in need.”
Nativity will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at 4 p.m. on June 26, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, at the Overland Park Convention Center.
