By Paula Day

A home rehabilitation project proved to be a diamond in the rough for five Catholic Communities.

The parishes, all in Cobb County, worked together this summer to renovate six houses as part of Habitat for Humanity.

On Oct. 30, volunteers celebrated the results of their teamwork. Three completely renovated houses, standing spic and span next to each other, were dedicated and a fourth nearby house will be ready by the end of 1993. Two more homes are scheduled for spring occupancy.

Called Riverside Revival, the project involved more than 800 parishioners from Holy Family Church, St. Ann and Transfiguration in Marietta, St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna and St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw. Cobb County Habitat for Humanity, Inc. located the property and the O.C. Hubert Charitable Trust donated the houses.

Every Saturday from June 12 to Oct. 23 work crews from the parishes gathered under the guidance of Holy Family's Dan Shea and St. Catherine's Gary Shirley. The volunteers gutted the houses and then replaced walls, plumbing, electrical and heating systems. New siding, driveways and landscaping completed the transformation. Shea and Shirley are Habitat regulars who, with several hundred others, personify the definition of an amateur as "a lover of an art of activity." In this case, the art is renovating houses.

The two men, neither a builder by profession, wanted to tackle something challenging. Shea was elated when the Riverside project surfaced.

"It was an absolute diamond," he recalls. "Uglier than most. We knew we were going to do it, but didn't know how we would get the money." Habitat estimates it takes $10,000 to renovate one house.

"Rehab is more challenging than building new," Shirley said, "and most sponsors want to be involved in new construction."

Jim Rothschild of St. Ann's said, "Even pagans can build houses for poor people with a full bank account. It takes a leap of faith in others and in God to take this on and trust that God will provide." In the end 73 businesses contributed food and in-kind materials for the project.

Bringing together the know-how, volunteers and contributions of several parishes was the vision of St. Thomas parishioner Cynthia Fitzpatrick. Liaison between Habitat and the parishes throughout the renovations, she described a typical day:

"It's 7:30 a.m. on a hot humid Saturday morning. Volunteers are gathering for a special morning prayer before beginning a grueling four to eight-hour shift ... (They) come in all shapes and sizes ranging from preteens to 60 something. A few are truly experts but most are weekend handymen and women ... With happy faces and hammers in hand (they) gather each week to transform four old houses into four new homes. It's Habitat for Humanity, Catholic style."

Between 100 and 150 volunteers gathered in off-again, on-again rain Oct. 30 for the dedication of the three homes.

Father Pat Bishop of Transfiguration, Father Don Baribeau of St. Thomas, and Father Paul Fogarty of Holy Family offered prayers and blessing.

The new occupants, Janice Sallaway, Dee Stallworth and Janice Norwood, together with their family members, were given keys to the hard-won homes they had helped build. Each family also received a hammer and Bible, symbols of their labor and faith.

Voice choking, Janice Sallaway expressed feelings shared by her neighbors. "I don't know what to say. It's so nice to be able to have a home. I'm so happy."