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SJMCA takes Lead Role in Rebuilding a Camden House! - (10/17/2006)

In cooperation with the Building Trades which is under the leadership of James Kehoe, BM of Local 322, SJMCA Executive Director John Connors took a lead role in the construction of a new home which was donated to The Heart of Camden on October 17, 2006.

It Started with a Prayer! (In the Words of John Connors, Executive Director of the SJMCA) It is not easy to explain Why we did a Home Make-over in Camden, NJ. If you think about Why, I believe, it has to start with the Prayer for Camden. A series of totally unrelated events and people came together and brought trades people, contractors and supply houses to cooperate and accomplish the completion of a gift. Ben, my son, had a summer internship with the School Construction Corporation(SCC) in 2004. One day he told me about a graduation ceremony for people from Camden that involved the construction trades. I attended an uplifting event where Camden people were handed certificates and announced what union local had accepted them to start an apprenticeship. The American Community Partnership(ACP) a SCC funded program had it's first graduation class that day. Training people to learn some basic skills was a noble and practical help for these students. Monsignor Michael Doyle spoke that day. Agnes, my oldest sister, was diagnosed with cancer that summer and I needed to do something. I could not give blood so I thought I should go to Church and pray. Finding a church is not always the easiest thing to do but I found my way over to South Camden, to listen to the words of Father Doyle. They say a Prayer over their about rebuilding Camden. The Heart of Camden is a non profit organization dedicated to working for the good of the community. The Heart of Camden grew from Sacred Heart church; Father Doyle, Sister Peg Hines. You can have an idea but accomplishment is often difficult to achieve. Why not fix a house for the Heart of Camden. But our first inquiry met with some skepticism. Had contractors, supply houses and union trades people done this before?

The project stalled before we ever started. Leo Kelly has an office in our building and we discussed the project and he was disappointed that the project was on hold. Coincidently he knew Father Doyle and an old friend Paddy Mulligan who was active with the Heart of Camden. Leo arrange a meeting with Paddy and he encouraged us to proceed with the project. Jim Kehoe was approached about fixing a house in Camden using contractors and union trades people. He thought we should consider the idea but wanted to ask the other members of the SJ Building Trades. Jim came back and said we could do it and the Contractor trade associations in South Jersey also said they would pitch in and help. Supply houses for the construction industry also were willing to help. Bill Krautwald attended the first kickoff meeting and it was evident that this grizzled journeyman would be a big asset. Bill not only was an experienced electrician but was an instructor at ACP. The idea was offered that we could bring over some of the students from the training program and have them watch the trades people rebuild the house.

When skilled union crafts people come together there are many role models that the Camden residents at ACP could meet. They would also get some real world construction knowledge in the process. We got started with Bill's guidance. Students from ACP went to the job site with an instructor and became involved with the project. But ACP lost it's funding. The SCC did a number of very positive initiatives and funding for ACP was one of them. When the SCC funding was stopped. the ACP program stopped and we lost the partnership. But the Labor of Love project needed to be completed. Phil Nippons the construction director from the Heart of Camden who was with the project from the beginning helped keep the project moving but we still needed a day to day contact person with the Trades. Along came Joe Carney, carpenter, a recent volunteer, who along with other carpenters was hanging sheet rock on the weekends. Joe came at the perfect time and his steady hand and help from the trades brought the project to completion. We did it, we mentored, we built, we completed the beautiful house. WE gave a gift to Camden. Why? THE PRAYER Almighty God, we praise you for all you have done. Help us with all that you want us to do! Come, Holy Creator, and rebuild the City of Camden So that we do not labor in vain without you. Come, Holy Savior, and heal all that is broken In our lives and in our streets. Come, Holy Spirit, and inspire us with energy and willingness To rebuild Camden City to your honor and glory. Amen Father Doyle said they created this prayer 1,000 days before the millennium. It has been said for at least six years by people at Sacred Heart. It worked! Click on the link below to see more pictures from this special day as well as pictures from the initial building process.



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