Women Religious Making a Difference

For one week each year, up to 100 nuns and members of Catholic communities from across the country join St. Bernard Project (SBP) for a Nuns Build event to help rebuild houses and bring families home in New Orleans.  In an incredible outpouring of support, these volunteers take on unfamiliar construction tasks like hanging drywall to laying flooring.  These supervised efforts help SBP further its mission to return New Orleans families home quickly and affordably.

In addition to volunteers spending time on site rebuilding, Nuns Build often also includes several special events to celebrate the successes of the week and to reflect upon the ongoing needs in the city, such as a Welcome Home Party or a lunch generously donated by local Knights of Columbus or Most Holy Trinity parishioners.  Volunteers also attend a dinner hosted by several St. Bernard Parish families who cook dinner to thank volunteers for helping rebuild the city.

Many volunteers have attended several Nuns Build events over the years. Thank you to all those Nuns Build participants who have made a truly inspirational commitment to rebuilding New Orleans and to helping families return home over the last four years!

*Registration for Nuns Build 2012 (Nov. 12-16, 2012) will be available here in the spring.*

Read more from some of the participants at Nuns Build 2011:

Fourth annual event helps New Orleans homeowners, by Cindy Carver in Dominican Life USA

CSJ Sisters, Associates, and Employees Help Rebuild New Orleans by Anne Hultgren

Parishioners to join nuns in effort to rebuild homes by Patrick Thomas

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Nuns Build Updates

Sisters Participate in November Nuns’ Build by Sisters Pat Marie Bernard, Mary Fran Davisson and Joyce Richter

Another Successful Nuns Build Week by Sisters of Charity Federation

Or check out this video made about Nuns Build 2010:

*Video filmed and produced by Nathan Mihelich