Bill Chafin and Don Miller stand in front of the former Redemptorist Monastery that served as the rectory for St. Gerard’s Church.
Here is a typical dorm room ready and waiting for a homeless veteran. Various companies and organizations sponsored and furnished the ten rooms in the former rectory.
Grand Knight Bill Chafin (left) is pictured here with the Grace House Director, Shawn Doney, who is putting the finishing touches on the place for homeless vets.
In a previous issue of The Harvest (May-June 2016), William Chafin, Grand Knight of Council 9395 in Great Falls, wrote an article about the transformation of the former Redemptorist Monastery (former rectory for St. Gerard Church), into a place for homeless vets. He detailed the cooperative effort with the Cascade County St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Malmstrom Air Force Base RED HORSE Squadron to remodel the place from top to bottom.
Over 150 pairs of hands have continued the effort to complete the project, which was conceived in January, 2016. It has been dubbed “Grace Home,” and it will soon be ready for occupancy.
There will be room for 10 homeless veterans, including one handicapped accessible dorm. There will be space set aside for psychological counseling, a spacious dining room and recreation room, laundry, kitchen and storage. Many local agencies are contributing man-hours to get the place ready for a dedication set for September 24, 2016. Bishop Warfel and representatives of the various organizations contributing to the project will gather for a blessing and open-house.
As Chafin noted in his previous submission, “This is why Grace Home Centers should be created, in key places, around our great country to help catch these veterans in their time of adjusting to civilian life. We as Knights of Columbus support the Fourth Degree (Patriotism) and our First Degree (Charity). This is why Grace Home fits the Knights of Columbus.”
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