First-year seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary recently went to Black Mountain to help construct new homes for survivors of Helene. Many of the men volunteered with Catholic Charities to find and deliver emergency supplies immediately after the storm. (Antonio Garcia | Catholic News Herald) BLACK MOUNTAIN — The steady rhythm of hammers and saws blended with laughter and quiet prayer on the morning of June 3, as six seminarians set out to volunteer with an ongoing Catholic Charities construction project for Hurricane Helene survivors.
Nestled between the Black Mountain range and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountain endured devastating flooding more than eight months ago when Tropical Storm Helene made landfall in western North Carolina. Since then, with the help of various local and federal organizations, the region has begun to focus on recovering after the disaster, rather than just surviving.
One of those organizations, Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), in partnership with Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, has made great strides in rebuilding hard-hit areas of western North Carolina. With construction projects popping up around the region, the first-year class of St. Joseph College Seminary saw an opportunity to live out their faith by volunteering to rebuild homes through a new initiative sponsored by CORE and Catholic Charities, the WNC Home Rebuild Program.
Throughout their first year of priestly formation, the men of St. Joseph’s have traveled around the Diocese of Charlotte, getting to know the many parishes and ministries.
Father Brian Becker reflected on the importance of this recent trip to Black Mountain, where they spent the day aiding in the construction of new homes for survivors of Helene.
“When Helene struck our diocese early into their first year, our seminarians volunteered alongside Catholic Charities to help find and deliver emergency supplies to western North Carolina,” Father Becker said. “This trip to Asheville was a chance for the men to see how this recovery process has progressed so far.”
The trip served as a chance to connect with the community and learn about the importance of long-term recovery.
In their trip to Black Mountain, these seminarians did not just bring a willingness to serve and manpower to the construction site, they brought the presence of the Church, active and alive among the people. They came to western North Carolina to rebuild homes, but they left having built a sense of community and a newfound awareness of North Carolina’s resilience.
“The trip helped them see just how far the people of the region have to go to make a full recovery,” Father Becker stated.
Their service is a powerful reminder that religious life is not confined to chapels or classrooms – it’s lived out in the mud, the mess and the moments of solidarity. As western
North Carolina continues to recover, the witness of these six young men sends a clear message: the Church is here. And it is rebuilding, one home – and heart – at a time.
Grace Kunik is media assistant for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and is capturing the stories of the people who are recovering from and aiding in the recovery from Tropical Storm Helene.
— Grace Kunik
