By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/5/05)

Across Alexandria this weekend, it looked as though sets of "This Old House" were being created as the stories of homes and the people who have lived in them where shared with community members as they gathered for Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April on National Rebuilding day.

Two groups from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria and a team from the FOCUSSS young adult group at St. Mary Parish in Alexandria were among the groups who worked on homes.

One of the Blessed Sacrament groups worked with Charlene to help repair her mother’s house. Among many projects, layers of old paint were scraped from woodwork to be repainted, ceilings were repaired and painted, doors were fixed, a railing was installed in the basement, and waterproof paint was applied to the walls.

The house was built in 1900 and Charlene, along with her brother, four sisters, two cousins and countless members of the community, spent their childhood there.

"This was a children’s house," she said. "This was everybody’s house. Knock and you shall get."

She said her parents would clean out the garage and put a cot in it for someone to spend a night. They often did not know who the person was, and they would never see them again, but her parents were always willing to help the community in whatever way they could.

The hallway walls, a witness of the work done by Charlene’s mother, is covered with awards and recognitions acknowledging the work that this longtime resident of Alexandria has accomplished over the years.

"Because my mother has been a community activist for decades, I’m really happy the community — finally, after all she’s done — (is) giving back," Charlene said. "People still care and still give back."

Charlene was even more grateful after the visit of Blessed Sacrament Pastor Father John Cregan to the house.

"This house is truly blessed today because Father came through every room and blessed it," she said.

She said she really appreciated the time he took to visit her house and the work done by his parishioners.

When in need, "God always sends someone and today he sent 30 people," Charlene said. "Thank God, thank the community, thank everyone. I’ll probably cry when it’s all over."