Volunteers from St. John’s parish and school traveled to Belize City this October to construct the Manning and Marilyn McKay House for a local family in need. Guided by faith and inspired by the McKays’ legacy of service, the team joined Hand in Hand Ministries to bring safe housing and a sense of community to Ms. Eugenie, Mr. Mario, and their young son.

A commissioning ceremony for the home was held on Oct. 11, 2025.

The McKays had their roots in Hollywood and were active in their local, county, and church communities. They exemplified true partnership. Their faith-filled, quiet outreach to community members in need of food and clothing was not widely known. The McKays gave unceasingly of their time, talent, and treasure.

They passed on their commitment to faith and support for the Church and community to their children and family. Six of the volunteers were McKay family members. The nine total volunteers were joined by Chris Kunze, Sister of Charity of Nazareth, who welcomed the opportunity to return to Belize after living there from 2006 to 2017. As the associate director at Camp Maria, Sister Chris also enjoyed the opportunity to engage in mission work with her local community.

The family that the mission team built for was Ms. Eugenie (Jenny) and her 7-year-old son, Mario. Jenny was in an abusive relationship for many years and recently left this situation. She and Mario have been living with her mother in a very small home with several other family members. Jenny works full-time at a factory making foam mattresses and attends online school in the evenings to complete her high school diploma. She has dreams of receiving higher education. She was selected as a recipient based on her demonstrated perseverance, efforts to improve her situation, and the clear need for stable housing for her and her son.

The generosity of St. John’s parish and school became this family’s “village.” Together with the volunteers, drivers, donors, the children’s choir, and St. John’s School alumni serving as lectors during Mass, along with financial gifts from the annual collection, this mission was made possible. Those who prayed for the mission and the safety of the volunteers completed the circle, ensuring the trip was possible, safe, and blessed.

In addition to helping build the McKay home, the volunteers brought shoes, books, composition notebooks, pencils, balls, and beautiful handmade dresses donated through the “Dress a Girl Around the World” program.

The volunteers had a busy week. They enjoyed a tour of Belize City and visited a favorite local artist’s shop, Lizama’s Woodcarving. They also visited the Hand in Hand Ministries (HIHM) Fowler Community Outreach Center, spending time with children in daycare and learning about the HIV/AIDS ministry. In the evenings, the volunteers learned more about HIHM’s Building for Change program, visited with local Sisters, and relaxed during a performance by the Garifuna Dancers. They even toured a local fire station.

The volunteers cherished the experience and will always remember participating in HIHM House Build No. 549: the St. John’s McKay House.

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Kacie Emmerson
Source: https://nazareth.org/