Building trust, unifying the Greensboro community
GREENSBORO — When Don and Mary Gay Brady decided to fund construction of a new home for a local family in need, they envisioned unifying fellow parishioners through teamwork for a worthwhile cause. What they didn’t expect, however, was to bridge the cultural gap between different faith traditions. As it turns out, God had higher plans.
Members of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, the Bradys inspired between 50 and 75 parishioners to turn out for the initial interest meeting for the Habitat for Humanity build more than a year ago – the largest group the Greensboro organization had ever had come together for a project.
Overcoming various complications and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the four-bedroom home was recently completed. The owners are a Muslim family of five from Khartoum, Sudan: Salaheldin and Sanna Abdalla and their three children: Reem, 15; Ramee, 13; and Raaft, 9.
The family came to the United States via the federal government’s visa lottery in 2017 in search of better opportunities in healthcare, education and employment. Both parents work at Procter & Gamble.
They said they are grateful that thanks to Habitat for Humanity, their children will have their own rooms, plenty of space to play, and a place they will call home and grow up in.
Don Brady was overjoyed for the Abdalla family upon the completion of the project.
“It’s wonderful. I’m happy for the mother and father and three young children. It’s a testament to the community and our acceptance of immigrants,” he said.
Added David Kolosieke, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro and a parishioner of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro, “The Abdalla family was blessed by the generosity of Don and Mary Gay Brady, who sponsored this house in honor of the Our Lady of Grace community. It was an excellent community-building experience for the congregation, and made possible homeownership for the 501st family served by Habitat Greensboro.”
Because volunteers were not allowed on the job site after pandemic restrictions took effect, Habitat employees finished the home, and the Aug. 7 dedication was streamed live on Facebook. Present at the dedication were the Brady and Abdalla families; Kolosieke from Habitat; Sheikh Yaser Ahmed, the leader of the Islamic Center of Greensboro; Pastor DeJuan Harris of Calvary 
Christian Center; and Father Michael Carlson, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Parish.
In his opening prayer, Sheikh Ahmed said, “O God, bless this house and bless the family that will live in it. Shower them with mercy, peace and tranquility, and unite their hearts and let them live in peace in this beautiful neighborhood.”
Then, Father Carlson welcomed the Abdalla family and gave them an Irish blessing.
He also reflected on the experience: “Last fall, I was out here when we first started the building project and were putting up the walls.
Everyone was working together doing their part, and I thought to myself, ‘What a beautiful thing to see. What if our communities could be like that? What if our city of Greensboro could be like that?’ All of us working together to help each other out, to give each other that helping hand up that we all need at one time or another.”
Another blessing came when Brady learned that he and Sheikh Ahmed are closer than he realized. As providence would have it, his business – Brady Services on 16th Street – and Sheikh Ahmed’s mosque are neighbors. The two met for the first time at the dedication.
“When we made the decision to donate this home, we had no idea that we’d be bringing Catholics and Muslims together,” Brady said with considerable emotion during the dedication. “What a beautiful, beautiful thing to do.”
— Annie Ferguson, Correspondent.
Pictured: The Abdalla family – Salaheldin and Sanna Abdalla and their three children, Ramee, Raaft and Reem – pose outside their new home in Greensboro with some of the people who helped make the project possible: Don Brady, local businessman and member of Our Lady of Grace Church; David Kolosieke, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro; and DeJuan Harris, Habitat board member and pastor at Calvary Christian Center. Offering prayers at the opening of their new home were Father Michael Carlson and Sheikh Yaser Ahmed. Don Brady and Sheikh Ahmed meet during the dedication of the Abdalla family’s new home. (Photos provided)