More than nine months after Hurricane Sandy, the rebuilding process from the storm continues in full force, especially in the Rockaways.

That process has been a team effort, and recently, groups from across the country and around the diocese participated in a weeklong volunteer restoration project at St. Camillus, Rockaway Park, and St. Virgilius, Broad Channel, church buildings.

Bob Choiniere, director of pastoral planning, coordinated the project from the diocesan level. When he lived in Philadelphia, he volunteered for a service group, the Interfaith Community Building Group, whose mission it is to work with communities in need of construction assistance.

This group, founded by Lance and Mary Laver, was looking for a service project close to Philadelphia, so the Lavers contacted Choiniere to see if they could help rebuild from Hurricane Sandy. Choiniere suggested a project at St. Camillus-St. Virgilius.

Father Richie Ahlemeyer, pastor of St. Camillus-St. Virgilius, was grateful to accept the help. St. Camillus needed painting work, landscaping and other various projects, but the parish hall at St. Virgilius required a brand new roof. That building serves as the town center for the entire Broad Channel community.

The Lavers began their group in 1997, with the first project to reconstruct the Rocky Point Missionary Baptist Church in McComb, Miss., that had been torched as part of a series of church burnings across the south.

Lance is Jewish and Mary Catholic, but that has not stopped them from aiding communities in need all over the globe. The group helped rebuild in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and even traveled to El Salvador for service work.

“When we started this, many people thought that this was only about building, but over the years, we’ve come to realize that it’s about building relationships as well,” Lance said.

“To quote St. Francis of Assisi, ‘Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words,’” Mary said. “In other than words, there’s a lot you can do that doesn’t have to do with words.”

In addition to receiving the support from Philadelphia, other groups from around the country felt compelled to offer their services. Sister Maryann Seton Lopiccolo, S.C., episcopal delegate for religious, put out the word to sister groups across the country, and the Presentation Sisters from Dubuque, Iowa, responded in force.

Even after driving nearly 1,000 miles, the group’s enthusiasm never wavered as the volunteers helped in any way they could.

“We really enjoy being of service to others,” said Yvonne Kisch, a lay member of the group organized by the Presentation Sisters. “We felt so bad about what happened to the people of New York. New York has taken a pretty bad hit over the last so many years, and we just wanted to come.

“When you get out here, then you really feel like you were glad you came, because the reports really don’t do it justice. Even though a lot of work has been done, there’s a lot more work left to do.”

Mary Laver was astounded with the response from these sisters, especially given the distance they had to travel.

“We started to think of this project as a volunteer flash mob that got together with wonderful heart, spirit and willingness to go with whatever was needed,” she said.

In total, about 25 volunteers from the various groups aided in the church-rebuilding project.

“Here it was amazing how people all across the country came specifically to help the church but also to build relationships with people here in the church and understand the experience that they’ve been through,” Choiniere said.

Tim Collins, an electrical engineer for General Electric from Greenville, S.C., had some extra vacation time this year, so he decided he wanted to come help the rebuilding process from Sandy.

“When people are put in a situation like this, you want to try to help them as best you can,” he said. “I’m physically able, so I thought I’d take the time to come up and see how I could help out. I don’t think any one individual can do all the work that needs to be done, but by getting together as a team, it really isn’t that big of a deal.”

The footprints of Sandy may still linger in the tri-state area, but years from now, the support from outside groups in the recovery process will be remembered as much as the storm itself.

The response, especially from the interfaith volunteers, further proves that a common tragedy – like a hurricane – can allow all groups to overcome their differences.