As part of the 25th anniversary as a congregation, Queenship of Mary Church is sponsoring the construction of a home in East Windsor, to be used by a family chosen by Habitat for Humanity. The building of a Habitat for Humanity house aligns with the theme for the year-long celebration: “In Him, We Build Together.” The groundbreaking was held and a two-week intense build during weekends and weekdays, is in progress. The present plan has the work completing in August, 2007.##M:[more]##
Linda Principe of Plainsboro is the co-chairman of the project. “I had always wanted to do something with Habitat and when Father Bob asked for volunteers I figured I would do a little something,” she says. In March, 2006, she found herself as co-chairman, and has been organizing and planning for 14 months. Her co-chair is Richard Johnson, a parishioner from Cranbury.
“We knew then that East Windsor was donating a parcel of land and that Habitat chose the family. Right now we are ahead of schedule,” Principe says. So many people are donating hours and hours of time.”
Committee chairs from Plainsboro include Vince Colonna, family selection; Kathy Troy, fundraising; Fran O’Connell and Ann Jackman, volunteers; Henry Wieck, children’s projects; Connie Persico, family nurturer; and Myriam Radia, publicity.
“We meet with committee heads once a month, Richard and I meet to go over items, and we alternate going to Habitat board meetings to report on our progress,” she says.
The building coordinator is Bill Gittings, architect and owner of Gittings Associates are in Plainsboro. He and another architect from the parish, Ed Klimek of Plainsboro, designed the house.
Born in Brooklyn, Principe was raised on Long Island and had a background in advertising and marketing. She and her husband, Lou, moved to Plainsboro 21 years ago because of his job with Merrill Lynch. “I loved decorating as a hobby and took classes at Mercer College,” she says. “When my job was eliminated I pursued interior decorating.” She began her business 19 years ago.
Their daughter, Jennifer, is a junior at South. She plays the clarinet in wind symphony and marching band. A youth group leader at the church for the past three years, she will also be working on the Habitat project.
“Working with the Queenship committee members as well as the Habitat board has been such a rewarding experience thus far,” says Principe. “I have always wanted to participate in a Habitat project, and I am thankful for the opportunity to do so through Queenship of Mary’s 25th anniversary celebration.”
