PLAINSBORO: Queenship of Mary to be home in time for Easter

By Allison Musante, Staff Writer
   PLAINSBORO — “We’re going home!” the Rev. Robert Medley announced to his parishioners on Sunday.
   Just in time for Easter, the doors of the Queenship of Mary church will reopen on Saturday for mass and activities. The parishioners were displaced for the past three months for major repairs to the church’s roof, which nearly collapsed in January.
   ”The roof has been repaired and is holding up well and the expectation is that it will now hold up for the life of the building,” said Father Medley said. “In order to shore up the roof, our entire sanctuary and part of our kitchen had to be torn apart. They’re now in the process of being put back together.”
   On the morning of Jan. 19, a steel plate supporting the main beams of the roof snapped, causing the roof to slide several inches onto a back wall. The total cost of the damage was about $300,000, said Father Medley, the bulk of which was covered by insurance.
   The cause for the snapped beam could not be determined, he said.
   Many other churches and area schools lent support and space for services and activities. The church relocated Sunday masses to the former St. Joseph’s Seminary for Sunday and held daily mass at the Walker-Gordon Farm clubhouse.
   ”Originally we thought we only had the seminary until end of February, with the new Princeton Center for Arts and Education moving in, but we worked it out and they generously allowed us to stay longer.”
   Other spaces were provided by the Community Middle School, the Town Center School, the Wyndhurst Clubhouse, the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Princeton Alliance, St. Augustine Parish, St. Cecilia Parish, and the St. Paul Parish. Many parishioners also offered their homes.
   ”We also have to thank Plainsboro Township for being so cooperative and getting all of our permits and things through very quickly,” he said.
   Father Medley said he viewed the event as an opportunity to make other repairs, such as replacing the tile in the nave and narthex of the church, giving the doors a new interior and making the sanctuary more accessible by adding a ramp and handrail.
   ”In addition to these there will be a few surprises when you return,” he said. “Don’t worry, nothing major. Just a few subtle tweaks that I think will enhance the beauty of our parish church, along with one very practical item.”
   ”It has been a long 11 weeks, but we are almost home and with that there will be much gratitude to share, much information to discuss and many stories to tell,” he said. “Let’s pray that our return home comes quickly and goes smoothly, it will be a very good thing to see all of you in our own church once again.”