“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” is a phrase long associated with the American postal worker. Watching with wide-eyed wonder what is being accomplished in our yard, we can say: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night hinders our brilliant builders.”
left to right – Ed and Steve (INTECH Construction), Mother, Jeff Boylan (architect, SFCS Inc.), Amy Michalek (Plante Moran Living Forward, owner’s rep), Sr. Maria Catherine
HOW DID THESE WONDER WORKERS GET HERE?
Although Philadelphia’s skyline blazes with the sights and sounds of the wealthy and powerful, large portions of the city, are crumbling with age. It is in one such area of Philadelphia that the Little Sisters have operated Holy Family Home for over 150 years. Back in 2015, the current structures, over 50 years old, no longer complied with the fire and safety code. With much prayer and guidance, the Little Sisters realized the need to embark on a building project. St Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor and her successors have built hundreds of homes for God’s needy elderly all over the world, over the past two centuries, always with total trust in God’s BANK OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. Mother General, Mother Provincial and their Councilors were guided by the words of Psalm 127, “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the laborers work.” They turned to the Lord for his help and proceeded to engage Architects, Engineers and Contractors. They agreed upon a 3-phased Timeline. No one but God knew of the unexpected setbacks of a worldwide pandemic, but our wonder workers were not laboring in vain. Neither snow and rain, nor heat and gloom could stop them. Our hopes and dreams would slowly evolve into the wondrous new home taking shape before our eyes.
WONDER-WORKER COLLABORATORS
Vinny, Leo, Ron, and Bob are just a few of the many wonder workers building our new Home.
Vinny is a roofer. (Pictured here in the orange shirt, working on the roof of the new dining room for the Apartment Residents.) His father and grandfather were both roofers. He is happy to contribute to a great new place for old folks. Vinny enjoys his work on Holy Family Home because, of all the places he has worked, he has found folks here easier to get along with! Vinny lives in Jersey.
Leo was born and raised 10 blocks away from Holy Family Home, at 65th & Guyer Ave. His family moved to Delaware County and Leo attended Chichester Senior High. He became a carpenter, as is his father. Leo loves working here on our Building Project, because, he says, it’s for special people in a special neighborhood!
Ron, the Electrician, is from South Philly. His grandmother had a close friend who lived and died at Holy Family Home. Ron’s mother is looking forward to the completion of our chapel, which is in the process of being renovated, so she can attend Holy Mass here. Besides the spiritual graces she will receive in our chapel, she will be able to admire her son’s electrical installations!
“We’re Team A!” proudly proclaim Ron and his co-worker, Bob.
THE TWO TOP MEN
Ed and Steve have been involved from the beginning in helping the Little Sisters provide their Residents and employees with a state of the art home in difficult times and in a difficult working environment. Below is a glimpse of the lives of these two gentlemen.
Ed Rowe – INTECH Project Manager for Holy Family Home Building Project:
Ed was born and raised in Sharon Hill, PA. He is the oldest of three Rowe brothers. Ed attended Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He then matriculated at Widener University in Chester, PA with a BS in Civil Engineering followed by an MS in Sustainability Engineering from Villanova University.
Ed’s father works in logistics operations at the Philadelphia International Airport and his mother is an Executive Administration Assistant in the Delaware Valley. Ed enjoys participating in indoor and outdoor sporting activities as well as following his Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers. In the late fall and winter seasons, Ed’s attention is on following his Roman Catholic Cahillites and the Villanova Wildcats Basketball squads.
Under Ed’s supervision INTECH has hired over 30 Contractors and over 300 employees on site at various times and stages of construction. His greatest joy on the project has been the unique client relationships he has shared with the Litter Sisters and Residents and realizing just how special the Home is to the Sisters, Residents, families, the community, and in a unique way, the neighborhood. The biggest challenge has been and remains working on an occupied site campus and the obstacles it entails.
Steve Rhodes – INTECH Superintendent
Steve was born and raised in Mount Holly, New Jersey. He attended elementary school in Mount Holly and attended Haddon Heights High School. After high school Steve attended Towson State University in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Steve majored in business administration during college. As an undergrad, he worked in the construction field to help defray his college expenses. After college, when Steve met his wife, they moved to Ocean City, New Jersey, where their new family would grow. They are the proud parents of two daughters and a son. Although once considering a career in police or fire administration, Steve decided to continue with his construction background and began residential construction in Avalon and Stone Harbor, NJ where he ended up working on the construction of the home of the President of INTECH. Steve has been happily employed by INTECH as a Superintendent for the last fourteen years.
Steve has found the Holy Family Home Project both enjoyable and fulfilling. He feels blessed to have been associated with so many kind Sisters and Residents. Early challenges on the project were logistical and the latest ones have been the problems dealing with elevator towers.
When time permits, Steve enjoys fitness activities and recreational sports. He’s too long removed from his participation in rugby during his collegiate years to scrum anymore. He still enjoys following the Philadelphia professional sports franchises.
left to right – Craig Sabatino (CEO, INTECH Construction), Steve, Mother General, Jeff, and Ed.
