St. Margaret of Cortona Church in Madisonville has launched a campaign to build an activity center to serve the parish and its newly renamed school, Prince of Peace.

        Architects' renderings of the building and renovations were displayed at this weekend's church festival.

        Architects from Steed Hammond Paul of Cincinnati estimate the cost of the project, to be completed over five years, at about $7 million.

        “It's a timely exercise because of the consolidation,” said Judy Szilagyi, principal of Prince of Peace Catholic School, the name for the soon-to-be-merged school.

        St. Margaret of Cortona merges this fall with Cure of Ars School of Madison Place at the St. Margaret site. Both schools had fewer than 100 students each.

        “We want to be a presence here in Madisonville. I think the community wants us here, and I think we're critical to the community,” Ms. Szilagyi said.

        The center includes meeting rooms, a regulation-size gymnasium, stage and school administrative offices.

        The building would enable the parish to expand its outreach ministries, such as a food pantry. It also would create a space for parishioners to congregate following church services.

        Renovations to the school include adding air conditioning, computer technology and student storage in classrooms. By moving administrative offices and a teacher community room into the new building, it would open up space for two classrooms.

        “One of the things that was happening was the school and parish activities were intersecting,” Ms. Szilagyi said. “We're active and productive, but we don't have enough space for everything.”

        Because St. Margaret of Cortona's 400 families are mostly from a working-class community, the parish will seek 80 percent of the donations from outside sources.

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