The brick church that has served the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point for almost a century is under review by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland with two proposals on the table, one for demolition and building new or one for partial demolition and renovation. A meeting held at Sipayik on June 23 drew about 40 people, including members of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils as well parish and tribal members.
     St. Ann's Catholic Church perches on tribal land overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. Adjoining the 1929 church is a former convent that has been shut down for a number of years because of the effects of the building's deteriorating envelope. In October 2015 the decision was made to no longer hold services in the church for many of the same reasons, explained Father Kevin Martin. During a Powerpoint presentation he pointed out mold and poor air quality, failing plaster and peeling paint, brick spalling and cracked glass panes and the incremental separation of window framing and brick columns from the frame of the building.
     Fr. Martin said, "If we are to maintain a Catholic presence in this community, there are two proposals." The first is to renovate the church but demolish the convent and adjoining chapel. A new hall would be built at a right angle to the church that would include restrooms, kitchen and office space. The estimated cost is $2.5 million or more, depending on "surprises" associated with old buildings, and would take a number of years, perhaps four to five. Fr. Martin pointed out that it would be a very costly, labor‑intensive effort done in phases as resources such as funding became available. Estimated annual building‑related costs would be $8,500, and because of the church's age he anticipates that annual maintenance and repairs would continue after restoration.
     The second proposal is to demolish the existing buildings and replace them with a new, single-story structure for an estimated cost of $1.5 million, similar to a church building project he was involved with in Jackman. A central entry would divide the building in two, with the church on one side and a large hall on the other that would also include restrooms, kitchen and office space. Estimated annual "building‑related" costs would be about $3,500, and it would be "maintenance free" for 45 to 50 years, Fr. Martin said. Stained glass windows, pews and more would to the greatest extent possible be salvaged from the existing church and used in the new one. Fr. Martin listed some of the advantages as a larger capacity for major life events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals, lower annual operating costs and more parking. The whole process would take less time and fewer resources.
     A tribal member and a member of St. Joseph's Church both pointed out that both plans utilize ground space that has a former church property now owned as a separate private residence. Fr. Martin replied, "My understanding is that the tribe owns the ground, and there have been instances where buildings have been moved." He added, "We'd have to have a dialog. I don't know what the answer would be."
     Darel Bridges, an architectural designer who in 2013 compiled an extensive report with engineers and other experts on the state of the church and convent, challenged the figures presented, noting that the report estimated restoration costs of the church would be about half, or $1.3 million. He also pointed out that the building utilizes a steel frame, with brick course work anywhere from two to four layers deep, and is much sounder than the presentation suggested. "The actual church structure was in remarkably good shape." He noted that there was localized water infiltration around badly done flashing points.
     Bridges' mother, Hilda Lewis, read a letter from Passamaquoddy Historic Preservation Officer Donald Soctomah in support of preserving the church. The church is not on the National Register of Historic Places. The church, he wrote, "has been the place where we were married, a place where we were baptized, a place where to our ancestors, grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers and friends we said our last goodbyes. It also brought a sense of community, where we gathered and shared a time together." Getting down to specifics, he also explained that the ownership of the building is not clear. "Because the ownership question has not been addressed we are limited in sources of funding to repair the building. More grants and donors would be accessible if this was a tribally owned building. I recommend the diocese sign over the building to the tribe and let the church committee oversee the building." Lewis commented that she did not agree with Soctomah when it came to tribal ownership of the church but fully agreed on the importance of the existing church to the community, the need to preserve it through restoration, and the need to start raising funds for the project.
    Other community concerns included the problem of continued decay while the lengthy decision‑making process, already eight‑years long, continues. Another concern was the small number of people who attend church regularly, now about 20. "We don't have enough people to support the church," an audience member said. While 98% of the Passamaquoddy self‑identify as Christian, Fr. Martin replied of the low attendance, "It's very true," and explained that because of the six‑church diocesan structure formed in Washington County in 2008, decisions made at one church have an impact on the others.
     An eight-year average for church heating costs is $6,308 per year, and average costs for utilities are $7,000 per year. These figures do not include maintenance and repairs that have been done over the past few years.
     Following up on a suggestion made at the June listening session, Fr. Martin will mail out a brief survey to tribal members after the July 4th week. Along with the survey will be a letter outlining the two proposals. "Another dialog is crucial," Fr. Martin said. Following continuing consultation, a proposal will be presented by Fr. Martin and leaders of St. Kateri Parish to the diocesan bishop, who will respond with a decision as to how the parish should proceed.
     In 1803 the first Catholic church was constructed at Pleasant Point. The present brick building is the third on the site, the other two wooden buildings having burned. Soctomah wrote in his letter that at the time of its construction,      "The community people donated all the money that they could come up with to make this a beautiful building. The basketmakers donated baskets to raise funds to buy the stained glass windows, our friends from the surrounding communities donated money to help also. Just by looking at all the name plates in the church gives you an idea about the value the people had in the church."