BRUNSWICK– The new, $4.7 million All Saints Parish multipurpose facility on Pleasant Street is in the final stages of construction and is already “beyond all expectations” according to Thomas Murphy, pastor of All Saints Parish. $4.1 million has been raised so far, and construction is expected to be completed in February.
The 15,000-square-foot building will be used as a gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria and also has a stage, meeting and music rooms, an adoration chapel, locker rooms and a fully equipped kitchen, according to a Portland Diocese press release. The facility will be used by neighboring St. John’s Catholic School and the parish, and will also be rented out to community organizations.
“I don’t think people realize how important this structure is going to be to the fabric of Brunswick,” said Mike Ouellet, president of Ouellet Construction, which is building the facility. “This is a facility for this community, and once people step inside, see it finished, and can see tangibly what it can provide, there will be waiting lists of people waiting to use it,” he said.
Bishop Robert P. Deeley toured the new space on Wednesday and was welcomed with songs from the students at St. John’s, the Diocese said. Deeley said the building was “wonderful.”
The “Founded on Faith, Building the Future” capital campaign was launched in 2016 when several other options for multipurpose buildings fell through.
“There is an appreciation for how important having this facility is for not only the use and enjoyment of the parish and school, but also for other organizations as well,” said Jim Baskerville, a member of the project’s steering committee. The $4-plus million dollars raised has been contributed by hundreds of donors, including local businesses.
The new building, adjacent to the school built in 1913 “enhances” the historic elements of the surrounding area, the Diocese said. “It preserves the tradition of generations and provides an eye towards the future,” Baskerville added.
After touring the multipurpose facility, Deeley visited with students at St. John’s, which has been in the community for over 100 years and has about 120 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
People interested in making a donation to the capital campaign can visit www.allsaintsmaine.com and click the “Donate Here” link, or contact business manager Charleen Foley at (207) 725-2624 or charleen.foley@portlanddiocese.org.
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