St. Anne Parish describes “who we are” in Detroit. Many people disagree with this belief because a place of religious worship cannot describe all the inhabitants of a city. The argument is reasonable, but Sant'Anna is more than a place of worship. St. Anne's Catholic Church is a symbol that represents the positive and negative connotations of our city. We as a city seem to forget our past, even as it continues to linger with us. St. Anne is a Catholic church originally known as Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church. St. Anne's was founded on July 26, 1701 and is the second oldest Roman Catholic church in the United States. Father Gabriel Richard played an important role in St. Anne's impact on the city. Father Gabriel Richard arrived in Detroit in 1796 and soon after helped found a school that became the University of Michigan. Father Gabriel Richard was a champion of success, and his role at St. Anne's created a deep root in Detroit. (Peasant, 531-532)S. Anne's has played an important role in the development of the city of Detroit and will continue to do so in the future. However, the Sant'Anna structure continues to wither. The Church has undergone eight restorations since its original foundation. (Gay, 98-99) Throughout the interior of the church, damage to the ceiling and plaster falling from the walls can be observed. The wizened features of St. Anne Parish describe “who we are” in Detroit. Saint Anne is a beautiful work of art that is falling apart because the sense of appreciation has been lost. St. Anne is filled with hand-crafted statues and ceiling paintings that would be considered magnificent in other cities, but are still seen as a sign of the past in Detroit. The physical appearance of Sant'Anna is in...... middle of paper……who we are.” The crucial point to take away from St. Ann's Catholic Church is that Detroit is not perfect but not completely imperfect either. When we look at “who we are” here in the city we can see a sense of balance. This balance gives us hope that one day Detroit will thrive as it once did. St. Anne's represents not only a history, but a future for the city of Detroit.Works CitedCorpuschristi-detroit.org. Network. 22 September 2011. .Contadino, Sila. History of Detroit and Wayne Co. and early Michigan. 531-32. Print.The foundation of Ste. That of Anna. Detroit Public Library: E&M 74D4 282 S134. Print.Gay, Cheri Y. Detroit: Then and Now. 98-99. Print.Roman Catholic Church. Ste. Anne De Detroit. 1234 Washington Boulevard, Detroit: Roman Catholic Church. Web.Ste-anne.org. Network. 22 September. 2011. .