Black Catholic History Month: Fr. Augustus Tolton
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November 15, 2017Servant of God Augustus Tolton
Priest, Archdiocese of Chicago
Date of Birth: April 1, 1854
Date of Death: July 9, 1897
Date of Ordination: April 24, 1886
-1862: Martha Tolton escapes with her children to Quincy, Illinois.
-1863: At the age of 9, Augustus Tolton begins working in a Quincy tobacco factory and his brother Charles dies at age 10.
-1865: Augustus Tolton entered St. Boniface School and left a month later because parish and staff were being threatened and harassed by his presence.
-1868: Augustus enrolled in St. Peter School, Quincy.
-1870: Augustus confirmed at St. Peter Church at the age of 16.
-1872: Graduated from St. Peter School at age 18.
-1873: Tutoring begins in preparation for the seminary.
-1878: Augustus enrolls in St. Francis College, now Quincy University. He received special instruction because he was far advanced over the other students.
-1880: He departed for Rome to enter the Urban College of the Propagation of the Faith.
-1886: Augustus Tolton ordained at St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome on April 24 and sent to the United States as a missionary. On July 7th he celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with the Franciscan Sisters in Hoboken, New Jersey. On July 18th, he celebrated his first Mass in Quincy at St. Boniface Church and was assigned the pastor of St. Joseph Church.
-1889: He began ministry in Chicago on December 19th.
-1891: St. Monica Church opens in a storefront.
-1894: St. Monica Church was dedicated on January 14th.
-1897: Father Tolton dies at Mercy Hospital in Chicago on July 9th. He was 43 years old. A funeral Mass was held at St. Monica on July 12th and at St. Peter Church in Quincy on July 13th. (adapted from the Tolton Canonization Website)Pray with us:
O God, we give you thanks for your servant and priest, Father Augustus Tolton, who labored among us in times of contradiction, times that were both beautiful and paradoxical. His ministry helped by lay the foundation for a truly Catholic gathering in faith in our time. We stand in the shadow of his ministry. May his life continue to inspire us and imbue us with that confidence and hope that will forge a new evangelization for the Church we love.
Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant, Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved.
Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen
Imprimatur Francis Cardinal George, OMI
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