The Reredos
Venerable Rev. Fr.
Augustus Tolton
Augustus Tolton was born in Missouri on April 1, 1854 as one of three slave children. His father left the plantation for freedom and died while fighting for the Union Army. Augustus’ mother, Martha Jane, fled the plantation with her three children to freedom along a treacherous journey to Illinois.
Augustus began school in Illinois as the only black child at an all-white Catholic School. Parents of the school children threatened to cease their financial support to the school, pull their children out of enrollment, and ultimately sent the bishop a petition requesting for the transfer of the parish’s pastor. Ultimately, both the school and Martha Jane mutually decided it was best for Augustus to leave. After some time, he resumed his education in a different Catholic school, despite opposition.
Once Augustus received confirmation, Augustus’ pastor asked him if he would be interested in discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
Since no seminary in the United States would accept black male, Augustus attended seminary in Rome to become a Catholic missionary and then promised to Evangelize in any country where he would be assigned. Tolton was ordained on Holy Saturday, April 24, 1886 in Rome. His first Mass was on Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica. Although Fr. Tolton was apprehensive to return to the United States to evangelize because of such racism at the time, Fr. Tolton obediently returned to his homeland to minister to African Americans. On July 11, Fr. Tolton, the first African-American priest of the United States, said his first Mass on the continent at St. Benedict the Moor parish on Bleeker Street in Manhattan. When Tolton arrived at his hometown in Quincy, MI, he was greeted by hundreds of Catholics who wanted a blessing.
Fr. Tolton faced many challenges due to racist sentiments against him and his ministry, even among brother priests, who wanted Fr. Tolton to minister to black people only, as opposed to the white parishioners who supported his ministry and financially contributed to his parish. In Chicago, the parishioners of St. Augustine’s Parish had requested for Fr. Tolton to become their pastor. In 1889, Fr. Tolton moved to Chicago and requested to minister to this community, since he was not happy in Quincy. After such an extensive time requesting Fr. Tolton, the parishioners were pleasantly surprised when Fr. Tolton suddenly appeared at the parish to the parishioners’ surprise. Fr. Tolton worked tirelessly for his parish community and aimed at building a parish, Catholic school, and other services for African Americans. Fr. Tolton even exchanged several letters with Mother Katherine Drexel in asking for support for his initiatives and assistance to his community. Fr. Tolton visited parishioners and walked through the community to be of help to all who asked. His health deteriorated with time and he ultimately died on July 9, 1897. Fr. Tolton’s grave in Quincy, MI has the following inscription:
Rev. Augustine Tolton
The First Colored Priest in the United States Born in Brush Creek, Ralls County, Missouri April 1, 1854
Ordained in Rome, Italy, April 24, 1886 Died July 9, 1897
Requiescat in Pace