On June 19, the United States commemorates the anniversary of the 1865 order that gave freedom to enslaved African Americans in Texas, issued two months after the Civil War ended. More commonly known as “Juneteenth,” it became a federal holiday in 2021 and serves as a fitting day to remember the first Black Catholic priest in the U.S. whose cause has been opened for canonization — Venerable Augustus Tolton.
Augustus Tolton was born into slavery in Brush Creek, Ralls County, Missouri, on April 1, 1854. When Tolton was 8 years old, he escaped by crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois with his mother and two siblings. Tolton attended St. Peter’s Catholic School, an all-white parish school in Quincy, Illinois. No American seminary would accept Tolton because of his race, so he studied for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained in 1886 at the age of 31, becoming the first African American ordained as a priest.
When Tolton returned to the U.S., he started a parish for Black Catholics (St. Monica Parish) in Chicago. He remained there until he died unexpectedly while on a retreat in 1897 at 43 years old. During his short but impactful life, Tolton learned to speak fluent English, German, Italian, Latin, Greek, and African dialects. He was also a talented musician with a beautiful voice. He helped the poor and sick, fed the hungry, and helped many discover the faith. He was lovingly known as “Good Father Gus.”
Click here to read more about the Venerable Augustus Tolton.