The Diocese of Springfield plans to dedicate a shrine for Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton, the first known African American priest in the United States. A Catholic church that closed in 2020 will be refurbished; St. Boniface in Quincy, Illinois, is where Tolton studied in his younger years and celebrated his first Mass as a priest.
Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton
In 2019, Pope Francis declared Fr. Tolton “Venerable,” officially recognizing that Fr. Tolton lived a life of heroic virtue.
Tolton’s life was marked by faith and resilience. He was born into slavery in 1854 to Catholic parents in Missouri. With the threat of nearby slave traders, Tolton’s mother escaped with him and his siblings, ultimately ending up in Illinois. With the help of some priests, Tolton attended Catholic school, became an altar server, and discerned a calling to the priesthood, despite widespread discrimination.
He entered seminary in Rome, after U.S. seminaries answered they were “not ready for a Negro student.” While students from this seminary were sent to missionary countries, Fr. Tolton was intentionally sent back to the United States, to be a witness to the U.S. as the first African American priest.
Fr. Tolton spent his priesthood serving the people of Illinois until he died of heatstroke during a Chicago heatwave at the age of 43. When Tolton, known as “Good Father Gus” to many, was declared Venerable, Cardinal Cupich of Chicago commented, “Father Tolton’s holiness comes from his patient suffering, his brave spirit and his pastoral heart for all who came to him. His struggles to become a priest and his remarkable service to God’s people are admirable examples, particularly in these times, of the value and dignity of every person.”
A new shrine from a historic parish
The original St. Boniface in Quincy, Illinois, where Tolton celebrated his first Mass, no longer exists. In 1962, however, a new mid-century modern-style church was built on the same site.
Due to changing needs in the archdiocese, St. Boniface was closed in 2020. Efforts to declare the church a historic landmark, because of the connection to Fr. Tolton and the church’s architectural significance, came to fruition in 2024.
Now plans are being made to repurpose the church as The Shrine for Father Augustus Tolton.
Plans for the new shrine
The new shrine is intended to be a place that inspires visitors through the witness of Fr. Tolton and a pilgrimage site to seek his intercession.
In announcing this new initiative, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, said:
This is an extraordinary moment not only for our area, but for the Catholic Church in our country. To restore St. Boniface as a shrine dedicated to Father Tolton means preserving sacred history while creating a living place of prayer, hope, and renewal – all tied to a holy priest whose life is an example of authentic discipleship of Christ. This shrine will place Quincy firmly on the spiritual map for pilgrims seeking inspiration, healing, and deeper faith.
Plans for the shrine are in the early stages, with an opening date dependent on raising the necessary funds. The anticipated initial costs to renovate St. Boniface are estimated to be $5M.
Fr. Steven Arisman, Chairman of the Committee for The Shrine for Father Augustus Tolton explains, “This shrine will only be possible through the generosity of the faithful. I encourage Catholics everywhere to prayerfully consider supporting this project. By helping build this shrine, you are helping preserve Father Tolton’s legacy and offering future generations a place where hearts can be lifted to God and lives transformed by grace.”
You can donate to support the shrine here.
