CHICAGO — The Archdiocese of Chicago held the first session in the cause for the beatification and canonization of Father Augustus Tolton on Feb. 24 at St. James Chapel in the Archbishop Quigley Center in downtown Chicago. Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, diocesan postulator for the cause of Father Tolton, and Bishop John Gaydos, of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., were among those participating in the formal occasion.

It was from a farm in the far northeastern section of what is now the Diocese of Jefferson City that a young slave mother managed to flee with her three young children as the Civil War raged, escaping across the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois. Her slave husband had escaped previously, some say to join the Union Army, and was said to have died in a St. Louis hospital.

Baptized and raised Catholic, as were their former owners, the mother and children made their way to Quincy where Augustus grew in his faith, inspired by his parish priest who encouraged his religious development.

Father Tolton would later be ordained a priest in Rome, and return to his home Diocese of Alton, now the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, to minister in Quincy. He was the first acknowledged black priest in the United States. Eventually sent to Chicago, he ministered to the black Catholic community there and died — some say of exhaustion — in 1897 at age 43.

At the Feb. 24 session, Bishop Perry greeted Cardinal George and those assembled. He cited dignitaries and special guests, including people from the Springfield diocese. Those recognized included: Father Peter Harman, pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, a Quincy native; Marlene Mulford, chancellor of the Springfield diocese, who has lived and worked in Quincy; and Father Roy Bauer, a retired Springfield diocesan priest, who was pastor of St. Peter Parish in Quincy (Father Tolton’s home parish) and the author of a book on Father Tolton.

Personnel assigned to the inquiry into the life and virtues of Father Tolton were called forward to take an oath and sign the record of the proceedings, pledging themselves to serve the cause with integrity.

In addition to Cardinal George and Bishop Perry, the diocesan postulator, others involved in the cause who took the oath were: Father Michael Hack, as episcopal delegate; Father William Woestman, OMI, as promoter of justice; Patricia Rimkus as notary; and Ellen Sochacki as adjunct notary. Also sworn in were members of the historical commission: John Treanor, assistant chancellor for archives for the Archdiocese of Chicago; Cecilia Moore, professor at the University of Dayton; Father Cyprian Davis, OSB, of St. Meinrad Archabbey; and Father Martin Zielinski of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein.

Members of the Theological Commission are: Father Charles Meyer, and Father Lawrence Hennessey.

Current Tolton scholars and graduates from the Catholic Theological Union, members of the African American Catholic community, numerous priests from the Chicago Archdiocese, archdiocesan staff and others comfortably filled St. James Chapel, famous for its huge stained glass rose window. 

In his edict formally opening the cause, Cardinal George noted that the proceedings were “in accordance with article 43 of the 2007 Instruction of the Congregation for Causes of Saints, Sactorum Mater.

“... I encourage all those who can give testimony, even should they have negative proof, to come forth and contact the aforementioned tribunal,” the cardinal wrote. “Moreover, those who possess writings of any kind or any other information regarding the Servant of God are urged to put that at the tribunal’s disposition.”

For the complete text of Cardinal George’s edict on Father Tolton’s cause, visit the Springfield diocesan website at www.dio.org/Tolton.