Upcoming Events
Please check back periodically for updates.
Past Events Along the Journey of the Cause
March 8-10
All were invited to a five-part series featuring Bishop Joseph N. Perry Join Bishop Perry at the Tolton Heritage Center in Chicago to learn about Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton, the first recognized African American Roman Catholic priest.
November 13, 2021
All were invited to a Mass and prayer service to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the Death of Martha Jane Chisley Tolton, mother of Venerable Augustus Tolton.
November 6, 2021
All were invited to join Join Bishop Perry for a Tolton pilgrimage to the Carmelite Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.
February 2021
All were invited to join every Saturday in February for an in-depth educational experience for Black History Month. We strive to inspire the Christian faithful through the witness of our Catholic candidates for sainthood, like Father Augustus Tolton. We celebrated how they triumphed over tragedies and learned how can we do the same.
October 14, 2019
All were invited to celebrate Pope Francis’ declaration of Father Augustus Tolton as “venerable” with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich.
October 5, 2019
Catholics from around the archdiocese participated in an evening of fun and fellowship where the friends of the Cause for the Canonization of Father Augustus Tolton gather to celebrate the life of the first African American Catholic priest.
September 13 – September 15, 2019
Catholics from around the archdiocese participated in a pilgrimage to visit the birth and burial place of Fr. Augustus Tolton; stopping at those sites in and around those places of interest that highlight the life of Father Tolton.
July 27, 2019
Catholics from around the archdiocese participated in a local Chicago pilgrimage, stopping at sites in and around the city of Chicago that highlighted the life of Father Augustus Tolton.
July 6, 2019
Youth of Vicariate VI participated in a local Chicago pilgrimage, stopping at sites in and around the city of Chciago that highlighted the life of Father Augustus Tolton.
June 29, 2019
Over one hundred individuals gathered together to celebrate all that the Tolton cause means for the Church today at “Breakfast with Tolton”. Student Tolton Essay contest winners were featured at the breakfast.
October 21, 2018
The Gala Benefit Fundraiser for the Cause for Sainthood of Father Augustus Tolton, the Martha Jane Tolton Award, and an Update with the Sainthood Cause took place at Navy Pier’s Lake View Terrace.
Sponsored by:
The Father Tolton Guild
Office for Vicariate VI Bishop Joseph N. Perry
September 2018
Friday, September 28 through Saturday, September 29, 2018
Participants joined in on a journey of song and prayer and reflection visiting Brush Creek, Missouri, St. Peter’s Church where Father Augustus Tolton was baptized and attended Mass as a child, the adjoining slave cemetery; the city of Quincy, Illinois, where he is buried at St. Peter Cemetery; the corner marker of St. Joseph Church his first pastorate; Quincy University, where he attended college; and St. Peter Parish where he attended grade school and made his First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Sponsored by Office of Bishop Joseph Perry, Vicariate VI
The Catholic Theological Union
Dr. C. Vanessa White
March 8, 2018
Historical Consultants to the Vatican Congregation for Causes of Saints reviewed the official position the Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton and voted overwhelmingly that the Cause can move forward to eventually make its way to the desk of the Holy Father.
December 9-10, 2016
Within prayer at the start and conclusion, the staffs of Catholic Cemeteries for the Diocese of Springfield and the Archdiocese of Chicago, in the presence of Bishop Thomas Paprocki and Bishop Joseph Perry, exhume the remains of Father Tolton at St. Peter Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois. Tolton’s remains are examined by medical examiner, forensic and anthropologist specialists; enfolded within a new set of priestly vestments and reinterred awaiting news of his beatification; report of the exhumation sent to Rome.
June 21, 2016
The Congregation for Causes of Saints at the Vatican issues to Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois the nihil obstat to open the grave of Father Tolton for purposes of the canonical recognition of his remains.
April 17, 2015
The Congregation for Causes of Saints at the Vatican declared in the affirmative the juridical validity of the Archdiocesan Inquiry into the life and virtues of Father Augustus Tolton.
April 11, 2015
The Annual Father Augustus Tolton Chicago Pilgrimage took participants to points of interest in Chicago that were vital in the ministry of Servant of God, Fr. Tolton.
March 9, 2015
This day will mark the Official Opening of the Acts of the Archdiocesan Inquiry into the Life and Virtues of Father Augustus Tolton at the Congregation for Causes of Saints in Rome.
Monday, September 29, 2014
The Archdiocese of Chicago completed the diocesan phase of the investigation into the life and virtues of Father Augustus Tolton. A special ceremony was celebrated by Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, and Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, in the St. James Chapel at the Archbishop Quigley Center. Documents supporting the cause for sainthood for Fr. Tolton were bound with red-ribbon and officially stamped with the seal of the Archdiocese of Chicago in melted wax, to be dispatched to the Congregation for Causes of Saints at the Vatican.
September 26 and 27, 2014
A pilgrimage to the boyhood hometown of Father Augustus Tolton and points of interest in Illinois and Missouri that traced the historical path of Fr. Tolton's ministry took place on Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27. This pilgrimage is sponsored by the Office of Bishop Joseph N. Perry, the Office for Black Catholics and the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
The Chicago Archdiocese celebrates the life of Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton with a pilgrimage to sites in Chicago significant to his life and ministry. The pilgrims visited the site of Father Tolton’s first apartment, and the storefront site of St. Monica Church, the first black Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
February 13, 2012
The Sacred Congregation for Causes of Saints at the Vatican grants the title “Servant of God” to Father Augustus Tolton and orders that the Archdiocese of Chicago proceed with the Diocesan Inquiry into his life and virtues. The Cause is registered with the Congregation under the case-file number: Prot. N. 2958
November 4, 2011
A Chicago street sign, “Honorary Father Augustus Tolton St.” was dedicated on November 4. The new sign is located at the corners of 41st Street between State Street and Michigan Avenue. Bishop Joseph Perry blessed the new sign during the event.
September 16 and 17, 2011
A pilgrimage to the birthplace of Father Augustus Tolton and sites significant in his life in southern Illinois will take place on Friday, and Saturday, September 16 and 17. This pilgrimage is sponsored by the Office of Bishop Joseph Perry, the Office for Black Catholics and the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry.
June 5, 2011
A celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of Father Augustus Tolton and his Cause for Sainthood will be held on Sunday, June 5 in Quincy, Illinois with Mass at St. Peter Church and a dinner program at Quincy University Student Center.
April 7, 2011
Cardinal George will be the celebrant at Mass at St. Peter Church in Brush Creek, Missouri. Following the Mass, the Cardinal will make visits to the farm where the Tolton family labored, the Dr. Robert Eels Home, Quincy — 19th Century Underground Railroad Station, and the former site of St. Joseph Church where Fr. Tolton served as pastor.
April 6, 2011
Cardinal George to visit Father Tolton’s Grave at St. Peter Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois for Prayer and Canonical Examination of the grave site.
February 24, 2011
The Proclamation and First Session of the canonical trial examining the life and virtues and reputation of holiness of Father Augustus Tolton took place with prayer and signing of decrees and issuance of appointments.
October 22, 2010
Invitation is issued to the public to attend the signing of decrees and issuance of appointments marking the Proclamation and First Session of the canonical trial examining the life and virtues and reputation of holiness of Father Augustus Tolton.
October 21-23, 2010
The Roman Postulator, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi visits the Archdiocese of Chicago for meetings with Bishop Perry and personnel who will be working on the Cause.
September 20, 2010
The Father Tolton Guild and the Historical Commission are established under signature of Cardinal Francis George.
September 17-19, 2010
Bishop Perry’s Office, the Office for Black Catholics and the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at the Catholic Theological Union, sponsors a Pilgrimage of 35 people to visit Brush Creek, Missouri, the original home of the Toltons and Quincy, Illinois, where Augustus Tolton and his family lived following their escape from slavery and where he ministered later as a priest.
June 9, 2010
Bishop Perry travels to Rome for a meeting with the Congregation for Causes of the Saints.
March 30, 2010
Before the Blessing of Holy Oils, Cardinal George and Bishop Perry address the Cause of Father Tolton to the priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago at Holy Name Cathedral.
March 17, 2010
The Cause is announced before the press and media.
March 1, 2010
Cardinal Francis George announces his intention to pursue the Cause of Sainthood for Father Augustus Tolton.
January 28, 2010
Cardinal Francis George appoints Bishop Joseph N. Perry Diocesan Postulator for the Cause of Father Augustus Tolton.
