Ven. Augustus Tolton (d July 9 1897) the first Black priest in America, was born in slavery in Missouri in 1854. While his father escaped to fight in the Union army his mother escaped north to Illinois with her children. Raised a Catholic, Augustus felt called to the priesthood.
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No seminary would accept him, but he studied in Rome and was ordained in 1886. He was assigned to a Black parish in Quincy IL, later in Chicago. Despite his effectiveness, he suffered from isolation and marginalization—the burden of being the only Black priest in America.
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Adding Alexander Sherwood Healy (called Sherwood) (1836–1875) who was the rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. He died at age 39.
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The Healy brothers are a fascinating case--they were essentially forced to pass as white.
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What would Fr. Tolton be saying today in the aftermath of George Floyd? I can see him standing toe to toe in front of Trump Tower, NYC painting BLM on 5th Ave tar. He would have marched with MLK. We need more ordained of color, like + Gregory today, to speak out, in Christ.
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