The pioneering path of Augustus Tolton, the first Black Catholic priest in the US – born into slavery, he’s now a candidate for sainthood
- Written by Annie Selak, Director, Women's Center, Georgetown University
Attendees at the 1892 Colored Catholic Congress included the nation's first openly Black priest, Augustus Tolton, who stands in the middle of the front row.Wikimedia CommonsThe first publicly recognized Black priest in the United States, Augustus Tolton, may not be a household name. Yet I believe his story – from being born enslaved to...

