Watch

Community Thrives at This Historically Black Catholic Parish

Creator:
Published:
March 27, 2024
June 19, 2021
Watch why the mother of black Catholic churches is known for its community.|Watch why the mother of black Catholic churches is known for its community.

St. Augustine Parish in Washington, D.C., has been called the "mother church of black Catholics." But what really makes this parish special is the community that gathers here.

As one parishioner shares, "St. Augustine Parish is definitely a safe place for me — as a black person, as a woman, as a Catholic."

Video Transcript

Washington, D.C.: Saint Augustine Parish, one of the oldest African-American Catholic parishes in the U.S. Founded in 1858, seven years before slavery was abolished.

Woman singing: I love the Lord, He heard my cry, and pitied every groan. Long as I live, and troubles rise, I’ll hasten to His throne.

(Gospel choir music plays in the background.)

Female parishioner: St. Augustine Parish is definitely a safe place for me — as a black person, as a woman, as a Catholic.

Second female parishioner: I actually moved here from the Netherlands, and I was looking for a Catholic church with soul and a real sense of community, and I stumbled upon St. Augustine on the internet when I saw a sign that said “St. Augustine, mother church of black Catholics.” I'm like, "Wow — who are those people?" So I came here, and what kept me here is the community and just how everybody — they're really, truly friends. When they do the sign of peace, they're really coming over, hugging you, shaking your hand, a smile on their face — and that warmth is what has kept me here all these years.

Male parishioner: The first time I was here, I heard prayerful intentions and naming off the names of homeless people in the area. I'd never heard that before, and that resonated to me because, I think, in a world that has all kinds of struggles and difficulties, you want something that's real.

Priest preaching a homily: Be strong in the Lord, be strong in the mission. Because God's still on mission. God is still extending His arms. God is still giving His heart and God is still looking for witnesses who will not be deterred.

Priest: The parish — it's a community in mission. Meaning, it is supposed to be out of focus. It's not a clubhouse — it's more like a lighthouse. Think about it: a lighthouse exists for everything but itself. Hopefully, people see the light and even come and check it out.

(Gospel music)

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
March 27, 2024
June 19, 2021
On a related note...
Holy Spirits Wine Brings People Together (and to God)

Holy Spirits Wine Brings People Together (and to God)

Grotto

Accepting Grace Doesn’t Always Look Graceful

Accepting Grace Doesn’t Always Look Graceful

Amelia Ruggaber

What My Cancer Taught Me About Hope

What My Cancer Taught Me About Hope

Mary Beth May

My Hollywood Dreams Were Coming True, But I Still Felt Empty

My Hollywood Dreams Were Coming True, But I Still Felt Empty

Tanner Kalina

Avengers, GoT, Star Wars, and the Art of Storytelling

Avengers, GoT, Star Wars, and the Art of Storytelling

Rob Goodale

Saints in Your Corner If You Have Anxiety

Saints in Your Corner If You Have Anxiety

Sarah Coffey

A Touch of Irish Song and Story

A Touch of Irish Song and Story

Grotto Shares

All She Ever Knew was Immense Love

All She Ever Knew was Immense Love

Michelle King

5 Ways You Can Participate in Social Change

5 Ways You Can Participate in Social Change

Eric Clayton

3 Ways to Bring Mindfulness into Student Life

3 Ways to Bring Mindfulness into Student Life

Patrick Schmadeke

What I Learned From Burying My Pet Ferret

What I Learned From Burying My Pet Ferret

Eric Clayton

A Place To Come Home To

A Place To Come Home To

Shemaiah Gonzalez

This Café is Preserving and Celebrating Native Culture

This Café is Preserving and Celebrating Native Culture

Grotto

This Startup is Redesigning the Bible

This Startup is Redesigning the Bible

Grotto

Saving Lives One Bar of Soap at a Time

Saving Lives One Bar of Soap at a Time

Grotto

Husband and Wife Combine Passions to Build a Business

Husband and Wife Combine Passions to Build a Business

Grotto

How Welding is Transforming Lives in Skid Row

How Welding is Transforming Lives in Skid Row

Grotto

What an Imaginative Prayer Experience Taught Me

What an Imaginative Prayer Experience Taught Me

Kate Fowler

St. Catherine of Siena’s Fierce Love | #GrottoMusic

St. Catherine of Siena’s Fierce Love | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

Contemporary Dance: The Beauty of Self-Expression

Contemporary Dance: The Beauty of Self-Expression

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.