Saint Augustine 

Due to Hurricane Ida damage to St. Augustine Church, our Sunday Mass is currently being celebrated in the parish hall at 10:00 a.m. On Wednesdays we pray the Rosary at 4:30 p.m., Mass follows at 5:00 p.m. The entrance to the parish hall may be found through the gate on Governor Nicholls St. or through the parking lot on Treme St.
 
Sunday Mass is also live-streamed at facebook.com/saintaugchurch. Everyone is welcome to join us in person or via Facebook. For more information call the office Tuesday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (504)525-5934.

For nearly 200 years, Saint Augustine Catholic Church has welcomed
people from every walk of life, creed, and color to worship side by side.
Perhaps that is why Saint Augustine has not only served as the heart
of the Tremé community but has also played an integral role in
shaping the culture of the city of New Orleans. 

November is the celebration of Black Catholic History month.  We are mounting pictures of the 6 Black Catholics whose causes have been introduced for sainthood in our church. Let us celebrate!
 
 Mother Henriette Delille, co-foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family who still teach and administer at St. Mary's Academy for girls.  She also started a school for orphans and children of the poor in our building in 1841.  She is known for her ministerial service of God's people.
 
 Sister Thea Bowman, professor at Xavier University, renowned preacher, facilitator of many workshops on Black Catholic identity.  She addressed the Catholic bishops or the U.S. and challenged them to be more culturally sensitive in Catholic worship, especially in music.
 
 Sr. Mary Elizabeth Lange, foundress of the Oblates Sisters of Providence.  With her leadership the sisters we involved in many different ministries serving the Black Catholic community, especially in education.
 
 Fr. August Tolton, the first Black man ordained a Catholic priest for the US.  He went through many hardships just to get accepted by any diocese so much so that no seminary would accept him.  He did his priestly studies in Europe before returning to the US for ministry.
 
 Mr. Pierre Toussaint, who owned his own hair-dressing business in New York City where he became known for many charitable and philanthropical exploits.  He also participated in the funding of the building of St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC.
 
 Ms. Julia Greely, a Black Catholic from Colorado.  She too was known for her many charitable and philanthropical deeds. 

Fr. Bill Mason, O.M.I.

PASTOR'S CORNER—October 27, 2024
 

There are a good number of signs of hope for us.  This past week the Cross was lifted up onto the church steeple.  It signals to the Treme community that we are one step closer to re-entering our church.
 This past weekend we also hosted the annual Treme Fall Festival sponsored by the Friends of Treme Culture.  It is a sign to the neighborhood community of our involvement and commitment to our local community.
 We have started to receive responses to the beginning of our devotion at the Tomb of the Unknown Slave.  As of this weekend we have received over $500 in donations.  We will start the new devotion on Saturday November 16th with services at 7 a.m. and 12 noon in our hall and then going to the tomb.  Please mark your calendars for that date.
 Finally, November is the traditional month for Catholics to remember the deceased.  We are inviting people to bring pictures of their deceased family and friends to put up on the mirrors in our worship space.  Please make sure to mark a name with each picture. 
 
© Father William “Bill” Mason, OMI, 2024
 

PASTOR'S CORNER – October 20, 2024

PARISH BIBLE STUDY
    On Wednesday, Oct. 30th, we will start a bible study for any of our members who are interested.  For those who gather on this date, they will determine the best time and day for the study, one that fits the schedule of those interested.  Deacon Michael Whitehouse will be helping us with this effort.  We will host our first gathering after the 5:00 p.m. Mass on that Wednesday in the rectory.  We plan to start by studying the gospel of Luke.  Come one and all!

ARCHDIOCESAN PARISH PLANNING PROCESS
    On Sunday, Oct. 27th, the Catholic Leadership organization, a company hired by the Archdiocese, will facilitate the first of two parish town hall meetings to consult us about renewing activity in our parish.  The meeting will begin at 12:30 PM because the leadership group needs time to arrive at our place.  Please plan on attending. 

 NOVEMBER: THE CATHOLIC TRADITION OF REMEMBERING OUR DECEASED
    Here are two ways we will be remembering our deceased: We invite every member to bring a picture of a deceased loved one and put it on the mirrors in the hall.  Please put a name with your picture.  They will be part of our parish prayer throughout the month.
    The second way is the inaugural devotion in honor of the Tomb of the Unknown Slave which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16th at 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.  Members should have received a letter explaining how everyone can participate in this devotion of intercessory prayer.  If you have not received one please contact the parish office and we will send you a letter.

© Father William “Bill” Mason, OMI, 2024

PASTOR'S CORNER – October 13, 2024

NEW DEVOTION IN HONOR OF THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SLAVE

 On Saturday Nov. 16th, we will begin a new devotion in honor of the Tomb of the Unknown Slave.  It will be a devotion of remembrance of the ancestors on whose shoulders we stand and a devotion of healing both personal and civic.  We will have two services that day, one at 7:00 a.m. and one at 12 noon.  It will include prayer, music and ritual.  Within the next week our members will be receiving a letter so that those who can not participate in this devotion can send in names of their deceased family or friends and names of persons or groups that need healing.  Similar in meaning to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, our devotion regarding the Tomb of the Unknown Slave remembers the forgotten who died without a proper burial and prays for the divisions that still exist among us.  In this devotion may the Spirit of God move the hearts of people to greater unity and deeper peace. 

© Father William “Bill” Mason, OMI, 2024