SeVera Dowe helps spread the word about the life of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton

The first time SeVera Dowe heard of Father Augustus Tolton at a national Black Catholic conference in 2012, his life story resonated with her.

“He was born of slave origin … and the Church was interested in canonizing him,” Dowe, a member of Seattle’s Immaculate Conception Parish, learned about the first Black man known to be ordained for service in the United States.

Tolton’s mother had escaped slavery with her three young children, finding freedom in Quincy, Illinois. Although Tolton desired to become a priest, no U.S. seminary would accept a Black student. Instead, he studied in Rome and thought he would be sent to serve in Africa after his 1886 ordination — until a cardinal decided to send him back to Illinois.

Venerable Father Augustus Tolton

Back home, Father Tolton encountered racism, even from clergy. During his 11 years of priesthood before dying of heat stroke at age 43, Father Tolton “persevered in his loyalty to the Church, his community and his desire to evangelize not only Black people but many whites,” Dowe said.

In 2019, Pope Francis declared Father Tolton “venerable,” a step toward sainthood.

“I have a deep devotion to Father Augustus Tolton’s cause, and his road to sainthood,” Dowe said. Three times a year — preceding the anniversaries of his birth, ordination and death — Dowe organizes and leads a novena seeking Venerable Tolton’s intercession. (See sidebar for more information.)

The road to conversion 

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Dowe grew up Baptist.

“When I was really, really young, I told my mom that I wanted to be a nun,” attracted by the habits they wore, Dowe said. “Mom said to me, ‘Honey, there are no Baptist nuns.’”

As an adult, Dowe moved to Michigan. Wanting more than a public-school education for her son, she enrolled him in a Lutheran school and became a Lutheran. Later, for reasons Dowe can’t recall, she enrolled her son in a Catholic school.

It was a decision that set Dowe on the path to becoming Catholic. Her son “was supposed to go to Mass every Sunday [because] on Monday they talked about what the Mass was about,” Dowe said.

Dowe took him to Mass but didn’t understand the liturgy — until a woman took Dowe under her wing, explaining everything that was happening. After a time, she asked if Dowe was ready to go through classes to join the Church. She even went through the classes with Dowe.

“She was determined that I was going to be Catholic,” Dowe recalled.

She moved to Seattle in 1981, joining Immaculate Conception Parish, where, among other things, she coordinates the extraordinary ministers of holy Communion and helps clean the church. She also chairs the archdiocese’s Black Catholic Advisory Circle and is a lay Carmelite. “I thought, OK, this is as close as I’m going to get — a secular nun,” Dowe said of that long-ago wish to become a sister.

And she helps others learn more about Father Tolton. In 2015, the Black Catholic Advisory Circle hosted Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry, the postulator for Tolton’s cause for canonization, for a presentation at Immaculate Conception.

Dowe is looking forward to Seattle-area performances of “Tolton: From Slave to Priest,” the Saint Luke Productions show about the Black priest’s life, coming in November. (See sidebar for details.)

Dowe hopes local Catholics will attend to learn more about Tolton and his story of faith.

“Tolton’s life was one of many struggles, starting from his childhood to his priesthood, and all he wanted was to be recognized, welcomed and loved as one of God’s dark-skinned children,” Dowe said.

Learn more about Tolton’s cause at tolton.archchicago.org

BLACK CATHOLIC HISTORY MONTH 

Black Catholic History Month in November was established in 1990 by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States. It’s a time to celebrate and commemorate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics here and around the world.

Here are some things you can do to observe the month:

See a ‘Tolton’ performance

“Tolton: From Slave to Priest.” the one-man, live multimedia show about the life of the first Black priest in the U.S., is coming to the Seattle area November 15-20. Sponsored by the archdiocese’s Multicultural Ministries office, performances are slated at parishes in Sumner, Renton and Sammamish, and at Seattle University and Bishop Blanchet High School. Learn more.

Learn about Black Americans on the path to sainthood

Six Black Americans are on the path to sainthood: Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Venerable Henriette Delille, Servant of God Julia Greeley, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. Learn more.

Pray the Novena for the Spiritual Welfare of the African American Community. 

This novena seeks the intercession of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton for the Black community. It can be prayed any time, but ideal times are March 23-31 (before Tolton’s birthday), April 15-23 (before his 1886 ordination date) and June 30 to July 8 (before the anniversary of his death in 1897). Find the novena at tolton.archchicago.org/prayer.

Northwest Catholic — October/November 2022