1823

Marthe Fortiere, a former postulant of the Hospital Nuns from France, founds the first colored Catholic school in the United States in a house in New Orleans on Rampart St. just off Esplanade Avenue, where she taught free girls of color and a few slaves.

1834

On November 14, free people of color lay the capstone of St. Augustine Church on the corner of St. Claude Avenue and Bayou Road (Governor Nicholls St.).

1841

Jeanne Marie Aliquot purchases the Claude Treme property for $9,000 on January 3. Soon after, at Jeanne Marie's invitation, Marthe Fortiere moves the elementary school which she founded into the Claude Treme house.

1842

On October 9, Bishop Antoine Blanc blesses, consecrates and dedicates St. Augustine Catholic Church.

1842

On November 21, Henriette DeLille (currently under consideration by the Vatican for canonization) and Juliette Gaudin kneel before the altar in St. Augustine Church, committing themselves to living in community, thus founding the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, the second-oldest congregation of African-American religious women.

1859

The Carmelite Nuns build a large school for white girls and the remnant of the small school for colored girls on the St. Augustine campus at the corner of North Liberty Street (now Treme) and Bayou Road (now Governor Nicholls Street).

1863

The U.S. Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect.

1896

The U.S. Supreme Court decides the case of Plessy vs. Ferguson: the Court rules in favor of the State of Louisiana's Separate Car Act which mandates separate but equal facilities for whites and others. This leads to 58 years of segregation - legalized discrimination against non-whites. The case was triggered by a parishioner of St. Augustine, Homer Plessy, who purchased a ticket to Covington, Louisiana and challenged the Louisiana 1890 Separate Car Act by sitting in the white compartment of the train where he was arrested, jailed and put on trial.

1897

Sidney Bechet, world-famous clarinetist/soprano saxophonist, is born on May 14 and baptized in St. Augustine Church.

1964

The United States Congress passes the federal Civil Rights Act (signed into law July 3rd), which outlaws discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex or national origin in matters of voting, employment and public accommodations.

1970’s

White flight to the suburbs decreases enrollment at St. Augustine leading to talk of “clustering” the church with St. Peter Claver Church. Parishioners of St. Peter Claver resist the plan and it was never enacted according to Father Francis Therialt, S.V.D. who was pastor of St. Augustine from 1968 to 1976.

1987

In his September visit to New Orleans, Pope John Paul II notes the vibrant participation of people of all races at St. Augustine’s and says “All churches should be like St. Augustine.”

2000

The New Orleans’s Archdiocese’s “Catholic Life 2000” pastoral plan takes shape. It includes a recommendation that several parishes with falling enrollment, including St. Augustine, be clustered with more prosperous neighboring parishes.

2002

160th year anniversary of St. Augustine Church’s dedication is celebrated in October.

2004

On Saturday, October 30, in the midst of a Gospel Extravaganza unfolding in the St. Augustine parking lot, Archbishop Alfred Schulte, standing near the church garden area and accompanied by a large crowd from around the city and parts of the nation, blesses and dedicates The Tomb of the Unknown Slave, a shrine consisting of outsize marine chains welded together with shackles and iron balls to form a huge, fallen cross.  An explanatory plaque hangs on the church wall next to the shrine.

2005

Sunday, April 3 the conversion of the 1912 horse stable off the rectory patio into a modern facility for St. Augustine / Treme Archives is completed thanks to a $7,000 grant from Divine Restoration, a Canadian TV film show. Divine Restoration aims to enhance the worship of African -American churches by facilitating the renovation of a well-defined facet of an individual church. 

2005

Mardi Gras Indian Chief Allison “Tootie” Montana dies of a heart attack on June 27, while speaking to the New Orleans City Council.  The Council was conducting an inquiry into reports of police misconduct at a Mardi Gras Indian celebration in the Spring of 2005.  The community leader is buried on July 7 after a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Augustine Church.

2005

Hurricane Katrina hits the Gulf Coast on August 29 and New Orleans levees are breached in its aftermath, flooding the city.  St. Augustine Church survives the storm with minimal damage and, as citizens return, the parish focuses on victim relief and the city’s rebuilding.

2005

Hurricane Rita hits Texas and Louisiana on September 24, causing massive damage in coastal parishes and additional flooding in the city of New Orleans.

2005

The Archdiocese of New Orleans, financially reeling from hurricane damage which exceeded insurance coverage, announces “We cannot afford to reopen any severely damaged churches, and we cannot afford to repair all our churches.” Plans are made to go ahead with the Catholic Life 2000 plan which had not yet been implemented.

2005

St. Augustine receives a letter November 2nd, from the Cathedral Deanery suggesting that no radical action would be taken regarding St. Augustine until the late summer or early fall of 2006.

2006

Feb 8

Archbishop Alfred Hughes phones St. Augustine’s pastor, Father Jerome LeDoux, telling him that St. Augustine Parish will be closed on March 15th, 2006.

Feb 9

New Orleans TV and radio stations announce the Archdiocesan Plan to close and cluster parishes, including the closing of St. Augustine Parish.

Feb 10

New Orleans Times Picayune publishes an article entitled “St. Augustine Parish to Close”.

Feb 12

Times Picayune publishes an article entitled “Historic Treme Church Fights for Survival”.

Feb 17

St. Augustine’s Pastoral Council delivers a letter to Archbishop Hughes, requesting he meet with the Council to openly discuss the closing. The Archbishop does not respond.

Feb 20

At the direction of the Archdiocese, St. Augustine’s Pastoral Council delivers a letter to Father Michael Jacques, requesting that he and Archbishop Hughes meet with the Council to openly discuss the closing. Father Jacques does not respond.

Feb 25

St. Augustine’s Pastoral Council issues a press release highlighting the spiritual and cultural vitality of the parish as well as its exceptional place in New Orleans and African-American history. The Council says it has requested communication with the Archbishop to discuss the proposal to close St. Augustine and that it remains hopeful for the parish’s future.

Feb 26

Louisiana Weekly publishes a letter to the editor from Friends and Concerned Parishioners of St. Augustine under the headline “St. Augustine is the African-American Cathedral of New Orleans”.

Feb 27

Louisiana Weekly publishes an editorial entitled “There Should Be A St. Augustine Parish”.

Mar 3

At the request of Archbishop Hughes, Father Jerome LeDoux, and his Provincial Superior, Father Joe Simon (both of the Society of the Divine Word), meet with the Archbishop. Father Simon submits a letter to Archbishop Hughes stating the commitment of the Society of the Divine Word to continue staffing St. Augustine Parish for the foreseeable future.

Mar 3

A letter is sent to Archbishop Hughes by Sandra Gordon, President of St. Augustine’s Pastoral Council, and Father LeDoux, formally appealing the Archdiocese’s announced intention to close St. Augustine Parish on March 15th and merge its parishioners with those of St. Peter Claver Parish.

Parishioner Michael Valentino encounters Archbishop Hughes at a banquet gathering and requests an audience with him to present a plan for the continued life of St. Augustine Church. The Archbishop assures him that there is an appeals process which Father LeDoux and the St. Augustine Pastoral Council can pursue.

Mar 6

Father LeDoux is informed by Father Michael Jacques, pastor of St. Peter Claver, that he and two representatives of the Parish Council can meet with the Archdiocese’s Appeals Board on March 9th.

Mar 9

Father LeDoux, Sandra Gordon and Michael Valentino present their case to the Appeals Board, providing evidence that the Parish is currently financially self-sustaining and has a guarantee of ongoing financial backing. Written documentation supporting the presentation is supplied to all members of the Appeals Board.  Presiding over the Appeals Board is Father Michael Jacques, pastor of St. Peter Claver.

Mar 12

At approximately 1:30PM, Times-Picayune reporter John Pope is told by Archdiocesan spokesman, Father William Maestri, that the appeal to keep open St. Augustine and five other New Orleans parishes slated for closure, has been rejected.

Mar 13

The Times Picayune publishes John Pope’s article entitled “Spirit of Dying Parish Still Glows”, describing the March 12th Mass at St. Augustine and discussing the plans for closure. In the article, Father Maestri is quoted as saying there is no appeal of the ruling to close the six New Orleans parishes. Instead, he says, there were “listening sessions” in which parishioners could voice their concerns to a three-priest panel of archdiocesan administrators.

Mar 13

At 11:29AM, Father LeDoux, receives a call from Archbishop Hughes stating that St. Augustine’s appeal had been rejected and the Archdiocese’s plan to close the Parish will go forward.

Mar 13

Father LeDoux learns that the appeal of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish (one of the other five parishes scheduled for closure) was successful; it will not be closed as originally planned.

Mar 14

St. Augustine’s Pastoral Council delivers a letter to Archbishop Hughes stating their misgivings regarding the Archdiocese’s planned closure of St. Augustine and the process used to make the decision, referencing guidelines for an appeals process in Catholic Canon Law. The Archbishop does not respond.

Mar 14

St. Augustine Parish issues a press release declaring its prayful opposition to the Archdiocese’s decision to close the parish and saying the need for St. Augustine to stay alive is especially great in post-Katrina New Orleans. A prayer vigil is held at the church from 2PM to midnight.

Mar 15

The Times Picayune publishes an article entitled “Holy Vigil”. covering St. Augustine’s prayer vigil and reporting that the Archdiocese stands by its decision to close St. Augustine and merge its parishioners with those of St. Peter Claver Parish. The story also confirms the Archdiocese’s decision to allow Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish to remain open.

Mar 15

Father LeDoux receives a letter from Archbishop Hughes stating that he has accepted the recommendation of the Appeals Board to implement the Archdiocese’s original plan to close St. Augustine Parish.

Mar 20

Hurricane relief organization workers not affiliated with St. Augustine but in sympathy with its cause, occupy the church’s rectory saying they will not leave until the Archdiocese of New Orleans promises to reopen the parish.

Mar 20

Fox News reports “Protesters Lock Themselves in Historic New Orleans Church”.

Mar 20

Sandra Gordon signs and delivers a letter to Archbishop Hughes which questions the process used to close the parish and requests the documentation required by Canon Law. No response is received.

Mar 21

The Times Picayune publishes an article entitiled “Activists Take Over Rectory to Support St. Augustine”.

Mar 21

The entire membership of the New Orleans City Council sends a letter to Archbishop Hughes requesting that St. Augustine remain open as a parish.

Mar 21

The New Orleans Independent Media Center publishes photographs of the March 19th Mass by Father LeDoux on its website under the title "St. Augustine's Final Service".

Mar 22

The Times-Picayune publishes an article entitled “Supporters Still in Church Rectory”.

Mar 22

Sandra Gordon and several other friends of St. Augustine meet with Father Michael Jacques to discuss the efforts to close St. Augustine church.

Mar 23

The Times-Picayune publishes a letter to the editor entitled “A Positive Influence in Treme”.

Mar 23

National Public Radio reports "Black Catholics in Standoff over New Orleans Church"

Mar 23

At the request of the Archbishop, Sandra Gordon and three representatives of St. Augustine's Parish meet with him and Father Jacques at 2:30PM. The purpose of the meeting is explained as allowing the Archbishop to hear directly from the parishioners.  The parishioners express to the Archbishop their reasons for opposing the parish closure and propose alternatives. 

Mar 23

The Los Angeles Times publishes an article entitled “Aid Workers Rally to Side of a New Orleans Parish”.

Mar 25

The Times-Picayune publishes an article entitled “St. Augustine protest vigil goes on” .  It reports that Archdiocesan spokesman, Father William Maestri, said the archbishop remained firm on his decision to close the parish and that Archbishop Hughes would respond to the St. Augustine delegation early in the week of March 26th via a letter to their new pastor, Father Michael Jacques.

Mar 27

The Times-Picayune publishes an article entitled “St. Augustine Mass halted as protesters swarm aisles”.   It reports that Mass conducted at St. Augustine's on Sunday, March 26th, by Father Michael Jacques was interrupted by protestors carrying signs. It also reports that Father Michael Jacques and Archdiocesan spokesman, Father William Maestri, brought 10 armed guards into the church with them as part of a "welcoming" to the St. Augustine parishioners.

Mar 27

The Houston Chronicle publishes an article entitled “Archdiocese of New Orleans Closes Church”.   It reports that Archbishop Hughes ordered St. Augustine shut down indefinitely in reaction to the protest at Mass on Sunday, March 26th. Protestors and supporters continue to peacefully occupy the church and its rectory.

Mar 28

New Orleans weekly newspaper, Gambit, publishes commentary entitled "In Praise of St. Augustine".

Mar 28

CBS News reports: "Archdiocese of New Orleans Closes Church"

Mar 28

Under the heading "After the Levees: News from New Orleans", TPM Cafe publishes an opinion piece entitled "The Struggle for History and Culture in New Orleans". The piece supports St. Augustine's cause on the basis of history, culture and the needs of New Orleanians.

Mar 29

New Orleans Times-Picayune publishes an article entitled “Parishioners: Reopen Parish”.

Mar 29

New Orleans Times-Picayune publishes an Op-Ed piece by Michael Valentino entitled “Can church, archdiocese meet halfway?”. Mr. Valentino suggests appointment of a mediator.

Mar 29

Fluxview USA publishes a video entitled "Occupied St. Augustine Press Conference".

Mar 31

The Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton attend a St. Augustine vigil. They speak of St. Augustine's place in black history and, as fellow Christian ministers, ask Archbishop Hughes to reconsider the decision to close the parish. Fluxview USA publishes a video of their visit entitled "Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton at St. Augustine Church" as well as a video called "St. Augustine Church Takeover".

Mar 31

The New Orleans Times-Picayune publishes two "Other Opinions" on St. Augustine: "Lord, Save Us from Clumsy Intercessors" by Editorial Columnist, Jarvis DeBerry, and "Protestors Spurn a Good-Faith Compromise" by Archdiocesan spokesman, Father William Maestri. Two letters to the editor discussing St. Augustine are also published.

April 2

Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial appears at St.Augustine Sunday morning prayer service to show support for parishioners. He said, "I would really like to see the archdiocese work toward a healing."

April 2

MSNBC Nightly News broadcasts "A Test of Faith".

April 5-6

Representatives of St. Augustine's parish and representatives of the Archdiocese meet with a mediator from Loyola's Twomey Center for Peace through Justice to discuss options for a resolution.

April 8

Archbishop Hughes holds a 9AM prayer service at St. Augustine's church and then announces at a 10:15 AM press conference at the Tomb of the Unknown Slave that St. Augustine Parish will remain open and will not be merged with the Parish of St. Peter Claver. He says that the Parish has been given 18 months to address 12 challenges facing the church. The challenges relate to membership and attendance, finances, church ministries and administration. Sandra Gordon, President of St. Augustine's Pastoral Council expressses her confidence that the goals will be met.

April 8

WWL Tv broadcasts story "St. Augustine Church in Treme to Reopen"; ABC Channel 26 (WGNO) broadcasts "New Orleans' St. Augustine Parish Reopens After Protests".

April 9

Archbishop Hughes concelebrates Palm Sunday Mass with Father Jerome LeDoux and Father Michael Jacques at St. Augustine Church.

April 9

Associated Press releases story "Historic New Orleans Church Gets Reprieve" which is picked up by numerous publications including CBS News, the Baltimore Examiner, the Boston Herald, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post.
MSNBC publishes "Historic Black Church Preserved in New Orleans"; New Orleans Voices for Peace publishes "New Orleans' St. Augustine Parish reopens after protests" on its website; The Baton Rouge Advocate publishes "St. Augustine parish in New Orleans reopens conditionally".

April 10

New Orleans Times-Picayune publishes "St. Augustine Renewed"; WDSU broadcasts "Historic St. Augustine Church Reopens"; the Catholic News Service publishes "Archbishop reopens New Orleans church after dispute is resolved"; Democracy Now publishes "Historic African-American New Orleans Church Reopened After Weeks Of Protests & Rectory Sit-In" on its website.