About St. Augustine · Louisville, Kentucky
St. Augustine Parish is a historic African-American Catholic parish in the West Broadway neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, established on February 20, 1870. Founded by Father John L. Spalding under Bishop William G. McCloskey, it is the first African-American parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville and was one of only six African-American Catholic parishes in the entire United States when it opened. Today the parish, led by Rev. George Otuma, A.J. and Deacon Keith L. McKenzie, continues its founding mission of education and service through a Dare to Care food center, partnership with West Louisville Community Ministries, and regular hosting of major African-American Catholic gatherings including the National Convention of the Knights of Peter Claver.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Augustine of Hippo
- Rector
- Rev. George Otuma, A.J.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
St. Augustine offers a rare opportunity to belong to the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville and one of the original six in the United States — a community with 155 years of Black Catholic heritage in West Louisville. Parishioners worship in the historic 1912 church at 1310 West Broadway, with weekly Mass on Sundays and Thursdays at noon, monthly Eucharistic Adoration on fifth Sundays, and a tight-knit family of roughly 100 active members who feed the hungry through a Dare to Care food center and partner with West Louisville Community Ministries.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
- Holy Days (call parish office)
Adoration times
- Fifth Sundays, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Augustine is the first African-American parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville and one of the original six African-American Catholic parishes in the United States. Founded in 1870, it has served the Black Catholic community of West Louisville for more than 150 years and remains a gathering point for major African-American Catholic events nationwide.
- Patron: St. Augustine of Hippo
- Established February 20, 1870
- Archdiocese of Louisville
- Approximately 355 registered families
History of the Parish
Bishop William G. McCloskey appointed Father John L. Spalding in 1868 to organize the Black Catholic community in Louisville. For roughly two years Mass was celebrated in the basement burial crypt of the Cathedral of the Assumption. On February 20, 1870, the new church at Broadway between 14th and 15th Streets was formally established. A second church, dedicated in 1902, was soon outgrown; the property for the present church was purchased in 1911, and Bishop Denis O'Donaghue dedicated the current building on September 10, 1912.
- 1868: Father John L. Spalding commissioned by Bishop McCloskey
- 1870 (Feb 20): parish formally established
- 1871: school opened under the Sisters of Charity
- 1873: Sacred Heart Church opens; weekly white-Mass arrangement ends
- 1902: second church dedicated
- 1911: current Broadway property purchased
- 1912 (Sept 10): present church dedicated by Bishop Denis O'Donaghue
Schools & Education Legacy
Education has been at the heart of St. Augustine since its founding. The Sisters of Charity opened the parish school in 1871, and the Josephites — the religious congregation founded specifically to minister to African-American Catholics — later took over staffing. The parish ran both an elementary school and, for seven years, a high school, providing Catholic education to West Louisville's Black community for nearly a century.
- Elementary school opened 1871 (Sisters of Charity, later Josephites)
- High school opened mid-20th century (named at various times Catholic Colored High School and Catholic High)
- High school closed 1958
- Elementary school closed 1967
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a Ugandan-born priest of the Apostles of Jesus religious order, together with a permanent deacon and a parish office coordinator.
- Rev. George Otuma, A.J. — Pastor (Apostles of Jesus; born in Arua, Uganda; ordained July 21, 2001)
- Deacon Keith L. McKenzie — Permanent Deacon
- Jaison Gardner — Parish Office Coordinator
Father George Otuma, A.J.
Father George Otuma, A.J., is a member of the Apostles of Jesus religious order, born in Arua in the Northern Province of Uganda. He attended Pokea Minor Seminary and Apostles of Jesus Moroto Minor Seminary in Uganda, then earned theology degrees at Apostles of Jesus Theologicum in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 21, 2001, and arrived in the Archdiocese of Louisville in 2016, first serving at Holy Spirit Church and then as pastor of St. Bernard in Clementsville and Sacred Heart in Liberty before being appointed pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Christ the King, and St. Augustine. He is also known for establishing community gardens at Immaculate Heart of Mary that supply fresh produce to parishioners, elderly neighbors, and members of the local Ugandan community.
- Born in Arua, Uganda
- Member of Apostles of Jesus (A.J.)
- Ordained July 21, 2001
- Arrived in Archdiocese of Louisville in 2016
Worship & Liturgy
Mass is celebrated in the historic 1912 church on West Broadway. The parish offers a quiet weekly schedule that emphasizes noon-day Masses, with special Holy Day observances by arrangement. Eucharistic Adoration is held monthly on fifth Sundays.
- Sunday Mass: 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Thursday Mass: 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Holy Day Mass: call parish office
- Eucharistic Adoration: Fifth Sundays, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Sacraments
Reconciliation is offered by appointment and on Holy Days. The parish office should be contacted directly for information about baptism, marriage, anointing of the sick, and other sacramental preparations.
- Reconciliation: by appointment and on Holy Days
- Holy Day Mass: call parish office
- Parish office phone: (502) 584-4602
Outreach & Social Ministry
Continuing its long tradition of serving the surrounding West Louisville community, St. Augustine runs an active food ministry and partners with other local nonprofit agencies to reach the poor, homeless, and needy.
- Dare to Care food center (parish-run)
- West Louisville Community Ministries partner
- Outreach to poor, homeless, and needy
- Father Otuma's community-gardens initiative (shared with parishioners, elderly neighbors, and the Ugandan community)
African-American Catholic Events & Gatherings
St. Augustine continues to serve as an important gathering point for African-American Catholics across the country, regularly hosting regional and national events as well as hosting its own cultural celebrations.
- National Convention of the Knights of Peter Claver
- Mid-Eastern Conference of Negro Welfare
- Liturgical music workshops and retreats led by Grayson Warren Brown
- 'Slice of St. Augustine' — Kentucky Derby Festival event with jazz, local artists, and home-cooked food
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the historic church on West Broadway in Louisville's 40203 ZIP code. The parish office can be reached by phone or email for Mass intentions, sacramental scheduling, and general inquiries.
- Address: 1310 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203-2058
- Phone: (502) 584-4602
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: archlou.org/parishes/saint-augustine-louisville/
- Facebook: St. Augustine Catholic Church (Louisville, KY)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John L. Spalding1868–early 1870s
Appointed by Bishop William G. McCloskey in 1868 to organize the parish; nephew of Archbishop Martin John Spalding of Baltimore. Led the founding community from the crypt of the Cathedral of the Assumption and the formal establishment on February 20, 1870.
- Rev. John N. Dudine
Listed as pastor of St. Augustine's Church in a University of Louisville historical interview source covering pastors active in the early-to-mid 20th century.