Film on First Black Catholic Priest in America Screens Nationwide in October
Screenings of "Tolton: From Slave to Priest" are taking place across the country throughout October 2026. The film tells the story of Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first Black Catholic priest in the United States, who overcame slavery and racial barriers to serve the Church.
NATIONWIDE — A film about the life of Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first Black Catholic priest in the United States, is screening at churches and theaters across the country throughout October 2026.
"Tolton: From Slave to Priest" chronicles Tolton's journey from slavery in Missouri to ordination as a Catholic priest in Rome in 1886. He returned to the United States to serve Black Catholic communities in Quincy, Illinois, and later Chicago, where he died in 1897 at age 43.
The Vatican opened Tolton's cause for canonization in 1984. He was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2019, a step toward sainthood that recognizes his heroic virtue.
The Black Catholic Messenger reported that October 2026 screenings are being organized by parishes, Catholic schools, and community organizations across the country. The events are designed to coincide with Black Catholic History Month, which is observed in November, and to build awareness ahead of that observance.
Tolton was born into slavery in 1854 in Brush Creek, Missouri. His mother, Martha Jane Tolton, escaped with her children to Quincy, Illinois, during the Civil War. Despite facing rejection from American seminaries because of his race, Tolton was accepted by the Pontifical Urban College in Rome, where he was ordained.
After returning to the United States, Tolton faced continued racial hostility from some white Catholic clergy. He eventually moved to Chicago at the request of Archbishop Patrick Feehan, where he served the city's Black Catholic community until his death.
The film has been praised by Catholic educators and historians for bringing Tolton's story to a wider audience. Organizers say the screenings are drawing both Catholic and non-Catholic audiences interested in the history of race and religion in America.
