A committee announced plans to convert St. Boniface Church in Quincy into a shrine for Fr. Augustine Tolton. One of the attendees was Father Steven Arisman, chair of the shrine committee, who conveyed his deep spiritual sentiments about the overall undertaking, as well as the impact of the shrine as a place for meditation, education, and pilgrimage. He spoke both passionately yet earnestly about the uphill battle of restoring a historical site while stressing the importance of remembering the extraordinary history of Father Tolton. 

Bishop John Paprocki was also in attendance and provided his perspective on the efforts to canonize Father Tolton. In his remarks, he connected Father Tolton’s transition from slavery to priesthood to the inspiration it has created for so many throughout the world in addition to those who are from Quincy, thus relating the local shrine project to those who are currently working toward canonizing Father Tolton in Rome.

Mayor Linda K. Moore also attended as a representative of the City of Quincy. She stated how proud Quincy is to have a long history with Father Tolton and how this shrine will provide both historical and unifying elements for Quincy through time. One of the notable moments included Bishop Paprocki blessing the landmark plaque, which recognizes the significance of the church both historically and culturally. 

While visitors could not have access to the building due to mold, the structure provided a way to reflect back on the past and think about what is yet to come for Quincy. The event included a brief prayer service and a performance by Quincy Notre Dame High School students, who performed “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” a song that was Father Tolton’s favorite hymn. The fact that the students performed this outside the church created a connection between their experience and the church’s history.

At a press conference, organizers announced new fundraising efforts for the project, as there was a general consensus that restoring the old church would take a lot of time and many dollars. However, judging by the mood of the audience, there appears to be some expectation amongst them that success is achievable through all that hard work and effort put into making a difference. By recognizing and preserving Father Augustus Tolton’s legacy through constructing this shrine, it connects the community with Father Tolton’s life.

This shrine provides more than just a physical structure; it gives Catholics a living example of how to continue to create change for the betterment of the world. The building itself is yet to be renovated, but the foundation has already been laid.