History of St. Augustine Thomasville
St. Augustine Catholic Church originated as a Southwest Georgia Mission in the parlor of Mrs. Cora Dufour Barrett, a cultured French lady who came to Thomasville in the early 1870’s. Rev. Charles C. Prendergast from Savannah cared for the spiritual needs of the small Catholic community and celebrated Mass here about once a month.
A lot at the corner of Jefferson and Crawford Streets was purchased October 12, 1877, and four years later on November 12, 1881, a simple wooden structure was erected which became the first Catholic Sanctuary in Thomasville. The building was dedicated in February, 1882, as St. Augustine Catholic Church. Father Prendergast was placed in charge. The building was later relocated to Hansell Street, close to Smith Avenue and stands today as a Thomasville landmark. It presently serves as All Saint’s Episcopal Church.
In 1890, Thomasville experiences its great tourist boom, and because of the influx of people from the north, it became necessary to celebrate Mass in the new church at least twice a month. Father Prendergast died in 1896, and the Mission of St. Augustine was served primarily by priests from St. Teresa’s Church in Albany.
The continuing growth of the Catholic community demanded that St. Augustine no longer be a mission church, and the Most Reverend Gerald P. O’Hara, then Bishop of Savannah, appointed Rev. Thomas I. Sheehan as the first resident pastor of the Thomasville church. Father Sheehan assumed charge of his new parish on July 1, 1936. A home, located directly across the street from the church, was purchased at this time to be used as the church rectory. In December 1952, the Franciscan Friars from the Holy Name Province came to Thomasville to pastor St. Augustine by the invitation of the Bishop of Savannah. The first Franciscan Friar was Father Peter C. Sheridan, O.F.M.
The continuing growth of the Catholic community demanded that St. Augustine no longer be a mission church, and the Most Reverend Gerald P. O’Hara, then Bishop of Savannah, appointed Rev. Thomas I. Sheehan as the first resident pastor of the Thomasville church. Father Sheehan assumed charge of his new parish on July 1, 1936. A home, located directly across the street from the church, was purchased at this time to be used as the church rectory. In December 1952, the Franciscan Friars from the Holy Name Province came to Thomasville to pastor St. Augustine by the invitation of the Bishop of Savannah. The first Franciscan Friar was Father Peter C. Sheridan, O.F.M.
In 1964, the size of the parish necessitated a larger church building. Guided by Father Mario DiLelia, O.F.N., the present church building site was purchased. Construction began July, 1966 on the new St. Augustine Church, social hall and rectory. The dedication of these buildings was held April 23, 1967. in 1971, Father Frederick Kirchner, O.F.M., became pastor of St. Augustine Parish. Father Vernard J. Murphy, O.F.M., became pastor in 1976 and remained for nine years. During this time, St. Augustine grew enough to warrant erecting an additional building for religious education in 1979.
On January 15, 1993, Father Victor Seidel, S.T., of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, became pastor of St. Augustine parish. He continued to enhance religious and personal growth, as well as the augmentation and development of the parish. Father Thomas J. Murphy became pastor of St. Augustine in July 2000. Under his tutelage, the church and its congregation continued to grow. Father Murphy completed the campaign started by Father Victor for our beautiful stained glass windows. Since the church window frames within the building were not the type to sustain the extra weight of stained glass, a construction compromise enabled Father Murphy to have the stained glass put in frames and the windows were completed in 2002.
In July 2004, Father Jacek Szuster became our parish priest. Father Jacek is from Poland. Dixie his dog, is from Albany, Georgia. Father Jacek is truly a ‘hands’ on kind of guy. He was often found mowing the church grounds or helping in the construction of various projects going on around the church. He is outgoing and actively promulgating the Catholic Christian Community in The Old South. After seven years on June 30, 2011 Father Jacek was transferred to Most Holy Trinity in Augusta GA and the parish received a new pastor Father Mark Van Alstine
Father Mark was ordained in 2005 and has served as the Assistant Vocation Director helping seminarians who are in discernment.In 2012 Father Mark was transferred and we welcomed Father Ray Levreault.
Father Ray was only with us for a year and in 2013 we welcomed Father David Kotter. Father Kotter was able to stay with the parish for 3 years before transferring to Holy Spirit in Macon in June of 2016.
The parish now welcomes Father Dawid Kwiatkowski originally from Poland. He was ordained in 2011 in Savannah. Served as a Parochial Vicar at st. Joseph in Macon for three years. Then was transferred to St. Teresa of Avila in Augusta. Stayed there for two years mainly taking care of the growing Hispanic community. In 2016 was named Pastor for the first time, and came to serve our parishes.
On January 15, 1993, Father Victor Seidel, S.T., of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, became pastor of St. Augustine parish. He continued to enhance religious and personal growth, as well as the augmentation and development of the parish. Father Thomas J. Murphy became pastor of St. Augustine in July 2000. Under his tutelage, the church and its congregation continued to grow. Father Murphy completed the campaign started by Father Victor for our beautiful stained glass windows. Since the church window frames within the building were not the type to sustain the extra weight of stained glass, a construction compromise enabled Father Murphy to have the stained glass put in frames and the windows were completed in 2002.
In July 2004, Father Jacek Szuster became our parish priest. Father Jacek is from Poland. Dixie his dog, is from Albany, Georgia. Father Jacek is truly a ‘hands’ on kind of guy. He was often found mowing the church grounds or helping in the construction of various projects going on around the church. He is outgoing and actively promulgating the Catholic Christian Community in The Old South. After seven years on June 30, 2011 Father Jacek was transferred to Most Holy Trinity in Augusta GA and the parish received a new pastor Father Mark Van Alstine
Father Mark was ordained in 2005 and has served as the Assistant Vocation Director helping seminarians who are in discernment.In 2012 Father Mark was transferred and we welcomed Father Ray Levreault.
Father Ray was only with us for a year and in 2013 we welcomed Father David Kotter. Father Kotter was able to stay with the parish for 3 years before transferring to Holy Spirit in Macon in June of 2016.
The parish now welcomes Father Dawid Kwiatkowski originally from Poland. He was ordained in 2011 in Savannah. Served as a Parochial Vicar at st. Joseph in Macon for three years. Then was transferred to St. Teresa of Avila in Augusta. Stayed there for two years mainly taking care of the growing Hispanic community. In 2016 was named Pastor for the first time, and came to serve our parishes.