Saint Augustine Catholic Church Elkridge, Maryland
We had the pleasure to visit St. Augustine Catholic Church for Sunday Mass November 13, 2022. Located in Elkridge, MD this gem was worth the visit. We had been in Baltimore for the weekend and were staying at a nearby hotel and decided to attend Mass before heading back home to Virginia. I’m glad we did. What a beautiful church this was to visit. Small and well made the beautifully adorned church had us looking in every corner to take in its beauty. I was struck by the spectacular blue and starred ceiling. I could have looked at it all day long. Being in these beautifully made old parishes is such a delight. Seeing all the small details, it does make you wonder why Catholic dioceses have forgone these important pieces of beauty for the utilitarian plainly built buildings of the current times. Which is why I find it so very important to visit these beauties while we can. It’s one of our favorite aspects of traveling: seeing unexpected gems for Sunday Mass. We were all deeply enchanted with that gorgeous painted ceiling. So many fine features for a small church it was a wonder to behold its countless details.
After attending we learned of saintly ties to this church. St. Augustine is an old parish dating back to the 1840s. Mass was celebrated by circuit riding missionary priests in the homes of local residents; residents often received sacraments about once a month. The growing Catholic community required a permanent church and the cornerstone of a small building (now gone) was placed in 1844. Beginning In 1846 Bishop Eccleston asked the Redemptorists (an order devoted to Mary, as Our Mother of Perpetual Help.) to minister to the parish. St. Augustine was blessed with the ministry of many fine pastors. One in particular, Father John Neumann, served from 1849 until 1851 just before accepted an assignment as bishop of Philadelphia. In 1866 St. Augustine became part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The current church was completed in 1902 and is in use to this day.
Can we talk a little bit more about SAINT John Neumann?! What a surprise to learn that a saint was once an active part of this parish. In America that is not very common is quite something remarkable to note. He lived a short life making the most our of his 48 years of life. He was known to be deeply devoted to the diocese making an untiring effort to visit all of the parishes of Philadelphia. He founded the Third Order of Saint Francis of Glen Riddle. He worked to build many Catholic churches, 89 in seven years, he believed it was very important for children to be educated and taught the ways of Jesus.
He was canonized in Rome on June 19, 1977 and his feast day is January 5. Pope Paul VI summarized the activity of the new saint: “He was close to the sick, he loved to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners, and now he is the glory of all emigrants.” St. John Neumann is the patron of sick children and of immigrants.
The Small Pencil Catechist 