About Us
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Welcome! We have a rich history and a hopeful future. Join us as we continue to build the Kingdom of God in Miami and beyond.
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Who is St Augustine?
St. Augustine was born in Roman Africa which would be modern day Algeria to his Christian mother, St. Monica, and a pagan father, Patricius, whom later converted on his deathbed. He is the patron of brewers because of his conversion after living a life of without God pursuing parties, and worldly ambitions. St. Augustine also is the patron of printers and theologians for his extensive writings on the Catholic Faith.
Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Anthony, and he felt terribly ashamed of himself. “What are we doing?” he cried to his friend Alipius. “Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!”
Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, “How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?” Just then he heard a child singing, “Take up and read!” Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul said to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.
He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable also. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: “Here we do not speak evil of anyone.” St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. “Too late have I loved You!” he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion. His feast day is August 28th.
OUR HISTORY
In 1949, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, the Bishop of St. Augustine, whose territory included the entire peninsula of Florida, appointment Msgr. William McKeever as the Chaplain of the Newman Club of the University of Miami, serving the needs of Catholic students. Msgr. McKeever first major act was to celebrate the Eucharist on campus, with students and faculty adoring on bended knee. With Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman’s vision as a guide, a strong foundation of faith was built.
In 1958, the new Diocese of Miami received its first bishop, the Most Rev. Coleman F. Carroll. Seeing the potential of the students and the need to serve them all-the-more, in 1959, Bishop Carroll dedicated a Catholic student center across the street from the University. He named the building after the great Catholic intellectual, theologian, and philosopher, St. Thomas Aquinas. Staffed with Dominican priests who were assisted by Teresian Sisters, the ministry to the students grew and deepened.
Ten years later, in 1968, Miami became an Archdiocese and our first bishop became the first Archbishop. In 1969, Archbishop Carroll once again invited a new song to be sung to the Lord. He made the student center a territorial parish, naming it for St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo. Members of the local community joined with university students to grow in faith and community.
In 2010, Miami received its fourth Archbishop, the Most Rev. Thomas Wenski. A Miami priest who had been serving as the Bishop of Orlando, Archbishop Wenski brought to Miami a new and lively vision of College Campus Ministry. We are continuing now this vision for a vibrant St Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center.
