More than 30,000 Austin residents are supported by Catholic Charities’ various services
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, will join Monsignor Michael Boland,
president of Catholic Charities, to bless and dedicate the new Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center, 5645 W.
Corcoran Place, Chicago, on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 2 p.m. The center is a social services resource and “peace
hub” for violence prevention and trauma therapy programs.
“The Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center continues the legacy of its namesake who worked tirelessly for the poor
and underserved to make his community stronger,” said Monsignor Michael Boland. “We welcome Austin residents to
visit the center and receive the compassionate care, assistance and comfort they need and deserve.”
The 46,000 square-foot building and 51,000 square-foot site were gifts from the Austin Bank Corporation. Catholic
Charities began offering programs at the center in December and has seen a steady increase in the number of clients
and has expanded its services to meet their needs. The 17,000 square-foot Peace Garden, located adjacent to the
center, is Catholic Charities’ gift to the Austin community and includes a moving sculpture by artist Timothy Schmalz
entitled Thou Shall Not Kill that depicts Jesus weeping over a gunshot victim.
“We know that violence will not end in our society without a concerted effort to address its root causes,” said Cardinal
Cupich. “At this center and throughout its network, Catholic Charities works to strengthen families, lift people out of
poverty and help them develop life and employment skills. These ministries are our response to the Gospel call to
show mercy and compassion to all we meet.”
Currently, more than 30,000 Austin residents are supported by Catholic Charities’ various services. The center will
deepen and expand Catholic Charities’ impact in Austin with more services for youth, families and seniors with a focus
on building peaceful communities. In addition to violence prevention and therapy programs, residents will benefit from
dozens of additional services at the center, including financial assistance and counseling, public screening assistance,
youth employment, pregnancy and parenting assistance, summer meals for children and elder care support.
For more information about the Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center, please visit www.catholiccharities.net.
Helping anyone in need for more than 100 years, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the largest
private, not-for-profit social service agencies in the Midwest and the largest Catholic Charities in the country. Every 30
seconds someone counts on Catholic Charities for help. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church’s role in the mission of
charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families
and communities. Each year we assist 1 million people in Cook and Lake Counties without regard to religious, ethnic
or economic background as they journey on their paths to self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit
www.catholiccharities.net.
The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 344
parishes in Cook and Lake Counties, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal
Blase J. Cupich, has more than 15,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the
region’s largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country’s largest seminaries. The
Archdiocese’s 214 elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems and
have garnered more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards than any system of any type.
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