History

St. Augustine Parish, the fifth in the city of Covington, was established on June 20, 1870. Its name was chosen in honor of the patron saint of Most Reverend Augustine Toebbe, the Bishop of Covington at that time. The cornerstone for the combination Church and school was laid, and the building dedicated on October 16, 1870. Father L. Neumaier was its first pastor.

Father Joseph Goebbels, the second pastor, undertook several temporal projects to enhance parish property, but he was unsuccessful. Father Clement Jesse was the third pastor. His ill health prevented parish activities. He died in June of 1883. Father Paul Abeln became the next pastor. Father Abeln brought order out of chaos, readjusted the financial matters, reconstructed the temporal and spiritual affairs of the parish that the parish was able now to begin a fund for a new Church. Father Abeln labored faithfully for funds for a new St. Augustine Church. Father William Kathman continued to lead the parish in building a new Church.

Work on the new Church was begun May 8, 1913, and the cornerstone was laid on Sunday, September 21, 1913. It was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Maes on Sunday, December 20, 1914. The original Church on St. Augustine Street was auctioned to a single bidder. Several men of the parish pledged to save the Church bell, and they were successful. Its resonant peal still sounds the invitation to Church today as the bell had done during the first hundred years of service. At that time the congregation numbered two hundred and ten families.

Hardly had the Church been dedicated when Father Kathman set about erecting a new school. Its cornerstone was laid in January, 1916, and the school was dedicated by Fr. Kathman on September 10, 1916. A residence for the Religious teachers in the school was purchased also at this time. The Sisters of Notre Dame staffed St. Augustine School. The parish is grateful to them for the many sacrifices they made for the good of the parish.

St. Augustine Parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee on June 20, 1920, and the small congregation of 1870 had grown to 325 families, one of the best organized congregations in the city of Covington, under the guidance of Father Kathman.

When Father Kathman died on March 14, 1926, he was succeeded by Rev. Charles A. Woeste. Father Woeste enjoys the distinction of being pastor of St. Augustine for 31 years. These years were filled with a real zeal for the honor and glory of God and the furtherance of the spiritual interests of St. Augustine. An able administrator, he renovated the entire interior of the Church, remedying the acoustical difficulties, redecorated the walls and renewed the Stations of the Cross. After nearly 32 years of loyal, attentive, and devoted service to St. Augustine Parish, Monsignor Woeste was called into eternity on December 10, 1957. Rev. Joseph A. Lubrecht was Monsignor Woeste's successor.

Monsignor Lubrecht

On June 7, 1970, St. Augustine Parish began a week of activities celebrating 100 years as a parish. Most Reverend Richard H. Ackerman, D.D. concelebrated a Pontifical Mass followed by a Centennial Banquet. Priests and Religious from St. Augustine Parish were honored during this time of celebration.

The "fresh air" of Vatican II continued to blow through the leaderships of Father Joseph Broering and Father Donald Hellman. St. Augustine Parish continued to be a vital part of the Church in Covington, Kentucky.

Under the leadership of Father Leo C. Schmidt, St. Augustine Parish responds to the needs of the people. The parish continues to support the school as a vibrant means of proclaiming God's Goodness in the world today.