Spirit of ancestors resonated with St. Aug students at cathedral

Father Tony Ricard celebrated St. Augustine High School’s opening Mass Aug. 19 at St. Louis Cathedral for the student body of approximately 600 young men.






Student readers were senior Jamal Bonner and sophomore Bryce Robinson, and alumni Devin Boucree and Cameron Williams and the Knights of Praise led the singing with student vocalists Travon Stamply and Allan Mercadel, seniors, and sophomore Cedric Clark. Deacon Lawrence Houston from the Department of Catholic Education and Faith Formation assisted at the Mass.

During his homily, Father Ricard focused on the cultural history of the cathedral and the presence of Africans and African-Americans in its records since its founding. The original black-and-white marble tiles in the center aisle were laid by free people of color and enslaved people. He said current-day students were the “answers to the prayers of all our enslaved ancestors. They are the men that our ancestors prayed would be sitting in the cathedral.”


He challenged them “to continue being the answers to those prayers.” It was the first time the school has held its opening Mass at the cathedral.