St. Augustine Catholic School
On Oct. 3, at the Catholic Business Network DC (CBN-DC) Sixth Annual Gala, Rev. Patrick A. Smith, pastor of St. Augustine Catholic Church, won the Clergy of the Year Award.
In his introduction of Fr. Smith, Mr. Lawrence H. Parks, II, ’75, lifelong parishioner, spoke about how Fr. Smith puts the “mission in motion” at Saint Augustine and “speaks truth to power.” Speaking in front of an audience of about 300 people, Parks also paid tribute to how Fr. Smith has helped foster a donor “give back” culture for parishioners and alumni, especially, at St. Augustine.
In his acceptance speech, Fr. Smith said that he did not singlehandedly save Saint Augustine Catholic School from closure in 2008-2009, and that it was due to the strength and conviction of St. Augustine Parish that the school is in a stronger position now. After all, St. Augustine was a parish formed out of the Blessed Martin de Porres Chapel in the basement at St. Matthew’s Church in 1858 where parishioners decided to form a parish school before they built their own church.
He also paid tribute to his family, how his late parents sent their eight children to Catholic schools not solely through his father’s income but also through the assistance of family members, including an aunt and uncle who were career District of Columbia Public School teachers and principals, prevented from sharing their talents in the Catholic schools system because of racial segregation. They sacrificed financially to enable their nieces and nephews to receive a Catholic education.
Fr. Smith has served as pastor of St. Augustine Catholic Church since 2004.
