Coming to Ocala: 'Tolton' tells the story of America's first Black priest

Veteran stage, screen and movie actor Jim R. Coleman, whose credits include parts in the movie "American Gangster" and televisions shows "Walking Dead" and "Law & Order SUV," will portray America's first Black priest, the Rev. Augustus Tolton, in the live, one-man production "Tolton: From Slave to Priest" on Feb. 28 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.

Coleman has performed the Fr. Tolton role in the 75-minute multimedia drama at least 300 times in 28 states.

"I’m truly humbled to tell his story. I pray before each performance and ask Fr. Tolton to speak to me to get it right," Coleman said in a recent phone interview.

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"(Tolton) spoke of love and unity. He preached to all people and people from all denomination churches came to hear him. He wanted to unite the world, (as) we're all one in Christ," Coleman said.

Coleman said conveying Tolton's story is "one of the most important" tasks he's ever taken on.

The stage is backdropped by a movie screen with a montage from Tolton’s life. The contents of letters written to and from Tolton are used.

All about Fr. Tolton

John Augustus Tolton was born in Brush Creek, Missouri, on April 1, 1854, according to a biography by Clifani Stephen posted at toltoncatholic.org, which is the website for Fr. Tolton Catholic High School in Columbia, Missouri.

In 1862, Tolton’s family fled to Illinois to escape slavery and reportedly his mother admonished him to "never forget the goodness of the Lord" as they reached freedom, the biography states.

Tolton attended an all-white parish school in Quincy, Illinois with support of the school's pastor, Fr. Peter McGirr, the biography indicates. He graduated from high school and then Quincy College in 1880.

McGirr supported Tolton in studying for the priesthood in Rome, and after six years of study he was ordained in 1886 at age 31, the biography indicates.

Tolton was a singer and musician and spoke fluent German, Italian, Latin, Greek and African dialects, according to the biography.

The biography indicates although Tolton experienced "racial conflict" most of his life, he "devoted himself to serving God."

“For the first time in his life, Augustus experienced racial harmony and total acceptance within the church,” the biography states.

After Tolton was ordained, he expected to be assigned to a parish in Africa but instead celebrated his first Mass in Quincy and became pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church and school, the biography states.

"Racial tension in Quincy still ran rampant and Father Tolton accepted a reassignment to Chicago in order to fulfill his calling to serve God. He gave service by helping the poor and sick, feeding the hungry and winning souls for God. His endless, tireless and devoted work led many to the Faith. In 1897, the first black Catholic priest in America, lovingly known as 'Good Father Gus,' died unexpectedly while on a priest’s retreat," the biography indicates.

A Chicago Catholic article dated June 19, 2019, indicated Pope Francis “advanced the cause” of sainthood for Tolton when he issued a decree “declaring (Tolton) ‘venerable’ ” and acknowledging he had “led a life of heroic virtue.”

An amazing story

Coleman said the idea of a white Irish priest in the late 1800s “getting behind a former slave and mentoring him is ‘amazing.’ "

Coleman said in 2023 "we're still dealing with the same issues of race." He said heroes like Tolton had to stand up against racism, but today is the time for those who don't directly face racism to stand up because "silence is complicity."

Coleman, 61, a native of Dallas, served as an Army medic. Over the last 30 years he has appeared in at least 50 national commercials, television shows and films and portrayed Roger in the Nickelodeon show "My Brother and Me."

Coleman is also producer of the hit show on faith-based Pureflix (pureflix.com) "The Advocate."

Carlos Briceno, director of communications and evangelization at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia, saw the show last year.

“ 'Tolton: From Slave to Priest' shares two great truths: love always prevails, and the devil is a liar," he wrote in an email.

"The play shows how the love that Augustus Tolton received from his mother and from Father Peter McGirr helped him persevere in becoming a priest. But that light was contrasted with the darkness of evil as a recurring character in the play features the devil, who is constantly whispering negative thoughts, all of which are lies.

"The actor playing Tolton, Jim Coleman, plays the part to perfection, as his expressive face illustrates all that Augustus felt – from sadness, to joy, to fear, to pain, to hope. The multimedia production added energy to the play as the video playing in the background added multiple characters to the stage, even if they were not present as live performers," he wrote.

The Rev. Patrick Sheedy, pastor of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, said the drama has a “timely message.”

“Christianity preaches the equality of people, but we still have adjustments to make,” Sheedy said.

If you go

"Tolton: From Slave to Priest," 6 p.m. Feb. 28, Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 5 SE 17th St., Ocala. 352-629-8082. Admission is free; offering will be collected to cover expenses.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 'Tolton' is a one-man show whose message still resonates today