Carol Augustine, leader in religious education and evangelization, dies at 74

As Carol Augustine prepared to retire after 44 years of service to the Catholic Church in Baltimore she hand-wrote thank you notes for all those she knew at the Catholic Center. The note inside said, “Because of you, I could do my ministry.”

Ruth Puls, executive director of mission for the pastorate of St. John and St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor in Frederick County, mentioned that as one of the many ways Augustine valued the people she served.

“Carol’s work was grounded in relationships,” Puls said. “It was all about relationships.”

Augustine, whose archdiocesan service included coordinator of Catechist Formation and Leadership Development, coordinator of Religious Education for Catholic Elementary Schools and ultimately the director of Evangelization and Catechesis, died June 8 after a five-year battle with cancer. She was 74.

“She loved her faith. She loved her church. That’s what her life centered around outside of her family,” said her sister Mary Del Amo.

Born May 16, 1946, in Shamokin, Pa., Augustine was the eldest of Albert and Hilda Augustine’s seven children.

A graduate of the Institute of Notre Dame, Mount St. Agnes College and The Johns Hopkins University, Augustine began working as a director of religious education at St. Matthew in Northwood in 1966.

Jim DeBoy, then archdiocesan director of religious education, hired Augustine as coordinator for religious education in Catholic schools. Two years later she was appointed coordinator of catechetical leadership. When DeBoy retired in 1999, Augustine succeeded him.

“She worked hard to help the parishes’ directors of religious education,” DeBoy said, noting that Augustine got to know the DREs, met with them regularly and organized annual retreats.

A 2012 recipient of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, a papal honor, Augustine was elected president of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and served 2000 to 2001.

“She came with a teacher’s heart,” said Anne Comeaux, who succeeded Augustine as NCCL president and who was a lifelong friend. “Carol’s mission was ‘how can I bring the people of God in the Archdiocese of Baltimore closer to Jesus?’”

When Augustine was running the archdiocesan Religious Education Institute, she recognized early on the need for a Spanish-language track, including a Spanish-speaking keynote speaker, for Hispanic parish catechists.

“Carol made it happen,” Puls said. “Inclusion was a value for her.”

Augustine studied trends and tried new ways to bring people to the Gospel, according to Comeaux. She pushed for family catechesis and efforts to recognize the professionalism of parish staff. “We worked on that a lot,” Comeaux said.

In a 1986 interview with the Catholic Review, Augustine said she sought to help parish leaders recognize how many gifted teachers they have.

“I believe there’s a lot of talent residing right in their own parishes and in the schools,” she said.

DeBoy said his friend saw catechesis as a “lifelong opportunity,” noting that she was an ardent supporter of youth ministry and adult religious education. She delighted in people at work, in the community, in the archdiocese.

When DeBoy’s daughter, Kristen DeBoy, was celebrating her fifth birthday, Augustine arrived dressed as “Pockets the Clown.” Years later when Kristen began a nonprofit called Kindness Grows Here, Augustine supported the work.

“She even wrote to Ellen DeGeneres about our work,” Kristen said in a social media post. “She lived the Gospel every day and was a true example of what it means to be woman of character.”

Puls recalled that Augustine frequently rallied her family to serve ice cream at Camp GLOW, an archdiocesan summer camp for adults with disabilities.

After retiring in August 2010, Augustine continued to serve at her parish, St. Matthew.

“People got to know her very well. When she got sick, she didn’t stop coming,” said Father Joseph Muth, pastor.

Her volunteer efforts included the fundraising committee that organizes the annual crab feast. She even dressed as a crab to get people involved.

“Carol cared deeply for every member of St. Matthew Church community. She has always shown respect and she was energized and engaged in every activity where she volunteered,” fellow parishioner Mychelle Farmer wrote in an email.

“She lived the mantra that ‘all are welcome’; she embraced everyone and brought us close with her sense of humor and enthusiasm,” wrote parishioner Joanne Stanton.

Augustine is survived by her sisters Debbi Dempsey, Barbara Stielper, Christina Rose, Mary DelAmo, brothers Albert and James Augustine, 11 nieces and nephews and 14 great-nieces and great-nephews.

A private funeral was offered June 13. Friends also organized an online memorial June 12. A celebration for Augustine’s 75th birthday is planned for 2021, according to Father Muth.

The archdiocesan Department of Evangelization published a tribute page in honor of Carol Augustine. Post a tribute online here.

 

 

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