Schwarz, Augustine, 1888-1946

Franciscan priest who served several Indian communities in Arizona in the early 20th century.

From the description of Father Augustine Schwarz, O.F.M., photograph collection, 1916-1940. (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 48801213

Father Augustine Joseph Schwarz, O.F.M., Province of the Sacred Heart, was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 16, 1888, the eldest of six children. His elementary school training was provided by St. Augustine's church in Chicago. He attended St. Joseph's College in Teutopolis, Illinois for his religious training between 1901 and 1908. From 1908 to 1915, he studied humanities at Quincy College in Illinois; philosophy in Cleveland, Ohio; and theology in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained on June 26, 1914 and said his first Mass at St. Augustine's Church two days later. He became a professor at Quincy College in 1915.

The Bishop rejected Fr. Augustine's request to go on a mission to China and sent him to Arizona instead in 1916. Fr. Augustine was first assigned to the Franciscan St. Johns Mission in Komatke. During his three-year sojourn, he made visits to missions at Fort McDowell, Wetcamp, and St. Michael's Mission in Sacaton.

In 1919, Fr. Augustine was transferred to Old San Solano, the Headquarters for Franciscan Missions on the Papago Reservation. During this time, he was responsible for building the first Pisinimo Chapel (1920) and the Cowlic Mission (1921). He also made visits and to and conducted services in the villages of Kupk (1919), Anegam, Ajo, Topowa, and San Lorenzo (1920).

Between July 22 and February 23, 1922 Fr. Augustine supervised the St. Johns Mission School Band on an Eastern tour. He next traveled to the St. Johns Mission on the Apache reservation at Whiteriver, where he built the mission chapel. He moved on to the Phoenix Indian School for two years before returning to San Solano Mission headquarters at Topowa.

From 1929 to 1930, Fr. Augustine added rooms to the St. Michael's Mission in Sacaton before moving back to Whiteriver. Over the next five years, he finished building the Cibecue Chapel. Upon returning to Topawa, he commenced building the St. Paul's Chapel in Fresnal, which was dedicated for his silver jubilee. In 1941, he moved to the St. Thomas Mission in Yuma, Arizona, where he also served as an auxiliary chaplain for POW camps for German and Italian prisoners.

Fr. Augustine died in Los Angeles on September 24, 1946 and was interred in the old cemetery at the Santa Barbara Mission.

From the guide to the Father Augustine Schwarz Photograph Collection, 1916-1940, (Arizona State University Libraries Labriola Center)