Augustine Institute Relocates to St. Louis Archdiocese After Nearly 20 Years in Denver

The Augustine Institute, America's largest Catholic graduate school of theology, is relocating from Denver to a new campus in the Archdiocese of St. Louis after nearly 20 years. The move comes at a time when dozens of Catholic parishes in the St. Louis Archdiocese are closing, making the relocation of the Augustine Institute a significant development for the region.

The institute, founded in 2005 as a Catholic graduate theology school, has purchased the former Boeing Leadership Center in Florissant, Missouri, just outside of downtown St. Louis. The nearly 300-acre property offers state-of-the-art facilities for the group's Catholic mission, allowing the institute to expand from digital into "a national center for Catholic conferences, retreats, evangelization, and fellowship."

The move was described as "providential" by the Archbishop of Denver, as it will allow the institute to remain faithful to its mission while continuing to grow. The Augustine Institute is expecting to hold its 2024-2025 graduate school year at the new property starting in September.

The new 284-acre campus in north St. Louis County includes four buildings for classrooms, the historic Desloge chateau, and five miles of nature trails. The institute plans to triple its on-site graduate student enrollment, with classes beginning in September. The move is being done in collaboration with the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with the goal of nurturing a new era of collaboration with Catholic organizations nationwide.

Why this matters: The relocation of the Augustine Institute to St. Louis County brings a major Catholic educational institution to the region at a time when many parishes are closing. The move has the potential to strengthen Catholic faith and evangelization efforts in the area and beyond.

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of the Archdiocese of St. Louis has expressed his support for the move, stating that the Augustine Institute will transform the property into "the premier center for the New Evangelization in the United States." The archdiocese looks forward to collaborating with the institute to enhance its efforts for evangelization and discipleship. The institute's president, Dr. Tim Gray, says the new location is a "bucolic beauty" and a "place to pray, contemplate, reflect, and to be renewed."

Key Takeaways

• Augustine Institute, largest Catholic graduate school, relocating to St. Louis
• Purchased former Boeing Leadership Center, expanding facilities for conferences, retreats
• Move seen as "providential" to remain faithful to mission while growing
• New campus to host graduate school starting September 2024-2025 academic year
• Relocation aims to strengthen Catholic faith and evangelization in the region