Work on the sainthood cause of Father Augustus Tolton, the first acknowledged African-American priest, is continuing. According to the newsletter of the Father Tolton Guild, church tribunals in the archdioceses of Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans and the Diocese of Springfield have taken testimony from about 20 people about the sustained historical memory of Tolton and reputation for holiness in the community. A dozen or so others have testified to receiving favors from God in Tolton’s name. Several of them have been forwarded to Rome for further consideration. Tolton was born a slave in Missouri and escaped to Quincy, Ill., as a child with his mother, brother and sister. He was raised in Quincy, went to seminary in Rome and returned to serve in Quincy before moving to Chicago in 1889. He died in Chicago in 1893. Local pilgrimage All are invited to follow Tolton’s steps from slavery to sainthood April 14 on a pilgrimage to Chicago sites that were vital to his ministry. The pilgrimage is sponsored by Bishop Joseph Perry, who is leading the cause for Tolton’s sainthood, the Office for Black Catholics and the Father Augustus Tolton Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union. Landmarks on the pilgrimage include: the historical site of Old St. Mary’s Church; the location of Tolton’s one-room apartment during his first months in Chicago; the gravesite of Tolton’s mother, Martha Jane Chisley-Tolton; St. Monica’s Church and the place where Tolton took his last footsteps. Pilgrims also will visit Pearl’s Restaurant for lunch. The pilgrimage runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and starts and ends at the Cardinal Meyer Center, 3525 S. Lake Park Ave. Cost is $40, including lunch. To register, call the Office for Black Catholics at (312) 534-8376, email aowens@ archchicago.org or visit www.blackcatholicchicago.org. Driving tour in Quincy Pilgrims who are going through Quincy, Ill., can take a driving tour introduced by the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The tour includes five sites in the Quincy area, including Tolton’s grave in St. Peter Cemetery; St. Peter Church; the former St. Peter Church, which is now the Quincy City Hall; St. Boniface Church; and the old site of St. Joseph Church. For more information, visit www.seequincy.com. For more information about Father Tolton’s cause for canonization, visit tolton.archchicago.org.