In 1940, Fr. Francis Smith was requested to select and purchase land for a Catholic parish in Germantown. A colonial designed white frame church was erected on the land purchased on S. Cherry Street in Germantown. Sixteen catholic families lived in Germantown when the church was completed June 1941. The first Mass was offered Sunday, July 6, 1941 by the Reverend Francis S. Smith.
Fr. John Reichert, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Camden, Ohio was appointed Administrator for St. Augustine while living in Camden. This arrangement for sharing a priest continued until the current rectory on Weaver Road was purchased in 1970. Between the period of 1942 and 1945, Fr. Reichert grew St. Augustine’s parish census to 20 families by introducing the St. Monica Altar Society, the Holy Name Society and CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) which was taught by the Sisters of Charity each week.
Between 1945 and 1955 St. Augustine continued to grow. The parish census grew to 94 families. Another weekend mass was added to accommodate the needs of this growing church and it was evident that a new building was needed. In December of 1955, an agreement was reached to purchase 10.2 acres of property on Weaver Rd. This property would become the site of the current church.
In January 1962 construction of the new church began and on July 1 of that year Bishop Leibold blessed the cornerstone of the church on Weaver Road. On September 8, 1963, the last mass was held at the church on Cherry Street and later that day, Archbishop Alter dedicated the new church on Weaver Road.
St. Augustine Parish continued in the years that followed under the guidance of many dedicated pastors. In 2005, when the pastor retired, Fr. Francis Tandoh a Holy Spirit Father and pastors of St. Benedict the Moor Parish, was assigned to also serve as pastor of St. Augustine. In 2015, St. Augustine became part of Region One of the Dayton Deanery with St Benedict the Moor and St. Mary’s parishes in Dayton.
St. Augustine is a small, yet strong parish in the farming communities of Germantown, Farmersville, New Lebanon, and surrounding area. We are a family….one mass, one mission, and one goal to serve God and help others. When you join the St. Augustine parish you are immediately adopted by this faith community; you are welcomed into this family. As a parishioner you will always be supported in all your endeavors. Involvement in the parish only increases your blessings of friendship, support and love!