About the Parish

In August 28, 1994, St. Augustine’s Church was born in the north-side of Chicago. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Bishop Roberto C. Pamatmat, Fr. Ricardo C. Baykin and the newly-formed Parish Council led their flocks to their faith journey, carrying out the mission work of the Philippine Independent Church in Chicago area. Father Baykin was appointed by the diocesan bishop to serve as the first rector of this mission church. After Father Baykin’s retirement in 1996, Bishop Pamatmat became the next parish rector, and with his patient wisdom, he provided encouragement, vision, and spiritual guidance to the congregation. During his term, Bishop Pamatmat also served as an assisting bishop to the Rt. Rev. Vic Esclamado in the Diocese of USA and Canada. After his retirement, Bishop Pamatmat passed the torch of pastoral leadership to Fr. Ernie Halina in 2005. When Father Halina ended his service in the parish in 2008, Fr. Primitivo C. Racimo assumed the duties and responsibilities of clerical leadership. Father Racimo had been devoutly assisting the previous two rectors in ministerial works; and he continued to help the parish up to the present in providing training and workshops for lay ministry, in facilitating retreat, and in liturgy planning and preparation.

As a faith community of the Philippine Independent Church, St. Augustine’s Parish is “a congregation of new people, educated in and liberated by the teaching of Christ, dedicated to the worship of God in spirit and in truth, nourished and sustained in the Eucharist, and commissioned to be witnesses to God's love in the world.” We belong to one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

With the kindhearted hospitality of the St. John’s Episcopal Church, our congregation has been using their facilities for worship and fellowship every Sunday and for special occasions. We are comprised primarily of first and second generations of Filipino families. A family-sized congregation, our members nurture their faith through prayers, education, and fellowship.