Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

The Augustine Institute, a premier provider of Catholic content, education, and digital resources, announced in April that it has acquired the 284-acre former Boeing Leadership Center (BLC) in Florissant, Missouri. The institute plans to transition its operations over the next few years with its headquarters and Graduate School of Theology slated to open on the new campus for the fall 2024 semester.

The location of the Augustine Institute will be conveniently accessible for many in our diocese, particularly those residing in the metro east. “The purchase of the BLC offers an unprecedented opportunity to expand our Graduate School of Theology and further our mission to help Catholics understand, live, and share their faith,” stated Dr. Tim Gray, President of the Augustine Institute. He added that "the BLC’s state-of-the-art facilities will transform the work of the Augustine Institute by allowing us to take our curriculum and resources beyond a digital interface, which already reaches millions around the world, into a national center for Catholic conferences, retreats, evangelization, and fellowship.”

Founded in Denver in 2005 and currently located in the Denver Tech Center, the Augustine Institute is a Catholic educational apostolate. Its mission is carried out through initiatives like Amen, Formed, the Graduate School of Theology, Word of Life among others.

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis expressed his belief that "the Augustine Institute will transform this property into the premier center for the New Evangelization in the United States.” He added that “by leveraging St. Louis’ central location, the Augustine Institute can foster a new era of collaboration with Catholic organizations nationwide and invite more people to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church.”

Plans are currently underway for an immediate transition of property operations for operational readiness by Graduate School of Theology’s 2024–2025 academic year. This marks phase one of a multiphase plan to convert this property into a center for evangelization serving the Church.

“We have a big vision for this property,” Gray shared. “We have been given the opportunity to create a place for Catholics to gather, be formed, be educated, and be prepared for a lifetime of mission. We intend to offer our own conferences and retreats, as well as host other apostolates’ and ministries’ events at our central location in St. Louis.”