Cardinal Blasé Cupich addresses the crowd gathered for the dedication and blessing of Catholic Charities’ Peace Garden in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. The garden and adjacent Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center are named in honor of the first black priest in the United States. (Kevin Beese/Chronicle Media photo)

If running the Archdiocese of Chicago doesn’t work out, Cardinal Blasé Cupich may have writing advertising slogans to fall back on.

Walking through the former Austin Bank, which has been renovated into Catholic

Charities’ Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center, Cupich spotted the bank vault and immediately quipped, “We could put a sign up over the vault, ‘Jesus saves!’”

The violence that has plagued Chicago’s Austin community, however, is no laughing matter; and Cupich and other Catholic Charities officials hope the former bank building does plenty of its own saving — bringing peace to residents of the troubled area.

“We know that violence will not end in our society without a concerted effort to address its root causes,” Cupich said. “At this center and throughout its network, Catholic Charities works to strengthen families, lift people out of poverty and help them develop life and employment skills. These ministries are our response to the Gospel call to show mercy and compassion to all we meet.”

Cupich was on hand May 24 to bless and dedicate the Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center at 5645 W. Corcoran Place in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. The center aims to be a social services resource and “peace hub” for violence prevention and trauma therapy programs.

The sculpture “Thou Shall Not Kill” depicts Jesus weeping over a gunshot victim. Created by artist Timothy Schmalz, the sculpture is in Catholic Charities’ 17,000-square-foot Peace Garden in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. (Kevin Beese/Chronicle Media photo)

“The Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center continues the legacy of its namesake who worked tirelessly for the poor and underserved to make his community stronger,” said Monsignor Michael Boland, administrator, president and CEO of the archdiocese’s social service agency, Catholic Charities. “We welcome Austin residents to visit the center and receive the compassionate care, assistance and comfort they need and deserve.”

Tolton was the first black priest in the United States.

The 46,000-square-foot building and 51,000-square-foot site were gifts to Catholic Charities from the Austin Bank Corp. Catholic Charities began offering programs at the former bank building in December and, according to officials, there has been a steady increase in the number of clients. They noted the Tolton Center has expanded its services to meet residents’ needs.

A 17,000-square-foot Peace Garden, located adjacent to the center, is Catholic Charities’ gift to the Austin community and includes a sculpture by artist Timothy Schmalz, titled “Thou Shalt Not Kill” that depicts Jesus weeping over a gunshot victim.

Cardinal Blasé Cupich and other archdiocese leaders make their way through the Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center. The center is named after the first black priest in the United States. (Kevin Beese/Chronicle Media photo)

Cupich said the statue to him is a reminder of all the biblical references when a parent loses a child or when Jesus is saddened by the loss of individuals close to him.

“Each year at the end of the school year, we have dedications at schools for peace during the summer in all the neighborhoods of Chicago,” Cupich said. “We want to help people reduce gun violence and trauma. We will be right there beside them. We want to usher in a return to peace between individuals.”

More than 30,000 Austin residents are supported by Catholic Charities’ various services. The center aims to deepen and expand Catholic Charities’ impact in Austin with more services for youth, families and seniors with a focus on building peaceful communities.

In addition to violence prevention and therapy programs, individuals can get additional services at the center, including financial assistance and counseling, public screening assistance, youth employment, pregnancy and parenting assistance, summer meals for children and elder care support.

For information about the Tolton Center, visit www.catholiccharities.net.

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— Peace Center opens in Austin neighborhood—-