Lincolnville’s St. Benedict the Moor School, the once Black Catholic grammar school, has been sitting vacant - and crumbling - since 1964. What once served as a hub of vibrant activity for Lincolnville’s Black residents since its construction in 1898, became quite literally, a shell without a roof.
Until now.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, working in partnership with the Cathedral Parish of St. Augustine, are transforming the edifice back to its original state to serve as a neighborhood center for young, single, working mothers of Northeast Florida. Determined to offer assistance to those who choose life for their child, the Center will provide education, job training, mentorship, life skills, family-life skills, spiritual formation and childcare for those willing to “put in the work and in turn allow these families to thrive.”
“We believe we’re being called to serve the needs of single moms and their children the way our founding sisters did,” said General Superior Kathleen Carr. “This charism is a part of who we are. We’re excited to offer safe and affordable childcare while these women further their education and training in order to get a better job.”
“The building’s history is also very important to us,” added Sister Stephanie Flynn. “The Sisters of St. Joseph have been here since its inception; since its construction. Its deterioration was sad. As a community, through prayer and discernment for future direction, we realized that we could help young single mothers and a building that’s important to our history as well as to Lincolnville itself.”
The school was originally constructed in 1898 to serve newly freed black slaves. Founded and funded by Katherine Drexel, founder and General Superior of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Josephite Priests taught the under-served how to read and write. Drexel would later be canonized as a Saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000 for her life’s work.
“Lincolnville was established by newly freed slaves in 1866, the same year the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived from France,” explained Frank Castillo, CFO and COO of the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center. “The congregation endeavored to be a voice for those who didn’t have one. That legacy now continues as we will be a voice for young, single mothers.”
“These mothers have chosen life and may have deferred dreams as a result of that,” continued Sister Flynn. “We’re going to help working mothers who receive little or no help from government programs or agencies, and those too busy to further their education and training because they’re supporting their families, regain the dreams they had before they chose life for their child.”
“One car or medical issue can place a single mother constantly behind the 8-ball,” continued Castillo. “By helping a young mother with little or no family support, we’re helping the generation that comes after her. As she improves her own standing, she equally improves the standing of her young child.”
With 42% of single mothers in St. Johns County living above the poverty line, the Sisters will collaborate with local non profits to identify attendees to begin training within the next six months.
Castillo added that the Center has been embraced by the local Lincolnville community.
“It’s not just about the the building,” he said. “It’s about the project.”
And the Sisters have indeed intertwined the project within the walls of Lincolnville’s rich tapestry of history.
In 1916, when it was illegal for whites to teach Blacks, three Sisters of St. Joseph were placed under house arrest for doing so. The charges were eventually dropped due to a technicality. The school was a private, not a public school. In addition to teaching Black students, the school served as a USO for Black soldiers during World War II and the rectory was used as a meeting place for Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement.
“The USO soldiers added indoor plumbing,” said Castillo.
Castillo noted the concrete slab in front of the building that once served as the building’s outhouse.
The building completely closed after the Black students were transferred to the Order’s counterpart white school at the termination of school segregation.
Construction will take two years and an additional $3 million dollars of private and public funding to restore the building’s wrap-around porch, three classrooms and upstairs auditorium within the now shored walls. The grounds will also maintain the property’s four historic live oak trees. A fenced in playground will be added on the property green.
“This building represents the legacy of Lincolnville and the Civil Rights Movement,” said Castillo. “What better way to give back to the community than be rebuilding a community landmark. We hope to once again host the Lincolnville Ball here, the way they did years ago. The Sisters of St. Joseph will give back to Lincolnville the way St. Drexel and the Josephite Fathers gave a voice to Black Americans when it was unpopular to do so.”
When asked what Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. would say to the congregation’s project, General Superior Carr didn’t hesitate,
“You have a big dream and I hope that dream comes true.”
“I recently read a quote that fits this project perfectly,” concluded Sister Flynn. “What is difficult takes a long time. What is impossible takes a little longer.”
For more information on how you can volunteer your time or donate go to: sjncfl.org
Enjoy the gallery of photographs taken by WOKV’s Lucia Viti.
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