“The word Church means the people gathered by God into one community, guided today by the bishops, who are the successors of the Apostles and whose head is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.” - USCCA, 2007, Part I, Chapter 10, p113.

“The Church is built upon the foundation of the Apostles, who were chosen by Christ himself, and at whose head he placed Peter. The entire community of Christians received the Apostles’ proclamation of the Gospel, and so the Church in her entirety is called “apostolic.” Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church as a whole remains and will always remain faithful to the teaching of the Apostles. This is called the indefectability of the church, because she will never fall away from the Gospel. To further ensure the Church’s fidelity to the Gospel, Christ has willed that Apostles be succeeded by the bishops. The Apostles acted together as a body, with Peter at their head, in their leadership of the Church. Thus they are called by the Church as a “college.” The college of bishops has succeeded the college of the Apostles, and it is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, who has succeeded the role of Peter as head of the college. Thus they are called by the Church as a “college,” and their essential unity as one body is understood as teh principle of collegiality.” - USCCB, 2007, Part I, Chapter 11, p132, 3

Apostolic succession may be more readily understood in the form of papal succession. For as you’ve now written – with a nod toward those whom may not understand the concept – it could confuse some.

St. Paul referred to himself using the term spiritual father. (1 Corinthians 4: 15)

Concerning St. Augustine of Hippo, he is regarded as a Doctor of the Church, and Doctor of Grace. And he joined papal condemnation of the Pelagian heresy c. 417-418 A.D. At the time of his death in 430 at age 76, the city of Hippo was under siege by the Arian Vandals.

Doctors of the Church are those people from any era in Church history whose sanctity and writings have had a profound influence on theological and spiritual thought. One is declared a Doctor of the Church by the Pope.

Concerning Apostolic Succession, St. Augustine wrote a letter to Generosus c. 400 A.D. The following is an excerpt:
[53, 1, 2] “If the very order of episcopal succession is to be considered, how much more surely, truly, and safely do we number them from Peter himself, to whom as to one representing the whole Church, the Lord said, ‘Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not conquer it .’  Peter was succeeded by Linus, Linus by Clement, Clement by Anacletus, Anacletus by Evaristus, Evaristus by Sixtus, Sixtus by Telesphorus, Telesphorus by Hyginus, Hyginus by Anicetus, Anicetus by Pius, Pius by Soter, Soter by Alexander, Alexander by Victor, Victor by Zephyrinus, Zephyrinus by Callistus, Callistus by Urban, Urban by Pontianus, Pontianus by Anterus, Anterus by Fabian, Fabian by Cornelius, Cornelius by Lucius, Lucius by Stephen, Stephen by Sixtus, Sixtus by Dionysius, Dionysius by Felix, Felix by Eutychian, Eutychian by Caius, Caius by Marcellus, Marcellus by Eusebius, Eusebius by Melchiades, Melchiades by Sylvester, Sylvester by Mark, Mark by Julius, Julius by Liberius, Liberius by Damasus, Damasus by Siricius, Siricius by  Anastasius.  In order of succession not a Donatist bishop is to be found.”