American Catholic History

Venerable Henriette Delille overcame great opposition to establish the second religious community for black women in the United States. She was an octroon born in New Orleans in 1813. Her mother was a kept woman within the plaçage system. After Henriette learned the truth about marriage she became implacably opposed to the plaçage system, and she rejected the trajectory of her life. In her 20s she started the second religious community for black women, but it took years for the authorities to approve her religious order. Since its founding in the 1840s the community has opened the first Catholic nursing home for the elderly in the United States, as well as one of the oldest Black Catholic high schools in the USA. Henriette Delille died in 1862. Her cause for canonization opened in 1988, and she was declared venerable in 2010.

Discover the lively but turbulent tradition of Pope Night, an American spin on British Guy Fawkes Night, rooted in anti-Catholic sentiment. Sailors brought the tradition to New England, where it sparked drunken revelries and gang rivalries. As political tensions rose, George Washington intervened to preserve unity with Catholics during the war. Learn how the founding principles of religious liberty ultimately led to the decline of this fiery celebration in post-Independence America.

In the late 1700s, Adam Livingston, who was Lutheran, moved with his family to a farm near Smithfield, Virginia. After a stranger, who turned out to be Catholic, died in his home, manifestations of a demonic infestation of their home began to disturb his family. The sound of invisible horses galloping loudly, crockery flying off shelves, a clipping sound accompanied by articles of clothing being damaged, and other disturbing occurrences. The clipping is what gave the area the name "Wizard Clip." The manifestations continued until two Catholic priests, including Father Demetrius "Prince" Gallitzin, intervened to exorcise the demons. Livingston's family became Catholic as a result. Following their conversion, a consoling heavenly voice instructed the Livingston family in the faith, led them in prayer, and inspired Livingston to do good things for others in need. When the Livingstons moved back to Pennsylvania in 1802, Adam Livingston donated 34 acres to the Catholic Church, and that land is, since 1978, the Priestfield retreat center for priests in modern day Middleway, West Virginia.

Discover the remarkable journey of John Barry, born in Ireland and rising to prominence in America as a naval captain. Explore his initial hardships and how Philadelphia became his launching pad. Hear about his pivotal role in the Revolutionary War, where he won the first naval engagement and refused a British bribe. Learn about his key contributions in organizing the U.S. Navy, his leadership style, and his philanthropic efforts supporting Irish immigrants. Barry's legacy is painted against a backdrop of valor, integrity, and unwavering devotion.

Dubbed "The Cathedral of the Plains" by William Jennings Bryan, the Basilica of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen was completed in 1911. It was the largest and tallest church west of the Mississippi River at the time. It was built by the community of Volga Germans who had moved en masse to Victoria, Kansas in the last few decades of the 19th century and in the first decade of the 20th. The community grew quickly through immigration after the Tsar of Russia had rolled back many of the privileges and protections that they had enjoyed in Russia for nearly a century. The Basilica was built in just three years through the hard work and sacrifice of the families of the community. The effort was led by the Capuchin friar who was their pastor, Fr. Jerome Mueller, OFM Cap. He levied a duty of $45, six cartloads of stone, and four cartloads of sand on every male 12 years old and older. Many families took out loans to afford this duty, but they took on this debt willingly to have their church, and they contributed their own time and industry to build it. The title "Cathedral of the Plains" was given by Bryan in 1912 as he arrived in Victoria by train, while stumping for Woodrow Wilson's presidential election campaign. The church is easily visible from Interstate 70, and is visited frequently by people who are drawn to it due to its size, beauty, and splendor. It was named a Basilica in 2014.

Sister Blandina Segale had a second chapter to her life. After spending 20 years bringing civility and the light of Christ to the Wild West, Sister Blandina and her biological sister, Sister Justina, worked hard for immigrants and those in need in Cincinnati, Ohio. They began their work in 1896 and organized the Santa Maria Institute in 1897 to provide catechesis, social services, and homes for those in need. They worked initially among the immigrant Italian population, but their scope expanded as more and more people in need flooded into Cincinnati in the first quarter of the 20th century. They fought against bigotry, religious persecution and opposition, and sometimes an adverse legal system. But their efforts became one of the largest and most important social services organizations in Ohio, Santa Maria Services. 

Discover the journey of Vince Lombardi, the legendary NFL coach whose Catholic education deeply influenced his coaching philosophy. Explore how he motivated players to achieve greatness, leading the Green Bay Packers to historic Super Bowl victories. Delve into the struggles of faith and family that shaped his life and dedication to coaching. Uncover the triumphs and tragedies of his final year with the Washington Redskins as he battled cancer, leaving behind an enduring legacy in the world of football.

Sister Blandina Segale was a spitfire of a pint-sized Italian nun who faced down lynch mobs, tamed outlaws, outwitted juvenile troublemakers, and built or rebuilt schools, orphanages, hospitals and convents, often with her own hands and the those of anyone she could cajole or convince to help. Whew! She was originally from Italy, but after her family immigrated when she was 5, she became a Sister of Charity at 16. At 22, in 1872, she was sent to the frontier mining town of Trinidad, Colorado. She spent 20 years out west, and her impact was tremendous. But this episode is only part of her amazing story. After she was recalled to Cincinnati in 1892 she spent another nearly five decades working equally hard for women and children in that town. But that will be a story for another day. 

Charlene Richard was an ordinary girl in south central Louisiana. She was a typical cajun Catholic girl, good at sports, good at her studies, a devout Catholic, and known to get into a little trouble here and there, just like every other kid her age. But when she was twelve everything changed when she was diagnosed with leukemia, and died just 13 days later. How she suffered for others, and how she accepted her coming death, inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux, made all the difference for “the Little Cajun Saint.”

"Stagecoach" Mary Fields was a hard-drinking, gun-toting, street-brawling black woman in the Montana frontier. She also was a kind-hearted guardian to the children of the Montana frontier, including native children, and she was a dear friend to the Ursuline nuns who had set up a mission near Cascade, Montana. In spite of her hard work, dedication to those in need, and generosity, she was treated poorly by those in positions of power. She spent eight years as a mail carrier running a Star Route in Montana. She was good at it, but some were upset by how good she was at it and gave her the nickname "Stagecoach Mary" as a way to denigrate her service. After leaving the Star Route she took on other jobs to make ends meet. While some resented her abilities, most loved her and appreciated her generosity and hard work. When she died in 1814 her funeral was one of the largest that Cascade, Montana had ever seen.