American Catholic History

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.

John Barry was born in Ireland in the late 1740s to Catholic peasant farmers. Being Catholic they had no rights, and by the time John was ten they had been evicted from their land and moved to a coastal town. John became a sailor on his uncle's fishing vessel and by 15 had risen well. That year he moved to Philadelphia, the most important port city in the British colonies in America. By 21 he was a ships captain making runs to the Caribbean regularly. He rose in prominence as a captain and a man of great character and generosity in Philadelphia society. When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775 he sold his ship, the Black Prince, to the Continental Congress, and offered his services as a sea captain. On board his new command, the Lexington, he won the first naval engagement of the War. He spent time on shore during the War, taking part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, among other actions. When he returned to sea, after refusing to take a bribe from the British to switch allegiance, he commanded two other ships and won other significant battles, including the final engagement of the War. After Independence was won he went back to merchant shipping until President George Washington tapped him to lead the organization of the new permanent US Navy. He oversaw construction of the first naval vessels and took command of the first ship, the United States. Washington nominated him as the first officer, and first flag officer, of the new U.S. Navy, effective in 1794. He died in 1803 of asthma. There are at least three statues commemorating Barry — one in Washington, DC, one in Philadelphia, and one in his native Wexford, Ireland. For his efforts as a sea captain and establishing the US Navy, John Barry is considered the Father of the US Navy.

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.

Shrines dedicated in honor of St. Anne are among the oldest Catholic establishments in the U.S. St Anne de Detroit, for instance, is the second-oldest parish in the United States, while the shrine on Isle la Motte, Vermont, was part of a French fort protecting the southern approaches to Montreal. Some shrines have dramatic stories, like the National Shrine of St. Anne in Scranton, Pennsylvania which nearly collapsed due to mining activity in the hill beneath it. Most have a relic of St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus. The Shrine of St. Anne in Fall River, Massachusetts was built to rival the great shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, but demographic changes brought that awe-inspiring structure nearly to the point of demolition. These shrines often arose where French and French Canadians settled, as the French have historically had a deep devotion to the  mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.    Image credits: St. Anne de Detroit, creative commons license, Polonia90; St. Anne's Church and Parish Complex, Fall River, Massachusetts, creative commons license, Kenneth C. Zirkel 

The life of Father Stanley Rother unfolds as he bravely transitions from an Oklahoma farm to a dangerous mission in Guatemala. Despite early academic struggles, he dedicates himself to the Tzutujil community, mastering their language and enhancing their farming practices. His unwavering devotion puts him in peril during a brutal civil war, where he becomes a target for violence. Ultimately, his martyrdom solidifies his legacy, leading to his beatification and a shrine honoring his commitment to faith and service.