American Catholic History
The hidden gems and compelling stories of Catholic Americans who have contributed to their nation by virtue of their faith over the past three centuries.
Old St. Mary, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, originally built on a barge in 1782, is the oldest church in the state. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us that despite its small congregation, it has historical significance and ties to international and church politics. The church has faced challenges throughout the years but has persevered and is still standing in Plum Bayou. St. Mary's Church is a symbol of perseverance and houses the grave of a potential saint.
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Podcast Episodes
The History of St. Patrick’s Day
As great as St. Patrick is and important to Ireland, as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day didn't become the cultural phenomenon it is until Irish-Americans essentially created it and expo…
Father Ferdinand Farmer
When Jesuit Father Ferdinand Farmer came to the US colonies before the Revolution, they were bitterly divided by religious intolerance. Tom and Noëlle tell us how his selfless, tireless efforts did much to break down the…
Bishop Simon Bruté
The French-born Bishop Simon Bruté, first bishop of Vincennes, Indiana, was a famed intellectual and missionary. He was even associated with Napoleon Bonaparte. But Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us he was also a simple man o…
George Washington, Catholic?
Ever since he died, there has been speculation that George Washington converted to Catholicism on his deathbed. Tom and Noëlle Crowe look at the reasons why some think our first President did and the attitudes and action…
Mary Edmonia Lewis
Mary Edmonia Lewis was a black Catholic woman who became a great sculptor. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tells us that in order to overcome prejudice against her she moved to Rome from the US early on and it wasn't until quite re…
Servant of God Cora Evans
Cora Evans was a Mormon homemaker in the early to mid-20th century who lost her faith soon after her wedding. But Tom and Noëlle Crowe reveal how she reported mystical experiences ever since childhood that led her to Cat…
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams was one of the great jazz musicians of the 20th century. As Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, when she'd had enough of the dissolute life that came with fame, Mary Lou eventually turned her heart to Christ,…
Carnival and Mardi Gras in the United States
The period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday is known in some Catholic places as Carnival, a time to celebrate before the penitential season of Lent. Tom and Noelle Crowe Tell us that in many places it is far from the b…
The Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844
In Philadelphia in 1844, tensions between Catholics and Protestants over religious indoctrination in public schools boiled over into violence. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell how anti-Catholic nativism sparked running street b…
