Category Archives: American Catholic History

Tom and Noelle Crowe finds 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.

President Arthur and the American College

How did President Chester Arthur become the savior of the original American College in Rome? Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the story of how the ... Read more

The Catholic Saviors of Thanksgiving

The first US Thanksgiving would not have been possible without the help of some Spanish Franciscans and a Native American they rescued from ... Read more

Blessed Solanus Casey

A man who was simplicity itself has risen to the greatest heights. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us the story of Bl. Solanus Casey, a Capuchin ... Read more

The Knights of Columbus in The Great War

At the start of World War I, the Knights of Columbus were still relatively young, but as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, that didn't stop them ... Read more

Pope Night

The anti-Catholic Pope Night was the pre-Revolutionary War American import of the British Guy Fawkes revelries on November 5. Tom and Noëlle ... Read more

The True Story Behind The Exorcist

The Exorcist is one of the scariest movies and books of all time, but Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us of the true story behind it: the exorcism of ... Read more

North American Martyrs

Sts. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil, and John de Lalande were the first Jesuit martyrs to give their lives for Christ in what was then New France in ... Read more

American Shrines to St. Thérèse of Lisieux

There are least three different shrines in the United States that claim to be the first dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower. ... Read more

An Important Update from StarQuest’s Dom Bettinelli

An important thank you message and update from StarQuest's Dom Bettinelli. Read more

Ven. Antonio Margil de Jesús

Fray Antonio was the "Apostle of America" and "The Friar of the Winged Feet" who evangelized much of Central America, Mexico, and present day ... Read more

Fr. Gabriel Richard

Fr. Gabriel Richard founded the University of Michigan, wrote the motto of the city of Detroit, represented Michigan in Congress, and ... Read more

Holy Hill Basilica & Shrine

Rising above the flat landscape near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, rises Holy Hill and atop the hill stands a grand basilica dedicated to Our Lady. Tom ... Read more

Basilica of St. Louis, The King

The Old Cathedral of St. Louis, Missouri, was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi and Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell its story, which is the ... Read more

Clare Boothe Luce

In her life, Clare Boothe Luce was a Congresswoman, ambassador, playwright, war correspondent, and advisor to presidents. Tom and Noëlle Crowe ... Read more

Annie Chambers Ketchum

Annie Chambers Ketchum started life as a stereotypical antebellum Southern lady, but as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, by the end of her life ... Read more

The Catholic Kentucky Pilgrimage Announcement

A special announcement: In 2021, Tom & Noëlle Crowe will lead a pilgrimage to important sites in American Catholic History in Kentucky, ... Read more

Sr. Blandina of Cincinnati

In part 2 of the story of Sr. Blandina, Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how the Italian-born nun returned from the Wild West to Cincinnati and ... Read more

Sister Blandina, Fastest Nun in the West

Sister Blandina was a tiny Italian-born nun in the late 19th century sent alone to bring the Gospel to the Wild West. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell ... Read more

Mrs. Mattingly’s Miracle

In 1824, a Catholic widow in Washington, DC, experienced a miraculous healing of a debilitating cancer that had kept her bedridden for six ... Read more

John McLoughlin, Father of Oregon

In the early 1800s, John McLoughlin was in charge of essentially all of the Pacific Northwest as local head of major trading company. Tom and ... Read more