American Catholic History

American Catholic History, hosted by 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. In about 20 minutes per episode, American Catholic History will introduce you to the amazing men and women who came to these American shores and were born here and contributed in ways both great and small, celebrated and unheralded.

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How to Listen or Follow

Here’s how to listen or follow the podcast. (Don’t worry: It doesn’t cost anything to follow.)

Join the American Catholic History Pilgrimage in August 2021

Join Tom and Noëlle in August 2021 for a six-day guided pilgrimage through the Kentucky Holy Land and Bourbon country. Visit the historic sites they discussed in the American Catholic History episode about the region and learn about the courageous Catholics who settled the land. Learn more and sign up for your spot on the pilgrimage.

Teachers, Catechists, and Parents

Are you a teacher, catechist, or parent who would like to use American Catholic History to share with your children or students? We’ve made the following worksheets available for you to download and reproduce and we’re working on future resources as well. (Let us know if you’re looking for something specific.)

Parish Bulletin Editors

Are you a parish bulletin editor or catechist looking for good, brief content that will entertain, inform, and form your audience? StarQuest is making available brief, written versions of American Catholic History episodes–under 350 words each–for you to use in your publications. These are available in Word and PDF downloadable formats and free to use under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. We will be periodically adding new downloads so be sure to check back often.

  • Founding Fathers and American Catholic History (Word format, PDF)
    • George Washington, Catholic?
    • John Fitzgerald
    • Ben Franklin and Bishop John Caroll
    • Commodore John Barry
    • Fr. Pierre Gibault & Francis Vigo
  • Other Stories from American Catholic History
  • Black American Catholics for Black History Month (Word format, PDF) (UPDATED: February 15, 2021)
    • Mary Edmonia Lewis
    • Julia Greeley
    • Mother Mathilda Beasley
    • Pierre Toussaint
    • Mary Lou Williams
    • Daniel Rudd
    • Henriette Delille

American Catholic History Store

Find links to all the books and other resources we mention in our show to find out more about these fascinating people and places in American Catholic History, by shopping in the ACH Store. We’re constantly adding new resources to the store, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for check back later or send us an email to ask.

As an Amazon Associate, SQPN earns a portion of the selling price from qualifying purchases. This helps support our mission. Thank you for your support.

Recent Episodes

Orestes Brownson, His Biography and Conversion - Orestes Brownson was one of the most important intellectuals of the 19th century and a restless religious seeker. In this episode, Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us of his lifelong journey that ended in the Catholic Church, and next time will share some of his most famous ideas.
The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches - Simple German farmers fleeing European wars in the 19th century brought their Catholic faith with them to western Ohio. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how Fr. Francis de Sales Brunner and his order provided those small communities with more than 30 beautiful, soaring cross-tipped churches.
Vince Lombardi - Vince Lombardi once said, "The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have." Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the story of the legendary NFL football coach, who may not have been a saint, but strove to live his Catholic faith in everything he did, and gave his all, no matter what.
Betty Hutton - Betty Hutton was a Hollywood star in the 1940s, the pinup girl with big energy and a big voice, but tragedy and addiction brought her low. That's when, as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, an encounter with a Rhode Island priest introduced Betty to Catholicism and Jesus Christ.
The Basilica of the Assumption - Baltimore's Basilica of the Assumption is America's first cathedral. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how Bishop James Carroll's vision for the church was to be a sign of the Catholic Church's universality and the presence and prominence of Catholics in America.