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 American Catholic History on Pilgrimages

Join Tom and Noëlle for amazing pilgrimages to interesting Catholic holy sites throughout the United States. To find out more and to reserve your spot, visit the American Catholic History web site.

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: January 28, 2022)
    • Fr. Augustus Tolton
    • Integration in Catholic North Carolina
    • 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.

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Recent Episodes

Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the USA - In 1846, the bishops of the USA named the Blessed Mother under her title of Immaculate Conception as Patroness of the USA. Tom and Noëlle Crowe relate how devotion to Mary played a key role in the New World from 1492 and how that devotion led her patronage.
Sr. Ignatia and Alcoholics Anonymous - AA has been a blessing in the lives in many thousands and Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how Sr. Ignatia Gavin was at the root of its founding and how her compassion led to changed attitudes and true care and treatment for those suffering from alcoholism.
Patricia Neal - Patricia Neal was a Hollywood star who nevertheless encountered trouble and tragedy in her life through infidelity, abortion, and illness. But as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, she eventually found faith, forgiveness, and redemption in the Catholic faith to bring peace to her life.
Gary Cooper - Gary Cooper was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and lived a life reflective of that status, including some moral failings. But Tom and Noëlle tell us that eventually Cooper began to live up to the heroes he portrayed in his films and even experienced a profound Catholic conversion.
America’s First Mass, Florida, 1513 - The first Mass celebrated in America may have been celebrated in Eastertide in Florida in 1513. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the story of Ponce de Leon's expedition to the unexplored land, which first brought Catholicism to these shores centuries before independence.