Catholic States

History A few notable characters founded Catholicism in Washington, DC. Bishop John Carroll was the first Bishop of the United States. He was a patriot during the Revolutionary war. Further, Bishop Carroll selected Dominican priest Fr. Anthony Caffry as pastor of the first Catholic church in Washington, DC. This parish primarily served Irish immigrants working on the … Read more

History Maryland’s Catholic heritage can be traced back to the colonial era. Over the centuries, Maryland has stacked numerous claims to singular Catholic milestones for the New World. As with most of North America, the early Church in Maryland was entrusted to the Jesuits and the Franciscans.  The colonial years in Maryland were marked by … Read more

History California’s history is rooted in Catholicism. Notably, the land was discovered by Spaniards in the 16th century. Subsequently, the Jesuits and then the Franciscans were entrusted with establishing missions and stability in California. The celebrated St. Junipero Serra founded the first mission in San Diego on July 16th, 1769. The mission’s full title is … Read more

History Catholicism in Oklahoma grew slowly. Three hundred years passed  before it was officially established by Benedictine missionaries in 1875. And it was until 1905 when the original diocese was established in Oklahoma. The slow and steady development of the Church in Oklahoma eventually bore great fruit. Many saintly figures have passed through, such as … Read more