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.

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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 ... Read more

Fr. James Coyle

Fr. James Coyle's 1921 murder at the hands of an anti-Catholic father enraged at his daughter's conversion presaged the decline of ... Read more

Charlene Richard

Charlene Richard is known as "the little Cajun Saint," and Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us about this little girl who died at 12 years old, ... Read more

Shrines of St. Anne

Shrines dedicated to St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, are among the oldest in the United States. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tells us about ... Read more

Mary Virginia Merrick

Servant of God Mary Virginia Merrick never let her own disabilities prevent her from being Christ to those around her. Tom and Noëlle Crowe ... Read more

John Wayne

The Duke, John Wayne, only converted to Catholicism on his death bed, but Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how this great actor recognized his own ... Read more

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Charles Carroll was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us he was also the most ... Read more

Fr. Juan de Padilla, Proto-Martyr of the USA

Fr. Juan Padilla was a Franciscan missionary who traveled in what became the USA as part of Coronado's search for the 7 Cities of Gold. Tom and ... Read more

Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy

The first bishop of the American territory of New Mexico, Jean-Baptiste Lamy was the subject of the historical novel "Death Comes for the ... Read more

Sr. Miriam Michael Stimson

All modern DNA science owes a debt to this formidable Dominican nun. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the story of Sr. Miriam, who blazed a trail for ... Read more

Noël Dube, Hero of D-Day

In a special 100th episode, Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell the story of Noëlle's grandfather, Noël Dube, a man of deep faith whose bravery and ... Read more

Fr. Emil Kapaun

Fr. Emil Kapaun may one day become the first Catholic saint who is also a Medal of Honor recipient. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us about the ... Read more

Father Stephen Badin

Fr. Stephen Badin was the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States, a title he took great pride in. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us ... Read more

Catholics at Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg is often considered a turning point of the Civil War. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us how Catholics played key roles in ... Read more

St. Damien of Molokai

Fr. Damien de Veuster came to the Hawaiian Islands in 1864 as a missionary and soon volunteered to minister to the leper colony on Molokai. Tom ... Read more

The Apparition of Our Lady of Good Help

In 1859, a young Belgian immigrant had an encounter in a Wisconsin forest with a woman surrounded by light. Tom and Noëlle Crowe relate how ... Read more