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Jan 1, 1493
First Missionaries to North America
In 1493, 12 Spanish Fransicans sailed with Christopher Columbus on his second journey to the Americas. They recognized that the Word of God is meant for all people and so they started missions in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Florida, Mexico, and Texas. -
First Martyrs of the Great Lakes Region
Six Jesuits amd two lay missionaries from France were martyred between the years 1642 and 1649. The most famous, St. Isaac Jogues, was held captive for about 14 months! They tortured him and made him a slave. After he escaped he was sent to France where he begged to return to Canada. When he fianlly returned, he was brutally martyred. -
The First American Bishop
John Carroll, a Jesuit priest from Maryland, was appointed acrhbishop of the diocese of Baltimore in 1789. He helped in many ways to shape our Catholic Church. He helped found the first Catholic university in the U.S., Georgtown University, and he also established the first seminary in the U.S., St. Mary's Seminary. -
First Catholic University
John Carroll, who became Archbishop of Baltimore 16 years later, was the one who founded Georgetown University, the nations first Catholic College. He secured the 60 acres of land to build the university in 1789, and classes began soon after in 1792. Within its first year, Georgetown grew to an attendance of over 40 students. The university almost shut down during the civil war, but continued to have classes. Georgetown is now home to about 12,000 students and 5,000 staff members. -
First Seminary in the U.S.
St. Mary's Seminary was faounded in 1791, in Baltimore, Maryland. Ever since the opening, St. Mary's has been run by Sulpician Fathers, priests who are dedicated to forming new priests. The original St. Mary's is still there today and is open to tourists. The more recent St. Mary's is located in Roland Park, Baltimore. It is quite successful and some of St. Mary's alumni have gone on to become bishops. -
First Religious Order in America
The Sisters of Charity, founded by Elizabeth Ann Seton in 1813, was the first religious order in the U.S. The Sisters of Charity were a group of women who wished to lead a life of total consecration to God by vow, and who where dedicated to education and the service of the sick and the poor in the United States. -
First Missionary Society
Maryknoll was founded in 1911, and at the time was known as the the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America. Their main uarters was located on a hill named Mary Knoll, and they eventually took the name "Maryknoll." Their mission was to carry out the social teachings of the Church. In 1918, the first group of Maryknoll misssionaries left for China. -
First Saint to be Cannonized in America
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini was a sickly child born in Italy. One day. a priest asked her to terach at a nearby school, and she ended up staying ther for six years. Soon after, encouaraged by her bishop, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, which cared for poor and sick children. In 1809, Pope Leo XIII urged her to go with six nuns to be missionaries in America. She agreed, and while she was there she helped build schools, hopsitals, and orphanges. She was cannonized in 1946. -
The First Native-Born American Saint
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was cannonized in 1975 for her amazing contribution to the Church. In 1808, with the assistance of Bishop Carroll, Elizabeth opened the first Catholic parish school in the U.S. for girls. Just a year later, she founded the Sisters of Charity, the first religious community in America. There is now a shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland where she taught. -
First American Bishop to Become a Saint
St. John Neumann was a priest, orginally from Bohemia, who became the bishop of Philidelphia. He was hardworking, and about 12 languages. During his lifetime, he built about 50 churches and even began construction on a cathedral. He also started about 100 Catholic schools, dramatically increases the Catholic education level. He was cannonuzed in 1977.
