America at 250: The Untold Stories of Catholic Heroes Who Helped Build the Nation

As America’s 250 celebrations begin, most people can name Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin — but few know about the Catholics who helped build this nation.

From Charles Carroll (the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence) to saints like Mother Cabrini and St. Katharine Drexel who founded America’s first hospitals and schools — the Catholic contribution is an often-forgotten part of American history.

In this special anniversary episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet, President of Human Life International, joins us to recover these forgotten heroes — and challenge Catholics to carry that legacy into the next 250 years.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What St. Thomas Aquinas teaches about the virtue of patriotism
• Charles Carroll: the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence
• Bishop John Carroll: the first bishop who helped establish the Catholic Church in America
• How St. Katharine Drexel, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton built the institutions that educated and healed a nation
• Servant of God Sister Blandina Segale: the nun who confronted Billy the Kid and won his respect through charity
• Fanny Allen: the daughter of Ethan Allen who had a mystical conversion and became New England’s first Catholic nun
• St. Damien of Molokai, St. Marianne Cope, and Servant of God Joseph Dutton — who embraced a leper colony in Hawaii when no one else would
• Venerable Rose Hawthorne: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s daughter who walked through a broken marriage into religious life — and became a servant of the dying poor
• Venerable Fulton Sheen and the model of bold, unapologetic Catholic witness in the public square
• What faithful Catholics are called to do in the next 250 years

Learn more about Human Life International’s mission to defend life and the family worldwide: https://www.hli.org

Featured Catholic Figures:

• Bishop John Carroll
• Charles Carroll of Carrollton
• Daniel Carroll
• Thomas Fitzsimmons
• Commodore John Barry
• Colonel John Fitzgerald
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
• St. Katharine Drexel
• St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
• St. John Neumann
• St. Junípero Serra
• St. Isaac Jogues
• St. Kateri Tekakwitha
• Venerable Rose Hawthorne
• Venerable Fulton Sheen
• Fanny Allen

Further Resources on Featured Figures:

USCCB Article on Catholic Patriots: America’s Catholic Patriots | USCCB
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Role in American History: Eight Ways that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (and her Shrine) Played a Role in American History – Seton Shrine
Fanny Allen’s Story: Revolutionary War Hero Ethan Allen’s Daughter Became a Nun After an Apparition of St. Joseph| National Catholic Register
Venerable Rose Hawthorne’s Story: Rose Hawthorne’s Remarkable Life Story in the Spotlight as Sainthood Cause Advances – Archdiocese of New York
Fr. Pierre-Jean DeSmet: DE SMET, PIERRE-JEAN (1801-1873) | Encyclopedia of the Great Plains
Servant of God Joseph Dutton’s Story: The incredible life of Joseph Dutton, a servant to the saints and souls of Hawaii
Podcast on Servant of God Sister Blandina, Part1: Sr. Blandina Segale, Pt 1: The Fastest Nun in the West
Podcast on Servant of God Sister Blandina, Part 2: Sr. Blandina Segale Pt 2: The Sisters Segale of Cincinnati and the Santa Maria Institute