The First Catholics in the USA

By Jason Scott – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, on May 8. This significant event brings renewed attention to the foundational history of Catholicism in America, where the profound resilience and faith of the first Catholics who arrived on those shores centuries ago laid the groundwork for the Church’s presence in the nation. 

The first recorded Catholic presence in what would become the United States dates back to the early 16th century, with Spanish explorers and missionaries arriving in Florida and the Southwest. In 1526, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón established the first European settlement at San Miguel de Gualdape, near present-day Georgetown, South Carolina. This settlement included Catholic priests but was short-lived due to disease and conflicts with the local Native American population.

More enduring were the efforts of Spanish missionaries in Florida, who established the first permanent Catholic mission at St Augustine in 1565. Led by Fr Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, these missionaries sought to spread the faith among the Native American tribes. They faced numerous challenges, including harsh conditions.

A Haven for Catholics

The first significant Catholic settlement in the English colonies was established in Maryland in 1634. Lord Baltimore, a Catholic convert, sought to create a refuge for Catholics fleeing religious persecution in England. The arrival of the Ark and the Dove, carrying Catholic settlers led by Leonard Calvert, marked the beginning of this endeavour.

Maryland’s founding was guided by the principles of religious tolerance, as enshrined in the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649. This act allowed Catholics and Protestants to coexist and practise their faith without fear of persecution. Despite this, Catholics faced ongoing challenges, including political marginalisation and occasional outbreaks of violence, such as the Protestant uprising in 1689, which led to the temporary loss of Catholic control over the colony.

The early Catholic settlers in the American colonies faced numerous obstacles, including anti-Catholic sentiment and legal restrictions. In many colonies, Catholics were barred from holding public office, voting, or practising their faith openly. Despite these challenges, they persevered, establishing parishes, schools and charitable institutions that would lay the foundation for the Church’s growth in America.

One of the most notable contributions of the early Catholics was their commitment to education and social welfare. The Jesuits, who arrived in Maryland in 1634, established some of the first schools in the colonies, including St Omer’s, which would later become Georgetown University. These institutions not only provided education but also served as centres of Catholic life and culture.

Pope John Paul II during his visit to the United States in 1995 praised the “courage and fidelity” of the early Catholic settlers.

The Catholic Church began to be broadly tolerated in the US after the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, particularly with the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom.

The real growth of the Church came with waves of immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries — Irish, German, Italian, Polish, and later Latin American immigrants brought their Catholic faith with them, transforming Catholicism into the largest single religious group in the States. Immigration fuelled the expansion of parishes, schools, hospitals and charitable institutions, and helped establish Catholicism as a major force in American religious and social life.