Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America’s Heartland

Episode 6 traces the triumphs and tragedies of Robert de La Salle’s final expeditions. Monsignor and Teresa recount his successful 1682 claim of the Mississippi Delta for France, the brutal return journey, and his ambitious—yet disastrous—attempt to fortify the river by sea that ended in shipwreck and betrayal. They reflect on La Salle’s murder, the cover-up of his death, and the continuation of his vision by Henri de Tonti and oth...

Episode 7 explores the early Catholic presence along the Mississippi River at the turn of the 18th century. Monsignor and Teresa recount the “Day of the Three Masses” in 1694 at present-day St. Louis, the missionary journeys and martyrdoms of the seminary priests, and Father Davion’s remarkable ministry among the Tonika people. They trace the founding of New Orleans, the migration of the Kaskaskia and Tamaroa tribes to the River De...

Episode 8 of "Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America's Heartland" dives into the era of near-constant warfare in the early 1700s as European conflicts spilled into North America. Monsignor and Teresa discuss how wars like Queen Anne’s War reshaped French and British territories, the expulsion of the Acadians that gave rise to the Cajun people, and the shifting alliances among Native nations. They recount the F...

Episode 9 examines the French struggles and shifting fortunes in the Mississippi Valley during the early 1700s. Monsignor Witt and Teresa Holman recount the Natchez uprising, the disastrous French campaigns against the Chickasaw, and the martyrdom of Jesuit Father Senat. They explore how financial schemes like Antoine Crozat’s failed mining ventures and John Law’s Mississippi Company led to economic collapse in France, even as sett...

Monsignor Michael Witt joins host Theresa to launch an exciting new series on the westward expansion of the Catholic Church in America. In this premiere episode, Monsignor Witt introduces the vision for a sweeping historical journey—tracing the Church’s spiritual, cultural, and institutional influence from early missionary efforts to modern challenges. He sets the stage with the powerful story of Marquette and Joliet’s 1673 expedit...

In this second episode of the Church History series on westward Catholic expansion, the Msgr. Michael Witt and Teresa Holman explore the early stages of the 1673 Joliet-Marquette expedition. Father Jacques Marquette and explorer Louis Joliet set out in two canoes, navigating through harsh river conditions and visiting Native American tribes along the way, including the Illinois and the "Wild Rice People." The episode delves into th...

In this episode, the Msgr. Michael Witt and Teresa Holman trace the journey of French explorers Joliet and Father Marquette as they reach the Mississippi River in 1673, seeking a westward route to the Pacific for trade and missionary work. Along their journey, they encounter the Illinois people, receive a warm and ceremonial welcome, and witness remarkable sights like the Piasa bird paintings on the bluffs. The discussion highlight...

In this episode, the Msgr. Michael Witt and Teresa Holman retrace the final leg of the 1673 Joliet-Marquette expedition down the Mississippi River, highlighting the explorers' encounters with Indigenous tribes, harsh weather, and looming dangers from both nature and rival Europeans. Father Marquette’s reflections, recorded in a heartfelt letter, reveal his deep missionary zeal and faith. The episode also recounts the tragic end of ...