Ep. 7: Early Conversion of Native Americans in the Heartland

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 Des Peres, and the conflicts between Jesuits, seminary priests, and bishops. The episode also highlights the perseverance of missionaries like Father Gravier and Father Maras, who endured hardship and violence while building thriving Catholic communities in the Illinois country.

*Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America's Heartland originally aired on Covenant Network Catholic Radio. These podcast episodes are being released in anticipation of the Bicentennial Celebrations of the founding of the Archdiocese of St. Louis as the Diocese of St. Louis on July 18, 1826.