Timeline of Catholicism in the US
A history of Catholicism in the United States of America, starting with the first Catholic settlers arriving in Florida
1513:
Catholicism arrives in Florida
1526:
First Catholic Mass held in what is now the USA
1607:
Anti-Catholic sentiment runs rife in the New World
1632:
British Catholics settle in Maryland
1646:
Harsh laws against Catholic education imposed
1649:
The Maryland Toleration Act protects Catholics
1668:
French Catholics establish missions
1707:
Mass is said publicly in Philadelphia
1733:
Philadelphia gets its first Catholic church
6 Jun 1784:
A Catholic hierarchy is established in America
1786:
First Catholic church built in New York
6 Nov 1789:
The Diocese of Baltimore is created
1806:
America's first cathedral
8 Apr 1808:
America gets its first archdiocese
8 Apr 1808:
Four new dioceses formed
1820:
Catholic population in the states forming the USA now 195,000
4 Jan 1821:
Elizabeth Ann Seton dies
1839:
Pope speaks out against slavery
1845:
Famine hits Ireland
1850:
Catholicism continues to grow
19 Jul 1850:
New York becomes an Archdiocese
1852:
First Plenary Council of Baltimore
1854:
First black American priest ordained
1855:
Anti-Catholic sentiment is still prevalent
1866:
Second Plenary Council of Baltimore
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Timeline of Catholicism in the US
A history of Catholicism in the United States of America, starting with the first Catholic settlers arriving in Florida