The Basilica of the Assumption, the “Baltimore Basilica,” was completed in 1821, making it the first cathedral built in the U.S. for any religion. It was designed by Henry Latrobe, who was concurrently working on the U.S. Capitol.
Experience the Land Where the Catholic Faith First Landed in the Colonies
The first Mass in the 13 American colonies was offered on St. Clement Island, in the new Colony of Maryland, in 1634.
St. Mary’s City became the colonial capital of Maryland, and was the site of much Catholic-Protestant strife.
The Carroll family — especially John, both Charleses, and Daniel — made Annapolis, Baltimore, and nearby lands the center of Catholicism in the new United States during and after the Revolution.
And there’s even some great Catholic history tied to George Washington across the Potomac in Old Town Alexandria and down at Mount Vernon.
The land of southern Maryland, Annapolis, Baltimore, and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, have so much Catholic history, colonial charm, and beautiful sites. After this pilgrimage you will be renewed in your faith, and you will have a deeper appreciation for the history of the Catholic faith on these American shores.
So join us on this American pilgrimage, to experience it all for yourself!
The Basilica of the Assumption, the “Baltimore Basilica,” was completed in 1821, making it the first cathedral built in the U.S. for any religion. It was designed by Henry Latrobe, who was concurrently working on the U.S. Capitol.
Appreciate the Faith in America better!
The first Mass in the 13 American colonies was offered on St. Clement Island, in the new Colony of Maryland, in 1634.
St. Mary’s City became the colonial capital of Maryland, and was the site of much Catholic-Protestant strife.
The Carroll family — especially John, both Charleses, and Daniel — made Annapolis, Baltimore, and nearby lands the center of Catholicism in the new United States during and after the Revolution.
And there’s even some great Catholic history tied to George Washington across the Potomac in Old Town Alexandria and down at Mount Vernon.
The land of southern Maryland, Annapolis, Baltimore, and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, have so much Catholic history, colonial charm, and beautiful sites. After this pilgrimage you will be renewed in your faith, and you will have a deeper appreciation for the history of the Catholic faith on these American shores.
So join us on this American pilgrimage, to experience it all for yourself!
Associated episodes:
(15-18 minutes)
The Carmelites of Port Tobacco
In 1790 four Carmelite nuns established a monastery at Port Tobacco, Maryland, making it the first women’s religious community in the new United States
...
The Baltimore Basilica
When the Baltimore Basilica was built it was America’s first cathedral, and the result of hard work and grand planning by Archbishop John Carroll.
...
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the wealthiest man in the colonies before the Revolutionary War and the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence
...
George Washington, Catholic?
Ever since he died, there has been speculation that George Washington converted to Catholicism on his deathbed. Tom and Noëlle Crowe look at the reasons why some think our first President did and the attitudes and actions in his life that were favorable toward Catholics.
...
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wealthy socialite and then a convert. She founded parochial education and the daughters of charity, and is the first American-born saint.
...
Lt. Col. John Fitzgerald, Aide de Camp to George Washington
John Fitzgerald was an aide-de-camp to George Washington who helped him avoid a coup and helped build Virginia’s first Catholic church.
...
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth was the greatest baseball player of all time, but he was no saint in his personal life. Yethis Catholic faith remained an important part of his life.
...
Margaret Brent, Savior of Maryland
Margaret Brent was among the wealthiest colonists of her day, and she may have singlehandedly saved the Catholic colony of Maryland in the 17th century.
...
Ben Franklin and John Carroll
Ben Franklin helped the Church choose Jesuit Father John Carroll to be the first bishop of Baltimore after their friendship began before the Revolution.
...
Dear Friends!
We cannot wait to lead you on this pilgrimage to the cradle of Catholicism in the 13 colonies.
During Easter Week 2022, as the Church celebrates the Resurrection of Christ we will be visiting the sites where Catholics first came ashore, offered Mass, and established a haven in the English colonies.
And then over the next 150 years the battle for religious liberty — which those first settlers had thought they had left behind in the British Isles — raged within this region, only ending when the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights finally granted freedom of religion to all citizens.
Prominent men and women stepped up to assert and defend religious liberty, and keep the faith alive on these shores: Margaret Brent, the Carroll family, and even George Washington!
We will visit sites associated with all of them, plus St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American saint, and even a stop at the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore.
The good people at 206 Tours will make sure everything about this pilgrimage is well-organized and managed, meaning you can focus on your prayer, and learning more about our incredible Catholic heritage right here in America!
Sign up at 206Tours to join us on this pilgrimage to this unforgettable place!
—Noëlle and Tom Crowe
Colonial Maryland
- Baltimore Basilica
- Mother Seton Home
- Whitemarsh Plantation
- Historic St. Mary City
- St. Francis Xavier Church
- St. Clement Island
- The Carroll Home in Annapolis
- More
Early American Virginia
- St. Mary’s Basilica
- Mount Vernon
- Old Town Alexandria
Full Details and Registration
We are pleased to work with the wonderful people at 206 Tours to make this pilgrimage possible. 206 Tours has been in the travel and pilgrimage business for a long time, and they know how to take care of their guests.
