x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

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

Covenant Network

Msgr. Michael John Witt was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis in 1990. Before that, he served the Church for twenty-two years as a Christian Brother teaching in Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee. He holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from Saint Louis University and a Masters in Divinity from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He has served the archdiocese as associate pastor, pastor, Director of Continuing Formation for Priests, and Director of the Permanent Diaconate. Following his

history

All Episodes

23:57

Ep 3.30: The Bonus Army and the Breaking Point

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/30

In this gripping chapter of St. Louis Church History, Monsignor and Teresa trace the cascading crises of 1932 as the Great Depression deepens and desperation spreads across the nation. What begins as a small group of unemployed veterans in Portland swells into the 25,000‑strong “Bonus Army,” descending on Washington, D.C. to demand early payment of their promised wartime bonus. Their disciplined encampments, the sympathy they receive across the country—including a memorable stop in St. Louis—and

en

20:58

Ep 3.29: The Bottom Falls Out: St. Louis Meets the...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/30

In this sobering chapter of the story, Monsignor walks us through the cascading forces that brought the American economy to its knees in 1929. From overproduction on farms and in factories to the fragile international debt cycle left behind by World War I, the stage was set long before Black Thursday sent Wall Street into freefall. As the stock market collapsed and banks failed, St. Louis families faced repossessions, shuttered businesses, and staggering unemployment—especially among African

en

23:49

Ep 3.28: Fear Itself: Al Smith, Anti‑Catholic Fury,...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/30

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa step into the political firestorm of 1928, when Catholic candidate Al Smith faced a tidal wave of anti‑Catholic prejudice, cultural suspicion, and the full force of the Ku Klux Klan. Monsignor traces Smith’s rise from Brooklyn’s streets to the New York governor’s mansion, his doomed presidential bid against the wildly popular Herbert Hoover, and the deep anxieties that shaped the nation on the eve of the Great Depression. As Hoover’s engineering mindset meets

en

22:44

Ep 3.27: Building the Catholic Mind: The Rise of St....

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/30

In this episode, Monsignor takes us into the formative years of Catholic secondary education in St. Louis—a story far richer and more complex than most realize. At the turn of the 20th century, high school was still a rarity, and Catholic options for boys were almost nonexistent. We follow Archbishop Glennon’s ambitious push to change that landscape, the creation of the first archdiocesan high schools, and the surprising challenges that came with convincing families and pastors to support them. From

en

21:29

Ep. 3.26 - Building Faith in a Changing World:...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/30

In this episode, Monsignor takes us into the early 1920s, a decade when the Catholic Church in St. Louis found itself navigating a rapidly changing America. The Knights of Columbus emerge as major players on the world stage—honored in Rome, funding schools, defending religious liberty, and standing firm against the rising hostility of the Ku Klux Klan. At the same time, the automobile revolution reshapes daily life, prompting the Archdiocese to expand outward with new parishes, mission churches, and

en

22:04

Ep 3.25: Gangs, Bootleggers, and a Priest in the...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/23

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa continue their deep dive into the turbulent 1920s, turning their focus to the rise of St. Louis gang culture during Prohibition. Monsignor traces the intertwined stories of Tom Egan, Snake Kenny, and the rival Hogan and Egan gangs—men whose lives moved between politics, saloons, and violent street power. Alongside these underworld battles, he highlights the remarkable pastoral presence of Father Timothy Dempsey, who ministered to dying gang leaders, negotiated

en

24:03

Ep 3.24 - Prohibition, Prejudice, and the Rise of the...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/23

In this continuation of the “Turbulent Twenties,” Monsignor and Teresa explore how Prohibition, racial tension, and the rise of organized crime collided in St. Louis. The episode opens with vivid accounts of a chaotic New Year’s Eve raid at the Chase Hotel and a deadly gang shooting that claimed an innocent bystander—scenes that reveal how quickly the city was changing under the pressures of bootlegging and lawlessness. Monsignor then widens the lens to examine the Great Migration, the economic and

en

23:44

Ep 3.22 - Cathedral Rising: The Parishes and Projects...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/23

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa conclude their sweeping tour of early‑20th‑century parish foundations by spotlighting two historic city parishes—St. Philip Neri in Walnut Park and St. Mary Magdalene on Kingshighway—before turning to the monumental projects that reshaped Catholic life in St. Louis: the construction of the Cathedral Basilica and the founding of Kenrick Seminary. Monsignor traces Archbishop Glennon’s bold vision, the extraordinary generosity of clergy and laity, the architectural

en

21:58

Ep 3.23 The Turbulent Twenties Begin: Prohibition,...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/23

In this powerful opening to Chapter 5, Monsignor and Teresa step into the turbulent 1920s—a decade marked by upheaval, conflict, and rapid social change in St. Louis. The episode opens with two vivid scenes: a chaotic Prohibition‑era raid at the Chase Hotel and a deadly gang shooting that claimed an innocent life, illustrating how bootlegging and organized crime reshaped the city’s streets. Monsignor then traces the deeper forces transforming St. Louis, including the Great Migration, the collapse of

en

22:19

Ep 3:21 Foundations of Faith: The Final Wave of Early...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/23

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa continue their sweeping tour of early‑20th‑century parish building, tracing how Archbishop Glennon’s era saw an explosion of new Catholic communities across St. Louis. They explore the founding of All Souls in Overland, St. Adalbert for the Polish community, St. Rita in Vinita Park, St. John the Baptist in South City, and St. Luke’s in Richmond Heights—each shaped by shifting neighborhoods, streetcar lines, and the tireless energy of pastors determined to plant

en

22:46

Ep 3.20: A Diocese on the Move: Twelve New Parishes...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/16

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa step into one of the most dynamic bursts of Catholic growth in St. Louis history. Between 1904 and 1910—barely six years—the Archdiocese founded twelve new parishes, a sign of a city and county rapidly expanding, shifting, and redefining itself at the dawn of the 20th century.Monsignor guides listeners through this remarkable wave of parish-building, beginning with Immaculate Conception in Maplewood, where three tireless Loretto sisters managed 150 children,

en

25:04

Ep 3.19: Early 20th Century Parishes (1900-1903)

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/16

Monsignor and Teresa continue their journey through the expanding Catholic landscape of early‑20th‑century St. Louis, turning their attention to the first wave of new parishes founded after 1900. With Archbishop Kain’s final years as the backdrop, they explore four emerging communities—two that still thrive today and two that have since closed—each shaped by shifting neighborhoods, immigrant populations, and the rapid growth of the county.

en

22:13

Ep 3.18: The Outer Ring: Rural Parishes Beyond the...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/16

This episode continues our journey through the Catholic roots of the St. Louis region, moving beyond the county line to explore the historic rural parishes that shaped Catholic life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Monsignor and Teresa trace a wide arc—from the banks of the Mississippi to the rolling farmland of St. Charles County—revealing how faith communities took root long before suburban growth transformed the landscape. We begin with St. Francis of Assisi in Portage des Sioux (1779), one of

en

22:14

Ep 3.17: Bricks, Mortar, and the Making of Catholic...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/16

This episode continues our sweeping tour of the historic Catholic parishes that shaped St. Louis County long before suburban life took root. Monsignor and Teresa pick up where they left off—moving south and west from Clayton—and uncover the stories behind some of the region’s oldest faith communities. They explore the deep roots of St. Peter in Kirkwood, founded in the 1830s and shepherded by pastors who would go on to become bishops and archdiocesan leaders. From there, they trace the growth of

en

24:28

Ep 3.16: Bricks and Mortar: The County Begins to Rise

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/16

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa open Chapter Four—Bricks and Mortar—and turn their attention to the remarkable expansion of Catholic life beyond the city limits. As St. Louis surges past 700,000 residents in the early 20th century, the county begins its own quiet transformation, fueled by streetcars, new roads, and the growing desire for space, fresh air, and parish life closer to home. Monsignor traces the story of the twelve original county parishes, beginning with the oldest: St. Ferdinand

en

22:03

Ep 3. 15: The War That Changed Everything

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/09

As the First World War draws to a close, Monsignor and Teresa trace how the conflict reshaped both the nation and the Church. President Wilson’s sweeping progressive vision transforms American life, mobilizing not just an army but an entire society—and leaving structures that will endure long after the armistice. Within the Church, Archbishop Glennon and Catholic leaders mirror that same impulse, building the National Catholic War Council and pioneering a new era of coordinated Catholic action.The

en

24:08

Ep 3.14: St. Louis Priests in the Great War

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/09

This episode follows the Archdiocese of St. Louis into the First World War, tracing how Missouri’s soldiers—and especially its priests—answered the call once the United States entered the conflict in 1917. Monsignor and Teresa explore the scale of mobilization, from the 750,000 Missourians who registered for the draft to the doctors, nurses, and engineers trained in St. Louis and at nearby Scott Field. The narrative highlights the remarkable number of local clergy who volunteered as chaplains,

en

24:14

Ep 3.13: America Enters the Great War

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/09

This episode follows the tense months between Woodrow Wilson’s 1916 re election and the moment the United States finally entered World War I, tracing how global events, political pressures, and a series of German missteps pushed the nation past the point of neutrality. Monsignor and Teresa begin with the fierce debate over military preparedness, as progressives resisted expansion while Wilson—caught between ideology and responsibility—moved toward strengthening the armed forces. The Revenue Act of

en

25:14

Ep 3.12: Germans, Irish, and the Battle for American...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/09

This episode explores the political and cultural crosscurrents that swept through St. Louis as World War I erupted in Europe—especially the surprising alliance between German‑ and Irish‑American Catholics who worked together to keep the United States out of the conflict. Monsignor and Teresa begin with a brief detour into the world of German Jewish immigrants, whose early success and internal debates—most notably over establishing a kosher Jewish Hospital—reflect the city’s broader diversity and

en

26:33

Ep 3.11: St. Stanislaus, Ethnic Parishes, and the...

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/03/09

This episode traces the rise of St. Louis’s ethnic parishes in the early 20th century, beginning with the Polish community and the long, complicated history of St. Stanislaus Kostka. Monsignor and Teresa follow the Poles from their early days worshipping in borrowed basements—where their powerful congregational singing literally drowned out the German choir upstairs—to the founding of their own parish under the leadership of the dynamic Franciscan‑turned‑diocesan pastor Father Urban Stanowski. His

en

148 results

Similar Podcasts

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

جنود خلدهم التاريخ

ALSUMOOD PODCAST

Film History - Daily

Inception Point Ai

Madonna - Biography Flash

Inception Point Ai