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

Ep. 1.18: The Peopling of Saint Louis

In this episode, Monsignor Witt and Theresa explore the next waves of settlement in St. Louis, including new arrivals from France and New Orleans who brought families, farmers, soldiers, and skilled tradesmen. They highlight the pivotal role of Madame Marie-Thérèse Chouteau—often called the “mother of St. Louis”—and her partnership with Pierre Laclède in shaping the city’s early foundations. The discussion also examines the arrival of Saint-Ange de Bellerive and his soldiers, who brought prestige and stability, as well as the first log church built in 1770, which served an interracial Catholic community. The episode concludes with the transition to Spanish control under Don Pedro Piernas and Father Valentine, showing both the challenges and the gradual establishment of civic and religious life in the new town.
*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.

Ep. 1.17: The Plotting of Saint Louis

In this episode, Monsignor Witt and Theresa revisit the early days of St. Louis, drawing on J. Frederick Fausz’s research into the settlers who first cleared the land and built the community in 1764. They discuss the backgrounds of the men who accompanied Auguste Chouteau, the arrival of the first priest and baptisms, and how slavery—though different in character from the Deep South—quickly entered the city’s story. The conversation also highlights Pierre Laclède’s negotiations with Native nations, especially the Missouri and Osage, setting the tone for alliances through trade and diplomacy rather than shared living. Finally, they explore the original city plan, its French design, and how that early civic, commercial, and religious layout still influences the central corridor of St. Louis today.
*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.

Ep. 1.16: The Founding of Saint Louis

In this episode, Monsignor Witt and Theresa recount the dramatic journey of Pierre Laclède and his men up the Mississippi River as they prepared to establish a new settlement. Facing powerful currents, shifting sandbars, dangerous submerged trees, and even hostile encounters, their expedition highlights both the perils and determination required to press forward. After reaching Ste. Genevieve and spending the winter near Fort de Chartres, Laclède and young Auguste Chouteau identified the ideal location for a new town on a high bluff overlooking the river. On February 14–15, 1764, Chouteau and a team of settlers began clearing land and building shelters, marking the founding of St. Louis—a city destined to become one of America’s great centers.
*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.

Ep. 1.15: Comte de Kerlerec

In this episode, Monsignor and Theresa trace the events leading up to the founding of St. Louis, focusing on Pierre Laclede’s unlikely arrival in New Orleans and his partnership with Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent. They describe the city’s troubled state in the mid-1700s—plagued by corruption, natural vulnerability, and jurisdictional disputes—before introducing Governor Kerlerec’s ambitious vision of a commercial empire built through alliances with Native nations and merchants. His efforts brought stronger defenses, trade networks, and a blueprint for French survival west of the Mississippi, even as Versailles remained indifferent. The episode closes by highlighting how these plans set the stage for St. Louis to emerge as a new French trading hub and gateway to the American interior.
*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.

Ep. 1.14: Pierre Laclede

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa introduce Pierre Laclède, the young Frenchman destined to help found St. Louis. They recount his perilous 1755 voyage aboard La Concorde during the French and Indian War, where only a handful of ships survived British attacks. The conversation traces Laclède’s upbringing in Béarn, his Jesuit connections, military training, and practical skills that prepared him for life in Louisiana. Arriving in New Orleans, he quickly partnered with Gilbert Antoine de Saint-Maxent, stepping into the vibrant and complex world that would eventually lead him upriver to St. Louis.
*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.

Ep. 1.13: Fr. Meurin Survives

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa continue the story of the Jesuits’ expulsion, focusing on Father Watrin’s unspoken defense of their century of missionary work and the harsh decree that stripped them of property and expelled them from Louisiana. The conversation highlights the lonely perseverance of Father Pierre Meurin, who ministered to scattered communities, celebrated the first baptisms in St. Louis, and oversaw its first modest church and cemetery. They also introduce Father Pierre Gibault, a young Canadian priest whose tireless ministry helped sustain Catholic life across the Mississippi Valley. The episode closes by setting the stage for the arrival of Pierre Laclède and the founding of St. Louis.
*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.

Ep. 1.12: 1763 - The Year of Double Disasters

In this episode, Monsignor Witt and Teresa explore the aftermath of the French defeat in North America, culminating in the 1763 Treaty of Paris and the secret cession of Louisiana to Spain. They trace the founding of St. Louis amid the confusion, the rise of the Chouteau family, and the city’s unique French, Spanish, and Native American character. The discussion turns somber with the heartbreaking expulsion of the Jesuits, whose decades of missionary work ended abruptly as they were forced from the region. Their legacy, however, endured, paving the way for their eventual return and the founding of St. Louis University.
*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.
 
 

Ep. 1.11: The French and Indian War

In this episode, Msgr. Witt and Teresa dive into the origins of the French and Indian War, beginning with the oddly named War of Jenkins’ Ear and moving through the War of Austrian Succession. They trace rising tensions as French and British colonial expansion collided in the Ohio River Valley, highlighting a young George Washington’s first battles, General Braddock’s disastrous defeat, and the shifting alliances in Europe that turned the conflict into a true world war. The episode concludes with William Pitt’s bold new strategy, the daring British assault on Quebec, and the pivotal Battle of the Plains of Abraham that sealed the fate of New France.
*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.

Ep. 1.10: Prosperity of the French Croissant

In this episode, Monsignor Witt and Teresa explore the prosperity of the French Midwest, with a focus on the founding and early life of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. They trace the region’s riches of lead, salt, and fertile farmland, the arrival of settlers from Canada, and the establishment of villages along the Mississippi. Listeners learn about French colonial architecture, farming practices, joyful community life, and the enduring charm of Ste. Genevieve today. The conversation closes by noting looming conflicts—the French and Indian War—that would challenge but not extinguish the region’s unique joie de vivre.
*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.

Ep. 1.09: War and Peaceful Prosperity

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 settlements like New Orleans grew. The discussion closes by highlighting how the true wealth of the French “croissant” lay not in silver or gold, but in fertile land, salt, lead, and agriculture that would later fuel prosperity.
*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.