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Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

May 2020

May 19, 2020

Who’s Buried in Catholic Cemeteries?

Brigadier General James Rowan O’Beirne (1839-1917)-- Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York. One of the great things...

January 2019

January 08, 2019

Catholics in the Movies: J. Carrol Naish (1896-1973)

He was known as “Hollywood’s one-man U.N.” for the various characters he played: Italians, Native...

December 2018

December 27, 2018

The Briordys of Brooklyn

A major reason I got into American Catholic history was to better understand my own...

December 19, 2018

Who’s Buried in Catholic Cemeteries: Mayor William R. Grace (1832-1904)

Michael Bloomberg wasn't the first New York Mayor to learn Spanish. That distinction belongs to...

December 09, 2018

Catholics in the Movies: Raoul Walsh (1887-1980)

He was one of Golden Age Hollywood’s most prolific figures, its premier action director. Over...

December 07, 2018

Before Alcoholics Anonymous: Father Mathew and the Pledge

When I was growing up in Queens, I had a number of friends whose Irish-born...

November 2014

November 04, 2014

Catholics in Public Service: Senator Francis Kernan, New York (1816-1892)

As Americans go to the polls today, we profile the first Catholic to represent New...

September 2014

September 18, 2014

A Dominican in Memphis: Father Joseph A. Kelly, O.P. (1827-1885)

Very Rev. Joseph Augustine Kelly, O.P.— Born in Dublin, Ireland, 1827. Came to America at...

August 2014

August 17, 2014

Who’s Buried in Catholic Cemeteries: Mayor Hugh J. Grant (1858-1910)

Born in New York City on September 10, 1858, Hugh J. Grant grew up in...

July 2014

July 14, 2014

Catholics on Stage: Fritz Williams (1865-1930)

Williams, Fritz (Frederick Williams): Actor; b. in Boston, Mass., August 23, 1865; parents member at...

July 13, 2014

Who’s Buried in Catholic Cemeteries: Supreme Court Justice joseph McKenna (1843-1926)

Joseph McKenna was one of the few politicians to have served in all three branches...

July 10, 2014

Father William Starrs, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York (1807-1873)

Very Rev. William Starrs, D.D. (The New York Times, February 7, 1873) Very Rev. William...

July 06, 2014

Who’s Buried in Catholic Cemeteries: Annie Moore (1874-1924)

Born in County Cork, Ireland, on April 24, 1874, Annie Moore was the first immigrant to...

July 04, 2014

Catholics in Public Service: Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832)

With the Fourth of July, McNamara's Blog launches a new feature, "Catholics in Public Service."...

June 2014

June 26, 2014

Monsignor Dennis J. Flynn, Mount St. Mary’s College and Seminary, Emmitsburg (1856-1911)

Rt. Rev. Mgr. Dennis J. Flynn, LL. D., was born near Louisville, Ky., Sept. 17,...

June 17, 2014

Catholics on Stage: Arnold Daly (1875-1927)

Born Peter Christopher Arnold Daly to Irish parents, the young man grew up in Brooklyn,...

June 16, 2014

“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Thomas O’Neil, Toledo, Ohio

There are few old-time dwellers in the city of Toledo, Ohio, who are more prominent...

June 07, 2014

New York Herald Interviews Boston College Founder, May 1876

Interview with Boston College Founder Rev. John McElroy, S.J., New York Herald, May 8, 1876...

June 06, 2014

Remembering the Fallen: Lt. Robert P. Mathias, D-Day, June 6, 1944

In his outstanding history of D-Day, Stephen Ambrose describes the conditions that Second Lieutenant Robert Mathias...

June 05, 2014

Throwback Thursday Photograph!

Is it just me, or does Father William George McCloskey look suspiciously like Stephen Colbert?...

June 04, 2014

“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Dr. John Daniel Sullivan, Our Lady of Victory Church, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

Dr. Sullivan, one of the most...

June 02, 2014

Mother Austin Carroll, R.S.M. (1835-1909)

Mother Austin Carroll, authoress of the Life of Mother Mc Cauley, Leaves of the Annals...

June 01, 2014

Who’s Buried in Catholic Cemeteries: “Nonpareil” Dempsey (1862-1895)

Born John Edward Kelly in County Kildare, Ireland, he was known in boxing circles...

May 2014

May 30, 2014

Catholics on Stage: Blanche Walsh (1873-1915)

This popular favorite has made herself a prominent place among the actresses whose forte is...

May 26, 2014

Cardinal Gibbons Preaches at Funeral Mass of General Philip H. Sheridan, August 1888

Cardinal James Gibbons’ Sermon at the Funeral Mass of General Philip Sheridan, August 11, 1888,...

May 26, 2014

Remembering the Fallen: Corporal John Briody, Seventh U.S. Cavalry (1847-1876)

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the Battle of...

May 26, 2014

Military Mass During the Civil War, 1864

FATHER CORBY’S DESCRIPTION OF A MILITARY MASS On or about the 4th day of September,...

December 2013

December 09, 2013

Bishop Thomas Galberry, O.S.A., Hartford, Connecticut (1833-1878)

RIGHT REV. THOMAS GALBERRY, O.S.A., Fourth Bishop of Hartford Thomas Galberry first saw the light...

November 2013

November 18, 2013

“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Thomas F. O’Rorke, Bronx, New York

THOS. F. O’RORKE, of 692 Union Avenue, the Bronx, is one of the solid men...

November 15, 2013

Know-Nothings Plot to Burn Fordham, 1853

Father John Larkin played a major role in the development of Catholic higher education in...