History Archives

Students collect soil from lynching site in act to achieve racial justice

Nov 20, 2019

In the dark of night June 17, 1887, a mob lynched Benjamin Hance, hanging the 22-year-old African American man from the branch of a witch-hazel tree near the road to Newtown Neck in Leonardtown. About 140 people gathered at the site in southern Maryland Nov. 1 in a solemn ceremony to remember Hance and to commit themselves to working for racial justice.

By Mark Zimmermann, CNS

13th-century encounter points way to greater Christian-Muslim understanding

Nov 10, 2019

Eight centuries ago, St. Francis of Assisi took a risk when he crossed the battlefield between Crusader and Muslim forces near Damietta, Egypt, desiring to meet Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil and preach his faith in Jesus Christ.

By Dennis Sadowski

Native Americans seek to declare Alamo grounds old cemetery

Aug 9, 2019

A local Native American group is bringing a new battle to the Alamo, filing a legal notice declaring the grounds to be an abandoned or unknown cemetery.

By Scott Huddleston - San Antonio Express-News

Austrian Catholics start year of celebrations for Emperor Maximilian

Jan 9, 2019

The Austrian Catholic Church will officially begin a year of honor Jan. 11 to remember the founder of Austria’s Catholic Habsburg Empire, Maximilian I, to mark the 500th anniversary of his death.

By Zita Ballinger Fletcher

Eucharistic Congress in 1908 was ‘coming of age’ for Church in England

Sep 4, 2018

As Liverpool prepares to host a national Eucharistic Congress, people are looking at the last such event to take place in England: The 1908 International Eucharistic Congress in London.

By Charles Collins

Imprisoned clergy of Dachau remembered for fearless faith

Apr 25, 2018

Catholic priests, brothers and seminarians, along with clergy from other denominations, were sent to Dachau because they posed a threat to the Nazi regime.

By George P. Matysek Jr.