April 11: England of Ireland

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Today is April 11th, and our story is England of Ireland. In 1819, Catholics in Charleston, South Carolina, threatened schism. Rome responded by creating a new diocese, the Diocese of Charleston, and ordaining an Irish priest, Father John England, to keep them in line. Born and educated in County Cork, Ireland, England was only 34 when the church plucked him out of an Irish parish, made him bishop, and sent him off to South Carolina. Awaiting him in his new diocese, which consisted of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, was a scattered flock of a few thousand Catholics, precious few parishes, even fewer priests, and a sizable number of parish trustees who believed they, not their priests, should run the church.

Rather than do battle with the trustee system, England neutralized it, drawing up a constitution for the parishes in his diocese that gave laypeople a voice in how their parishes were governed. At the same time, the constitution ensured proper recognition of episcopal and priestly authority.

As the threat of schism passed, England set about bringing order to his diocese, traveling to wherever Catholics lived, organizing parishes, building churches, and recruiting priests. In Charleston, he founded a seminary and college of classical learning, as well as an academy for young women and a religious order to help catechize both free black women and slaves. England also attempted to open a school for free blacks, but it closed in the wake of violent opposition from the local community.

More than anything else, England wanted his flock to know and understand their faith. To that end, he wrote an English-language catechism, as well as an English-language missal. He also launched the first diocesan newspaper in America, the United States Catholic Miscellany, and started a diocesan-wide book club in which all parishes were asked to participate. Respected by Catholics and Protestants alike for his preaching, charity, and practice of personal poverty, reportedly the soles of his shoes were perpetually marked by holes, England died of fever on April 11, 1842.

Bishop John England's efforts remind us that reform often comes from clarity of purpose and humility. Consider a place in your life or community where structure, guidance, or support could make a difference. Take one practical step this week to offer that. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, April 12th, for another story of faith and courage in America.