Catholic Heroes… St. Isaac Jogues (1607-1649)
By DEB PIROCH Before the current epidemic, before 9-11, or even the French and Indian War, the seeds of the Catholic faith existed on what is present-day New York soil. New York’s first priest visitor, escaping after 13 months’ imprisonment and torture by the Mohawks, was Fr. Isaac Jogues. He traveled down the Hudson River with help from the Dutch and landed on “Manhatte,” as the area was then known. Making his way back to France, he returned after a year, to what he felt was likely martyrdom. With the epicenter of COVID-19 in New York City, we have so many saints to turn to for intercession, but why not consider Fr. Isaac as a patron saint of North America?…Continue Reading