The seat of the federal government, ceded to the United States for that purpose by Maryland, and established, 1790-1791; area, about 6,914 square miles. Its early Catholic history coincides with that of Maryland. Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the United States, was founded in 1789, two years before the selection of the site of Washington. The first church in Georgetown was that of Holy Trinity, built in 1792; and the first church in Washington was Saint Patrick's, built soon after 1794 by Reverend Anthony Caffrey. The District of Columbia is included within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Catholic influence on place-names within the District is limited to one: Saint Elizabeth.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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