1732 | First Spiritan missionaries in North America. Spiritan priests began their international work among the Micmac Indians and Acadians in French Canada.
1794 | The first Spiritan missionary arrives in Baltimore to establish a community in the new United States.
1848 | Merging of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and the Congregation of the Holy Heart of Mary. Because of their similar purpose, charism, and works, the Church merged the original Spiritan community and the Congregation of the Holy Heart of Mary.
1872 | Four Spiritans along with George Ott (Temporary Provincial) arrived in North America to establish a Province to serve minorities and immigrants in the United States and Canada. Spiritan presence in the U.S. South among African-Americans in previously Confederate States and Northern Cities. Very special focus came through St. Katharine Drexel’s vision and financial support.
1874 | Fr. Joseph Strub (The appointed Provincial) arrived with companions to continue establishing the USA Province. Spiritans given permission to work at St. Mary parish in Sharpsburg, PA.
1878 | The Spiritans found The Pittsburgh Catholic College later named Duquesne University, presently an internationally recognized Catholic university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose humble beginning was a school for the education of the children of the immigrant poor.
1878 | Fr. Strub arrives in Arkansas to begin the establishment of parishes among the German, French, Polish, and African-Americans.
1879 | Strub established a Brothers Community in Marienstatt, Arkansas. He accepted African-American candidates. Only the name Monastery Ridge remains and the members of the community were transferred to Pittsburgh, PA.
1888 | Spiritans become pastor of St. Benedict the Moor parish in Pittsburgh. This is the first parish serving African-Americans in Pittsburgh. In 1889, St. Peter Claver parish for African-Americans was founded in Philadelphia, PA. This was the first parish serving African-Americans in Philadelphia.
1895 | Spiritans began working as Chaplains at St. Emma Industrial and Agricultural Institute for African-American boys in Virginia from 1895-1899 and from 1903-1929 when the Benedictines took over the school. The Spiritans returned 1947 when it became a Military School. Many of the recently freed German priests and brothers from internment camps in Jamaica staffed the school. These Spiritans worked side by side with U.S. Spiritans to develop the students and the school.
1897 | Holy Ghost Apostolic Seminary (Holy Ghost Prep) was established with the help of St. Katherine Drexel. Founding of Holy Ghost Preparatory School, Bensalem, Pennsylvania, a collegiate seminary for young men who wished to enter the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
1900 | Br. Philippus Lafferty is the first USA-born Spiritan to sail to Africa. (Sierra Leone)
1906 | Novitiate formed in Norwalk, CT, Senior Seminary in 1910, Novitiate transferred to Ridgefield, CT in 1922.
1907 | Fr. Joseph Burgess becomes the first African-American ordained as a Spiritan priest
1910 | U.S. province began ministry among Portuguese immigrants in Rhode Island with the help of newly arrived Portuguese Spiritans
1911 | Fr. Joseph Schmodry is recognized as a pioneer Spiritan Missionary to African-Americans in the deep South (Alexandria, Louisiana). Spiritans staffed more than 33 parishes in the State of Louisiana alone. Throughout the south from the Northeast to the Southwest, Spiritans were actively ministering in parish and schools throughout the USA.
1923 | First group of U.S. Spiritans begin ministry in Tanzania, East Africa.
1931 | First U.S. Spiritans arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico to work in Arecibo
1932 | Bishop Joseph Byrne, C.S.Sp. is named Apostolic Vicar of Kilimanjaro and U.S. Province became responsible for the mission and ministries in the Kilimanjaro region.
1946 | Fr. James Hyland and companions established works in California (Hemet, Riverside, Bakersfield).
1964 | U.S. Province divided into two provinces- U.S. East and U.S. West.
1971 | First Spiritans arrive in Tanlajas, Mexico (San Juan Potosi)
1991 | First Worldwide meeting of Spiritan Associates held in Bethel Park, PA
1995 | First Vietnamese Spiritan professed in Houston, TX
2009 | Reunification of the East and West Provinces to create one U.S. Province