Demetrius Gallitzin: Apostle of the Alleghenies (1770-1840)

John Carroll: First Bishop of the United States (1735-1815)

Born into a princely Russian family at the Hague, Holland, Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, was baptized Russian Orthodox, but raised with no real faith. After his mother's religious conversion and return to her Catholic faith, Demetrius would become Catholic.On a tour of the United States before embarking on a military career, Demetrius (travelling under the name Augustine Smith) decided to become a missionary priest in this new land. Accepted by Bishop John Carroll, he was ordained in 1795 and became the first priest to recieve all of his clerical orders here in the United States.

He came to this area on a sick call 1796 and returned a few years later to establish Loretto. He served the area for over 40 years.

In 1790, John Carroll became the first U.S. Bishop. Carroll was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1769. He encouraged St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to come to Baltimore and aided her in founding her first school. He was instrumental in guiding the priestly vocation of Prince Demetrius Gallitzin and assigning him to these mountains in Pennsylvania.