When Nashville became a Catholic diocese in 1837, it was mostly an aspirational exercise. The few Catholics scattered throughout the state were ministered to only occasionally by missionary priests who traveled by horseback from Kentucky. It is believed that Hugh Rogan, who arrived in Middle Tennessee in 1780 after working as a surveyor for the Continental Army, did not see a priest for 50 years. That all changed when the Italian-born Father Aloysius "Luigi" Orengo arrived in Nashville in 1848. He traveled all over the state, sleeping in the woods, using his saddle for a pillow, and eating cheese and crackers. He's credited with building churches in Franklin, Columbia, Pulaski, East Nashville, Tracy City, Gallatin, Humboldt, Brownsville, Grand Junction, Covington, Jackson, and McEwen. But for as influential as he was, Father Orengo's story remained untold, until now. In this TN Writers | TN Stories event, author Joe Pagetta is in conversation with Katie Peterson.
RSVP on Eventbrite
This event is part of our TN Writers | TN Stories series. Readings and discussions take place in the Digital Learning Center at the Tennessee State Museum. All events include an opportunity to purchase books through the Museum store and get them signed by the author. If you show your Eventbrite ticket you will receive a 10% discount on your book purchase in the Museum Store.
About the Presenters
Joe Pagetta began his career writing for the Jersey Journal in his hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey, and has called Nashville, Tennessee, home for close to thirty years. His personal essays and writings on faith and culture have appeared in America: The Jesuit Review, Ambassador Magazine, Today's American Catholic, Chapter 16, Tennessee Historical Quarterly, and Tennessee Home & Farm. He currently serves as the director of communications for the Tennessee State Museum.
Katie Peterson has been a journalist with the Diocese of Nashville's Communications Office since August 2021, writing and taking photographs for the bi-weekly Tennessee Register newspaper, the quarterly Catholic Awakenings magazine, and NashvilleCatholic.org. She currently serves as Associate Editor and Multimedia Journalist.
