Roman Catholic Faith

Being Roman Catholic was very important to the Irish, and for many centuries they were denied the right to own land and property because of their "popery." As they resisted the occupation of England in their homelands, they became more strongly attached to the religion of St. Patrick.

The Catholic faith was important to both the Ryans and Smiths. Our early ancestors worked to help build the Catholic community in early Kimball, South Dakota. Frank's suitcase gives us a view into how important this religion was to the family.