Ep 3.09: The Spirit of St. Louis — Charity Organized and Alive

This episode continues the story of St. Louis’s remarkable charitable awakening at the turn of the 20th century, beginning with the expanding work of Father Timothy Dempsey. Monsignor and Teresa trace how Dempsey, already sheltering hundreds of homeless men, turned his attention to the equally vulnerable women arriving in the city for factory work. His solution was the St. Patrick’s Home for Working Women, a safe, family‑like residence run by Mary Coughlin, offering affordable lodging, meals, and pathways to employment. Stories like the stranded mother from Gary, Indiana—welcomed with her children and reunited with her recovering husband—illustrate the deeply personal compassion behind Dempsey’s mission.