Show Oldest Catholic Settlement According to Famous First Fir F i r s t Facts the first Catholic church settlement was formed at St. St Au Au- Augustine Augustine Augustine gustine Florida in 1565 though Mass was said as early as 1524 in Manhattan island for and probably earlier services were held by ay the explorers from Greenland 1 Figures on church membership in inthe inthe the Catholic Almanac indicate highest percentage of Catholics to church hurch members in New Mexico lowest in North Carolina |