Contents
- 1 About St. John Neumann
- 2 St. John Neumann – Saints & Angels
- 3 Saint John Neumann
- 4 Saint John Neumann
- 5 Saint John Neumann – Saint John Neumann
- 6 John Nepomucene Neumann
- 7 Pennsylvania Center for the Book
- 8 St. John Neumann : St. Patrick Catholic Church
- 9 Intercessory Prayers to St. John Neumann
- 10 Prayers by St. John Neumann
- 11 Saint John Neumann
- 12 Patron Saints
- 13 St. John Nepomucene Neumann
- 14 Our Patron Saint
- 15 His Early Years
- 16 Bishop of Philadelphia
- 17 His Death
- 18 A Growing Devotion
- 19 Miracles Begin To Happen
- 20 The First American Male Saint
About St. John Neumann
View a slideshow or learn more about St. John Neumann by reading his biography. Feast day is on January 5th. John Neumann was born on March 28, 1811, in Prachatice, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). He was the son of Johann Neumann and Anna Neumann. Budweis Seminary was where he received his theological education. He decided to leave his native country in order to devote his life to the missionary life and to the conversion of souls. He wanted to help the European immigrants in America who were suffering from a lack of spiritual support.
As a result of his desire to live in a religious community that was more in line with his missionary vocation, he joined the Redemptorists in January 1842.
After serving as the Redemptorists’ vice-provincial superior from 1846 to 1849, he was appointed to the position of parish priest at St.
He was appointed bishop of Philadelphia in 1852, when he was just 41 years old.
- He established a new religious order, the Third Order of Saint Francis of Glen Riddle, in order to further his mission.
- Neumann was a tireless visitor throughout his extensive diocese in his capacity as a bishop.
- Neumann was beatified on October 13, 1963, as part of the Second Vatican Council, and he was canonized on June 19, 1977, as part of the Third Vatican Council.
- “He was close to the sick, he loved to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners,” he said.
- John Neumann as a patron saint of ill children and immigrants.
Prayers to St. John Neumann
We pray to God of the Journey, through the intercession of St. John Neumann, the patron saint of immigrants, for people who leave their homelands in search of freedom and fresh chances in a new nation. May they know you as their traveling companion and discover a warm welcome waiting for them. – In the name of Jesus, we offer this prayer to you. Amen. Allow your servant John Neumann’s example of humility to inspire us in these days of pride and public show, O Jesus, who on earth commanded and led a secret life.
We express our gratitude to you for including our fellow citizen and devoted missionary bishop among the saints of your Church in heaven, and we implore you, O Lord, to further honor him on earth by granting the graces we request via his intercession on our behalf. Amen.
St. John Neumann – Saints & Angels
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- The Bishop of London announced in 1835 that there would be no more ordinations.
- It is difficult for us to comprehend today, but Bohemia was overrun by priests at the time.
- John was certain that he had been called to be a priest, but he felt as if all of the doors leading to that vocation were closing in his face.
- He had acquired English while working in a factory with other English-speaking employees, and he used it to write to the bishops of the United States.
- When God called John to be a priest, he would have to abandon his home and journey across the ocean to a foreign and unforgiving place.
- The territory of John’s parish in western New York stretched from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border.
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- Help Now The demands of his job, as well as the remoteness of his parish, led John to seek community via the Redemptorists, a religious order of priests and brothers committed to assisting the poor and most abandoned in their plight.
- He was the first bishop to establish a diocesanCatholicschool system in his diocese.
- John never lost his love and concern for the people, which may have been a source of irritation to the elite of Philadelphia at the time.
- “Have you ever seen such large entourage for a bishop?” John laughed as he sat on a board that had been stretched across the wagon’s cargo.
- His knowledge of Gaelic was so advanced when Irish immigration began that one Irishwoman exclaimed, “Isn’t it wonderful that we have an Irish bishop?” On one occasion, while on a trip to Germany, he returned to the house where he was staying soaking from the rain.
- This is the only pair of shoes that I own.” John died on January 5, 1860, when he was 48 years old.
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Saint John Neumann
Bishop of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann (born March 28, 1811, Prachatice, Bohemia—died January 5, 1860, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; canonized 1977; feast day January 5) was a pioneer in the Roman Catholic parochial school system in the United States. He was canonized in 1977 and is commemorated on January 5. His interest in missions in the United States led him to New York City after completing his studies at the University of Prague. In 1836, Neumann received his priestly ordination there.
He rose through the ranks and eventually became superior general of all Redemptorists in the United States.
Neumann devoted the remainder of his life to the construction of churches, schools, and asylums for his diocese.
Neumann was canonized in 1977, making him the first male saint to be honored in the United States.
Saint John Neumann
In full, St. John Neumann (born March 28, 1811, Prachatice, Bohemia—died January 5, 1860, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; canonized 1977; feast day January 5) was the first bishop of Philadelphia and a pioneer in the Roman Catholic parochial school system of the United States. His interest in missions in the United States led him to New York City after completing his studies at the University of Prague. In 1836, Neumann received his doctorate in divinity. On January 1, 1840, he entered into the Redemptorists, a Catholic organization committed to parish and international missions.
The Pope, Pius IX, appointed him to the position of Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852.
As an educator, he made history as the first ecclesiastic in the United States to establish a diocesan school system.
Neumann was canonized in 1977, making him the first male saint to be recognized by the United States government. In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the editors write about: Melissa Petruzzello has made the most recent revisions and additions to this page.
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St. John Neumann, patron saint of the parish of St. John Neumann, is the first male American citizen to be named a saint. He is also the patron saint of the parish of St. John Neumann. During his pontificate, Pope Paul VI canonized him on June 19, 1977, only days before the new parish was formally founded. His birthplace in Prachatitz, Bohemia, on March 28, 1811. Neumann attended the diocesan seminary of Bedweis and subsequently graduated from the University of Prague, where he gained a reputation for strong devotion and a perceptive intellect.
- At that time, his unique ministry to the large number of immigrants who were entering in the nation indicated his genuine compassion for those who were disadvantaged.
- Neumann was 41 when he was appointed fourth Bishop of Philadelphia by Pope Pius IX in 1852.
- He was also the first prelate to establish a diocesan school system in North America.
- John Neumann’s life was marked by a great personal love for God and a determination to help others come to know Him as well.
Saint John Neumann – Saint John Neumann
His birth occurred on March 28, 1811, in the historic hamlet of Prachalitz in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). He was christened and called John Nepomucene in honor of one of the patron saints of his native country, and he entered the parish church that same day to receive his sacraments. At the seminary, John Neumann felt called to the ministry of missionary work in the United States. The United States was flooded with German Catholics, and there was a desperate need for German-speaking priests in both the densely populated eastern metropolis and the thinly populated farmland of the western United States.
- He had been looking forward to being ordained in 1835.
- To obey God’s call, he realized he would have to leave his home for good, face the lonely separation from his family, and go over the ocean to a foreign and dangerous nation.
- As the pastor of a parish that spanned from Lake Ontario to Pennsylvania, he spent the majority of his time going from town to town, climbing mountains to visit the sick, living in garrets and pubs to conduct classes, and celebrating Mass in homes and on farm tables.
- Known for his profound spirituality, passionate devotion to the Eucharist, and selfless dedication to the service of mankind, John Neumann was a priest with a unique blend of gifts.
- Despite his genuine hesitation, Pope Pius IX decided he was the best candidate for the position of Bishop of Philadelphia and appointed him as the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852.
- Francis of Philadelphia), and saved another religious community from dissolution by intervening in its affairs (the Oblate Sisters of Providence).
- John Neumann’s love and care for the spiritual well-being of his people never faded in his heart.
- He died unexpectedly in 1860 at the age of 48, and those who had known him instantly began to tell stories of his exceptional holiness, which spread around the world.
He was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1977, making him the first individual from the United States to be honored as a saint by the church. Those interested in learning more about St. John Neumann should visit the following website:
John Nepomucene Neumann
Feast Day is on January 5th. The date of canonization is June 19, 1977. The date of the beatification was October 13, 1963. The date of the inauguration was December 11, 1921. The new Bishop of Philadelphia had had enough of the unjust treatment of Catholic pupils in the public education system of his city, and he was ready to take action. Even now, it is difficult to conceive such a thing happening, yet in the middle 1800s, the majority of school boards, administrators, and instructors were Protestant, and they pushed their ideas on all of the pupils.
- In the Diocese of Philadelphia, Bishop John Neumann fought tirelessly to bring about a change in this practice.
- Despite this, he was not a very popular bishop, and he was disheartened when adversaries set fire to the convents and schools he had helped to establish.
- While still a young man, he attended the seminary where he studied to become a priest.
- When John reached out to other dioceses around Europe, he discovered that they all had the same problem: an excessive number of priests.
- Immigrants from all over the world came to the United States in quest of a better life.
- John, who was 25 at the time, was on his way to the United States.
- When he landed in New York, the only thing in his worn black suit’s pockets was a dollar bill, yet Bishop John Dubois of New York was delighted to have him.
He was the first priest in the United States to take vows with the Redemptorist Order, which he did in Baltimore in 1842.
In 1848, he became a citizen of the United States.
Consequently, many people were dissatisfied when he was selected as the fourth bishop of the sophisticated Philadelphia Diocese at the age of 41, a position he held until his death.
On top of that, John, according to his own admission, was not a particularly effective administrator.
Things began to improve, though, once Rome sent him an assistant bishop who had previously worked as a banker.
First and foremost, he assisted immigrants in becoming comfortable in their new surroundings.
He aided the Sisters of Notre Dame in their efforts to establish themselves in the United States of America.
John had a strong desire to further his education throughout his life.
The number of Catholic schools in his diocese increased from one to 200 during his tenure as bishop, and the number of pupils enrolled in Catholic schools increased from 500 to 9,000.
This might have had a role in his death on January 5, 1860, at the age of 48, according to certain theories.
A group of priests hurried to his side, but he had already passed away.
Peter’s Church in Philadelphia, where he was born.
His canonization by Pope Paul VI in 1977 made him a saint, and he is now the patron saint of immigrants and ill children. Making Connections to Be My Disciples ®Grade 3, chapter 21 Developing a relationship with Blest Are We ®Parish and School Second chapter of Grade 1 Save
Pennsylvania Center for the Book
He was born on March 28, 1811, in the hamlet of Prachatitz in the Czech Republic, and was named after John Nepomucene Neumann (now the Czech Republic). His father was the owner of a small stocking mill as well as a minor village politician, and his mother was a religious woman who attended Mass on a consistent basis. At the age of twenty, Neumann was still hesitant about his decision to become the priesthood, despite having a strong leaning toward it during his youth and adolescence. He ultimately made up his mind with the assistance of his mother, who urged him to pursue a career in theology.
- Following his two years in the diocesan seminary in Budweis, Neumann continued his education at the archdiocese at the University of Prague, where he graduated with honors in 1835.
- His scholastic record was great, and he possessed exceptional language-learning ability to complement it.
- In addition, later in life, he educated himself Gaelic in order to minister to Irish immigrants in the United States.
- In his seminary years, Neumann made the decision to work as a missionary in the United States.
- Neumann wrote to bishops in the United States, expressing his desire to be ordained in the country.
- As a result, he was sent to mission churches in the vicinity of Buffalo, New York, until he was accepted into the Redemptorists, who were members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Roman Catholic organization that was formed in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
- He was sent to teach catechism in German to a group of youngsters who were about to receive their first Communion.
Later, he proceeded to Pittsburgh, where he joined the Redemptorist lay brotherhood, a mission he would continue for the rest of his years on earth.
Because of his deep affection for children, he was the first to construct a Catholic diocesan school system and was responsible for increasing the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from two to more than one hundred.
Francis of Philadelphia, and he intervened to prevent the Oblate Sisters of Providence from being suppressed.
Most significantly, he was a priest of exceptional spirituality, with a deep devotion to the Eucharist and a selfless commitment to the service of all people, qualities that distinguished him.
Pope Pius IX, however, elevated him to the rank of Bishop in 1852, when he was just 41 years old.
Soon after, he acquired a chronic and debilitating cough that sapped most of his remaining power.
Neumann had been the Bishop of Philadelphia for less than eight years when he died unexpectedly on January 5, 1860, while strolling along Vine Street in Philadelphia.
Due to the busy nature of St.
Because the church was such a popular and bustling venue, special permission had to be secured for Neumann’s burial there.
The Neumann shrine is still in place today, but his remains is buried underneath the altar, making him the first American bishop to be elevated to the level of the Church’s altars in over a hundred years.
Pope Paul VI accepted the recommendation.
When a candidate for beatification is proposed, the Church asks that two miracles be witnessed to and proved by witnesses.
Interestingly, in Neumann’s case, the first miracle to be verified was the one performed by Eva Benassi, an eleven-year-old girl who lived in the Italian town of Sassuolo.
Eva awoke the next morning completely cured, thanks to the intervention of Neumann, who had been praying for her.
Nineteen-year-old James Kent Lenahan was involved in an unusual automotive accident and was crushed between a car and an overhead telephone pole, according to authorities.
The severity of his injuries was such that physicians did not even intend to operate on him.
The same could be said for Michael Flanigan, who was diagnosed with bone cancer that was fast spreading to his lungs.
When Michael’s parents took him to the shrine of Bishop Neumann at Saint Peter’s Church, he experienced a miraculous transformation.
After then, the symptoms vanished as if by miracle.
Our Lady of Angels Institution, located in Aston Township, Pennsylvania, a Franciscan college in the suburbs of Philadelphia, was renamed Neumann College in honor of the saint’s memory after his beatification.
LaSalle University’s St.
A large number of religious teaching organizations, notably the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious teaching order, came to Philadelphia under the leadership of Bishop Neumann.
He was also instrumental in establishing the patriarchal school system in the city. His feast day is observed on the fifth anniversary of his death, which falls on January 5th.
St. John Neumann : St. Patrick Catholic Church
Feast Day January 5th Patron Saint of sick children and of immigrants, Catholic Schools Known for a lifetime of pastoral work, especially among poor German immigrants, Bishop John Neumann was the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and the first American man to be named saint. Neumann was born in Prachatice, Bohemia, in modern-day Czech Republic. He attended school in Budweis before entering seminary there in 1831. Two years later he transferred to the University of Prague, where he studied theology.
- He intended to be ordained, but his bishop, in 1835, decided there would be no more ordinations, as Bohemia had a high number of priests already.
- He was inspired by the missionary writings of Bishop Frederic Baraga in America, and because he had learned English by working in a factory with English-speaking workers, Neumann wrote to bishops in America, requesting to be ordained in the United States.
- He was assigned by the Bishop of New York to work with recent German immigrants in mission churches in the Niagara Falls area.
- From his headquarters near Buffalo, he made frequent journeys on foot in all kinds of weather to points ten or twenty miles distant, visiting the settlers on their scattered farms.
- He thus applied to the Redemptorists.
- In January, 1842, he took the vows to enter the order in Baltimore, Maryland, and became the first Redemptorist in the New World.
- Neumann was naturalized as a citizen of the United States in Baltimore on February 10, 1848.
Bishop Neumann was the first in the United States to introduce the Forty Hours Devotion in his diocese.
He was the first to organize a Catholic diocesan school system and increased the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from one to two hundred.
Neumann’s fluency in several languages endeared him to the many new immigrant communities in Philadelphia.
A growing congregation of Italian-speakers received pastoral care in his private chapel, and Neumann eventually established in Philadelphia the first Italian national parishes in the country.
The large diocese was not wealthy, and Neumann became known for his personal frugality.
When given a new set of vestments as a gift, he would often use them to outfit the newest ordained priest in the diocese.
He also published two catechisms and a Bible history in German.
Neumann was a tireless visitor throughout his extensive diocese in his capacity as a bishop.
Though Bishop Neumann had suffered from frequent illnesses, his sudden death in 1860, at the age of 48, was wholly unexpected.
The cause of his beautification was begun in 1886, and ten years later, he received the title of “Venerable.” Canonized in 1977, he is buried in St.
“He was near to the ill, he liked to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners, and today he is the glory of all emigrants,” Pope Paul VI said in his homily on the occasion of Neumann’s canonization.
“He was close to the sick, he loved to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners,” he said. Sources:
Intercessory Prayers to St. John Neumann
In your burning desire to see all souls saved, Saint John Neumann, you left your home and country. Teach us to live worthy lives in the spirit of our Baptism, which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the first-born of God’s family, and to love one another as Christ loves us. Allow us to benefit from your entire devotion to the needs of the less fortunate, the weak, the afflicted, and the abandoned that has defined your life. Let the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and the intercession of Mary our Mother support us as we go through the arduous and at times painful roads of duty, under the constant watchful protection of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Prayers by St. John Neumann
O Saint John Neumann, your ardent desire to bring all souls to Christ drove you to abandon your home and country; teach us to live worthy lives in the spirit of our Baptism, which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the first-born of the family of God. Allow us to benefit from your total devotion to the service of the poor, the weak, the suffering, and the abandoned, which has marked your life. Let the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and the intercession of Mary our Mother support us as we go through the arduous and at times painful roads of duty, under the constant watchful protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Amen.
Saint John Neumann
When John Neumann was a child, he resided in Bohemia, which is today a part of the Czech Republic. He worked really hard because he wished to become a missionary priest in America. he had acquired six languages and completed his studies for the priesthood by the time he was twenty-four years old He was not ordained, on the other hand, since his bishop believed that there were already enough priests available in his nation. As a result, John Neumann chose to travel to America in the hopes of being ordained there.
- In his possession was a single pair of clothes and a single money in his pocket when he arrived.
- Father John’s initial ministry was with German-speaking people in mission parishes near Buffalo, New York, where he served for a number of years.
- Priests in those days traveled on horseback and traveled large miles to provide treatment for people in adjacent towns and villages, a practice that continues today.
- The stirrups were out of reach for him because he was under five feet tall.
- John, on the other hand, stayed mute and went about his business of teaching religion, visiting the sick, and training instructors.
- In the United States, he was the first Redemptorist to take vows in the country.
- Father John was forty-one years old when he was appointed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia.
They didn’t care for his accent or his uninteresting fashion sense.
Because John believed he was unable of doing his duties, he requested a smaller diocese, but he was informed he would have to stay.
During the course of eight years, Philadelphia’s two Catholic schools grew to include one hundred institutions.
He wrote two catechisms as well as other essays.
Throughout his life, John Neumann carried out his responsibilities in a calm and humble manner.
He was even disliked within his own party.
Saint John Neumann, a play by Saints Kitts and Nevis Image credit: Saint John Newmann, painted by an unknown artist in the nineteenth century. The image is in the public domain thanks to Wikimedia.
Patron Saints
Every afternoon, students at St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School pray for the intercession of two saints: St. John Neumann and St. Marguerite d’Youville, who are both patrons of the school. On March 28, 1811, this American saint was born in the Czech Republic. In Budweis, he went to school and then entered the seminary, which he did in 1831. In the next year, he proceeded to the Charles Ferdinand University in Prague, where he studied theology, though he was also interested in astronomy and botany throughout his time there.
- It is difficult for us to comprehend today, but Bohemia was overrun by priests at the time.
- John was certain that he had been called to be a priest, but he felt as if all of the doors to pursuing that vocation were closing in his face.
- He had acquired English while working in a factory with other English-speaking employees, and he decided to write to the bishops in the United States.
- As a result of God’s call to the priesthood, John would have to leave his home for good and journey across the ocean to a foreign and dangerous place.
- The parish of St.
- His church lacked a spire and a floor, but that didn’t matter because John spent the majority of his time going from town to village, climbing mountains to visit the sick, sleeping in garrets and taverns to educate, and celebrating Mass at kitchen tables in squalid conditions.
- On January 16, 1842, in Baltimore, he professed his vows as a member of the Redemptorist Congregation, becoming the country’s first Redemptorist priest.
His command of six contemporary languages made him particularly well-suited for employment in the multi-lingual society of nineteenth-century North America.
On March 28, 1852, Father John Neumann was named as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia.
The number of new parishes he constructed and erected in the diocese increased to the point that one was completed virtually every month.
He was a pioneer in Catholic education in this nation, increasing the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from two to over one hundred in less than a decade.
Francis to serve as school teachers.
When the Irish immigrant wave began, he began learning Gaelic as well.
St.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he found time to engage in a significant amount of literary effort.
He remained involved with the organization until the very end.
He was 48 years old at the time.
On October 13, 1963, Pope Paul VI declared him to be a saint, and on June 19, 1977, he was canonized by the same Pope.
Following his canonization, the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann was built in the Parish of St.
It is in this reliquary under the main altar of the lower church that the bones of St.
From the day of his funeral till the present, people have flocked to this site to pay their respects and to pray to this saint.
Please keep a watchful eye on all Catholic schools and assist them in being an example of Christianity in both their acts and their speech.
St.
Having grown up as the eldest of six children, she witnessed her father die when she was seven years old, leaving the family in a state of extreme poverty.
Marguerite provided a tremendous assistance to her mother after returning home, and she also took on the responsibility of educating her brothers and sisters.
His frequent absences and dubious activities in the fur trade and illicit liquor trafficking caused her a tremendous deal of distress, and she eventually left him.
She remained at his side until his death.
As she toiled to support herself and educate her two boys, both of whom went on to become priests, Marguerite was transformed by a spiritual reawakening.
Her faith in God’s presence in her life and His delicate love for every human being became stronger as a result of all of her trials and tribulations.
Marguerite was quickly joined by three other young ladies who shared her passion for the impoverished and compassion for the underprivileged.
It was not until 1744 that the group was transformed into a religious order with a rule and a regular community.
Despite several challenges, she persisted in her efforts to help the underprivileged.
Marguerite and her coworkers were instrumental in bringing the hospital back into financial stability.
The hospital was damaged by fire in 1765, but nothing could shake Marguerite’s faith and courage.
Marguerite died on December 23, 1771, in Montreal, and will be remembered for the rest of her life as a devoted mother who served Jesus Christ among the impoverished.
For than 300 years, her charism has transcended the boundaries of time, geography, and culture.
Throughout the world, the Grey Nuns have created schools, hospitals, and orphanages, particularly in Canada, the United States, Africa, and South America.
In a ceremony held on May 3, 1959, Pope John XXIII beatified Marguerite and dubbed her “Mother of Universal Charity.” On December 9, 1990, Pope John Paul II officially declared her a saint.
Her feast day is celebrated on October 16.
John Neumann Regional Catholic School was created in 1986 by Sr.
Rita Raffaele, both Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, under the guidance of Archbishop Thomas A.
The school is located in the Archdiocese of Boston.
Our school’s fundamental principles are a reflection of the values of the Grey Nuns, which are as follows: FAITH, KNOWLEDGE, FAMILY, RESPECT, and SERVICE (Faith, Knowledge, Family, Respect, Service).
Marguerite, help us to be signs of God’s love in our daily lives.
As a result of your service to the impoverished, you have dedicated yourself to God.
Mother of universal kindness, please assist us in following in your footsteps of faith, compassion, and charitable deeds. Amen.
St. John Nepomucene Neumann
Mr. John Neumann was born on March 28, 1811, in the Czech Republic, which is today a part of Bohemia. Philip Neumann and Agnes Neumann were his parents. He was the youngest of five sisters and one brother. Following college, John went on to study at the seminary. He was ordained, but the bishop was unable to attend because of illness, and the date was never rescheduled since Bohemia had a sufficient number of priests. Because he had been reading about missionary activity in the United States, John made the decision to travel to America and apply for ordination while he was there.
- On June 9, 1836, John arrived in Manhattan, where he was warmly welcomed by Bishop John Dubois, who at the time had only 36 priests to serve the 200,000 Catholics who lived in the state of New York and a portion of New Jersey at the time of his arrival.
- Father John installed himself in a tiny wood church building.
- It was in 1852 that he was chosen bishop of Philadelphia, after which he joined the Redemptorist order and began his missionary efforts.
- He established over 100 schools, resulting in an increase in the number of religious school pupils from 500 to 9,000.
- On June 19, 1977, Pope Paul VI declared him to be a saint.
- Peter the Apostle.
Our Patron Saint
Our Patron Saintadmin2020-10-22T02:27:02-04:00 Our Patron Saintadmin THE INTERCESSION OF THE INTERCESSION OF Fr. Bob Kraig, Pastor Emeritus, shares his thoughts. For me, as pastor of St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church, the first step toward community growth is to do one of the following:
- The body and blood of Jesus serve as its focal point Public and private prayer
- The intercession of its patron saint
- And other factors.
The Eucharistic Community that we have developed and evolved into owes a debt of gratitude to our patron saint, Saint John Neumann, in a variety of ways. Many miracles have occurred as a result of his intercession within our different prayer ministries; physicians have written papers confirming the removal of ailments; and God has genuinely been present among our people as a result of his intercession. Many people have benefited from his nine-day novena, which has provided them with strength, hope, and comfort.
At the rectory, you may purchase books, medals, and other memorabilia associated with St.
His Early Years
John Neumann was born on March 28, 1811, in the town of Prachatiz, in the Czech Republic. Because of his parents’ example, John had always wished to serve God as a priest. However, owing to sickness, his ordination was postponed indefinitely, and he died shortly after. In addition, in contrast to today’s situation, his diocese had a sufficient number of priests at the time. Because John had always intended to be a missionary in America, he wrote to numerous bishops in the United States, and he arrived in the United States in 1836 with no clear idea of where he would be stationed.
Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, John was ordained by Bishop Dubois of New York and became a priest.
Despite his modest height (he was only five feet four inches tall), he was tough and would trek many miles through perilous forests in the winter, rain, or heat to offer the comfort of God to the ill and dying in their final hours.
This was a moment of struggle for Saint John, and it was during this era that he made the choice to join the Redemptorist order in 1842.
His first appointment with them was at the Redemptorist Church of St. James in Baltimore, which was his first assignment with them. St. Alphonsus Church in Baltimore was established in 1851, and he was chosen rector of the church in 1851.
Bishop of Philadelphia
In 1852, Pope Pius IX selected John Neumann as the fourth bishop of Philadelphia, making him the city’s fourth bishop. Many schools were constructed under his episcopacy, and the number of parish school pupils climbed from 500 to 9000 in thirty months, while a total of seventy-three new churches and chapels were completed during his tenure. As the founding father of the first diocesan program of Forty Hours, Bishop Neumann also published two catechisms, out of a desire to serve his people and to benefit the church as a whole.
Francis of Glen Riddle, a religious order for women.
His Death
On the morning of January 5, 1860, Bishop Neumann awoke feeling a little under the weather. His lifetime practice of never wasting a minute led him to decide to go for a stroll and run some errands in his spare time rather than sitting around. He had confided in a fellow Redemptorist the following in the morning: “I have a peculiar sensation today,” he had said. I’m experiencing sensations I’ve never experienced before. I have to go away for a short work trip, and the fresh air will be really beneficial.
A split second later, he was on the ground.
Upon his death, Bishop Neumann was put to repose in Philadelphia’s Redemptorist Church of St.
His earthly remains, which were dressed in the vestments of his Episcopal office and covered in a cover, were interred under the altar of the cathedral.
A Growing Devotion
Assuming that all had gone according to plan, this would have been the conclusion of the narrative. However, in the case of John Neumann, the ordinary line of events did not proceed in the expected manner. Because of their strong affection for “The Little Bishop,” the people began to make it a point to visit his tomb on a regular basis. What was remarkable was that people prayed to him rather than for him, which was rare. People began to approach him, pleading for favors, recovery from disease, and assistance with their personal issues.
After twenty-five years since his death, an application for the initiation of a cause for his beatification was submitted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1885.
Miracles Begin To Happen
As the long and drawn-out procedure toward Bishop Neumann’s beatification progressed, two miracles that occurred as a consequence of prayers to “The Little Bishop” were recognized by the Catholic Church. The month of May 1923 saw an eleven-year-old girl called Eva Benassi suffering from headaches, stomach pains, and a fever in the northern Italian town of Sassuolo, which is close to the city of Milan. A tubercular peritonitis was determined by her doctor as the cause of her symptoms. Eva’s health deteriorated progressively over time.
- Eva’s school nun planned a healing prayer to Bishop Neumann for her, and a photo of the bishop was placed on her swollen tummy by a nun from the school.
- Kent Lenahan Jr., of Villanova, Pennsylvania, was badly injured in a car accident on July 8, 1949, and died the following day.
- He remained in the hospital for four days in the limbo between life and death.
- His body temperature was 107 degrees, and his pulse rate was fast.
- In a few of hours, his temperature had plummeted to 100 degrees and his pulse had returned to virtually normal.
In a letter to the Catholic Church on October 13, 1963, Pope Paul VI included Bishop Neumann among the celestial Blessed. One more healing was required in order to be declared a saint.
The First American Male Saint
Doctors gave Michael P. Flanigan, of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, six months to live when he was six years old in 1963. He was suffering from Ewing’s sarcoma, a bone cancer that had spread to his legs, mouth, and lungs. It was an incurable disease. His parents took him to the Neumann Shrine at St. Peter’s on a number of different occasions. His pajamas were adorned with a relic of Bishop Neumann, which was put there by his mother. Many miracles have occurred here at St. John Neumann, as I said above.
I am well aware that I will never be able to substantiate my claim, but it is something in which I strongly believe from the bottom of my heart.
I also invite you to bring your concerns to our prayer ministries, to a holy hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and, above all, to the Eucharistic celebrations on weekends, where we may pray for you.