John Neumann
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| Saint John Neumann | |
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| Little Bishop of Philadelphia | |
| Born | March 28, 1811, Prachatice, Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) |
| Died | January 5, 1860, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | October 13, 1963, Rome, Italy by Pope Paul VI |
| Canonized | June 19, 1977 by Pope Paul VI |
| Major shrine | National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Feast | January 5 |
 Saints Portal |
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Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, Johannes Nepomuk Neumann, or Jan Nepomuk Neumann (properly pronounced "Noi-man" as opposed to "New-man") (March 28, 1811 – January 5, 1860) was the first American bishop to be canonized.
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[edit] His Early Life
Neumann was born in Prachatice, Bohemia and 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 was interested in astronomy and botany. 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.
Neumann, who spoke six languages, then wrote to other bishops in Europe, but they all replied that they also had too many 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 a professional wrestler before he was ordained a priest. He only retired because of a leg injury.
[edit] To the New World
Neumann moved to New York with very little money and was ordained in June 1836 for the diocese of New York. He was assigned to mission churches near Buffalo, New York to the German-speaking people to visit the sick, teach catechism and train teachers to take over when he left. His life was busy and became lonely. So he applied to the Redemptorists. In January 1842, he took his vows in Baltimore, Maryland and became the first Redemptorist of the New World. Neumann was naturalized in Baltimore on February 10, 1848.
In March 1852, Neumann was consecrated in Baltimore, as Bishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 wasn't a very popular bishop and received lots of criticism. He had to deal with the Know Nothings, a politcal group determined to deprive foreigners and Catholics of their civil rights. They even burned down convents and schools. He was so discouraged that he wrote to Rome and asked for someone else to take his place. But they told him to keep his job and he did.
He wrote in many Catholic newspaper and magazine articles. He also published 2 catechisms and a Bible history in German. There were also many teaching orders brought in by him.
In 1860, Neumann died due to a stroke at the age of 48 while walking down a street in Philadelphia. After his death people began to talk of how great he was.
[edit] Sainthood
He was beatified by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council on October 13, 1963. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI on June 19, 1977. His feast day is January 5.
His remains are on display in a glass enclosed altar in the lower church of St. Peter the Apostle at 5th and Girard Streets in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia.
[edit] Catholic Parishes Named for St. John Neumann
Staten Island, New York Austin, Texas * Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania * Canton, Michigan * Charlotte, North Carolina * Columbia, South Carolina * Cooper Landing, Alaska * Eagan, Minnesota * Farragut, Tennessee * Freetown, Maine * Gaithersburg, Maryland * Irvine, California * Lancaster, Pennsylvania * Las Vegas, Nevada * Lilburn, Georgia * Lubbock, Texas * Merrimack, New Hampshire * Miami, Florida * Mount Laurel, New Jersey * National Shrine at Parish of St. Peter the Apostle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania * Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania * Strongsville, Ohio * St. Charles, Illinois * Santa Maria, California * Reston, Virginia * Waukesha, Wisconsin
[edit] Honoring his memory
- A Franciscan college in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Our Lady of Angels College, located in Aston Township, Pennsylvania, was renamed as Neumann College after his beatification.
- South Catholic High School, an all boys secondary school in Philadelphia was renamed to honor Bishop John Neumann. The school's name was subsequently changed upon his beatification and finally his elevation to Sainthood. Recently the all boys school merged with the all girls school, St. Maria Goretti. The present co-ed school is named Sts. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School in order to honor both Patrons.
- St. John Neumann has a residence hall named in his honor at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA.
- The pre-theologate residence for the Archdiocese of New York (where students for the priesthood live and study while pursuing bachelor's degrees at nearby universities or while studying philosophy if they already have such a degree, and prepare for entrance into the graduate program of St. Joseph's Seminary prior to ordination) has been called the St. John Neumann Residence since 1977, although it has changed locations twice.
- A small church was erected in 1975 in Franklin Park, Pennsylvania to honor Neumann. In 2005 the church underwent extensive renovations for its growing populations. It is called St. John Neumann Catholic Parish.
- St. John Neumann is the name of a Catholic Parish in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- St. John Neumann has a pair of Catholic Schools named in his honor in Slatington, PA (Grades K-3) ande Palmerton, PA (Grades 4-8)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Francis Patrick Kenrick Bishop of Philadelphia |
Bishop of Philadelphia 1852–1860 |
Succeeded by James Frederick Bryan Wood Archbishop of Philadelphia |
