When St. John Nepomucene Neumann set out to begin his ministry, he had little money and few connections. He was an immigrant from Bohemia* and had yet to be ordained as a priest. But over the course of his work in the United States, he went on to become the bishop of the largest diocese in the country and make historic strides in education.
As we celebrate his Memorial on January 5, we invite you to discover five facts about his life, how he made history, and where you can find him portrayed in the Basilica.
1. Initially, John sought to be a priest in his own country, but none of the dioceses there would ordain him because they already had too many priests.
From an early age, John Nepomucene Neumann had a keen sense of a higher calling to the priesthood. This motivated him to be a diligent student, enrolling at a diocesan seminary and later at a university in Prague to study theology.
However, at the conclusion of his studies, John found himself faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle: Bohemia already had plenty of priests, and none of the dioceses in his native land would ordain him. Seeking an alternative, he applied to dioceses in the United States, but received no response.
2. He sailed across the ocean with only $40 in his pocket.
John was not easily deterred; taking a leap of faith, he sailed across the ocean with only $40 in his pocket and arrived in New York City in 1836. Only a month later, he was ordained and spent four years working with German immigrants in Buffalo. Though John felt the work was meaningful, he found his life to be lonely and difficult. Longing for a greater spiritual community, he joined the Redemptorists and continued his ministry up and down the East Coast. Throughout his ministry, he always put others’ needs before his own, living so frugally that he only owned one pair of boots for the duration of his time in the U.S.!
3. He was “the first ecclesiastic to organize a diocesan school system in the United States.”
John’s hard work was recognized in 1852, when he was appointed bishop of Philadelphia. In this beautiful American city, he dedicated himself to the oversight of building schools, churches, and a cathedral. He was particularly committed to offering educational opportunities to immigrant children. In his opinion, doing so could not only strengthen their commitment to the faith, but it could also equip them to flourish in society. Over the course of his episcopate, the number of parochial schools in Philadelphia had grown from just one to 200!
4. The American hierarchy approved two catechisms written by John in 1852.
Whether he was founding churches and schools, or writing his catechism or articles in newspapers, John impacted the lives of thousands of Americans. In the years that followed, his two catechisms became standard texts.
5. He was the first male American citizen to be canonized.
In 1860, he passed away after suffering from a stroke in Philadelphia and was canonized in 1977. Today, he is known as the patron of immigrants and sick children.
In the Basilica, you can find St. John Nepomucene Neumann honored in Memorial Hall, the Our Lady of Holy Hostýn Chapel, the Second Coming mosaic, the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel, the southeast nave clerestory window, and the Trinity Dome mosaic.
Sources:
“Saint John Neumann,” Britannica.
“St. John N. Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia, United States,” Vatican News.
The Way of Saints, Tom Cowan.
*Note: Today, Bohemia is known as the Czech Republic.
