St. John Nuemann

March 28, 1811- January 5, 1860

(Feast Day January 5)

St. John Neumann's Greatest Life Work

The Catholic School Established

Bishop Neumann lays several claims to fame in Philadelphia and the United States. Ever a humble and self-effacing person, he would be the last one to mention it himself, but the records stand. It was he who organized the first diocesan schedule of the Forty Hours' Devotion in America. The credit is likewise his of establishing the first system of parochial schools in various parts of the country when Neumann came to Philadelphia -- but the first unified system of Catholic schools under a diocesan board. This he did in may of 1852, a fortnight before the Plenary Council at Baltimore which seconded his proposals.

 

HOW  HE CAME TO AMERICA

Coming from Bolivia (now part of the Czech Republic) St John Neumann came to New York and was ordained within 16 days of his coming. He walked most of the way to France and the boarded a boat to Europe. when he got to New York he looked for a priest or bishop to ordain him. After he was ordained he was sent to buffalo, New York there a priest offered him the county or a small town that didn't have a finished church.

Fun Facts

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