Bishop (1811-1860)
His life
+ John Nepomucene Neumann was born in Bohemia. He had a great desire to serve a priest in the missions of America and, after completing his studies in Europe, he came to the United States and was ordained a priest in New York City in 1836.
+ After realizing his need for life in community, he entered the Redemptorists and, in 1842, became the first person to profess vows as a Redemptorist in the United States; he was later to serve as superior of the American province.
+ In 1852, Neumann was appointed bishop of Philadelphia. He encouraged the establishment of parochial schools, built nearly 80 churches, and founded several communities of sisters. Today the communities of religious sisters established by Bishop Neumann have joined together and are known as the “Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.”
+ Bishop Neumann was especially interested in finding ways to meet the needs of the many immigrants pouring into the United States, and he was the first bishop in the country to promote the Forty Hours Devotion in his diocese.
+ Saint John Neumann died in 1860 and was canonized in 1977.
Spiritual bonus
On this day, we also remember
For prayer and reflection
“Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work… He has an end for each of us; we are all equal in His sight, and we are placed in our different ranks and stations, not to get what we can out of them for ourselves, but to labor in them for Him.”—Saint John Neumann
Vocations
To learn more about the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, click here.
Spiritual bonus
On January 5 we also remember Saint Syncletica of Alexandria. Born into a wealthy family in Alexandria, Egypt, she left behind the cares of the world and dedicated herself to God as a hermit. Saint Syncletica was known for her holiness and wisdom and nearly 30 sayings attributed to her are included in the various collections of Apopthegmata Patrum(“Sayings of the Desert Fathers”). She died around the year 350 and her memory is celebrated in both the Eastern and Western Churches.
Prayer
O God, who called the Bishop Saint John Neumann,
renowned for his charity and pastoral service,
to shepherd your people in America,
grant by his intercession
that as we foster the Christian education of youth
and are strengthened by the witness of brotherly love,
we may constantly increase the family of your Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Prayer from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...