Bohemia missed their chance

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. John Neumann When: 1811-1860 Where: Born in Bohemia, but worked in United States What: Redemptorist missionary and bishop of Philadelphia Feast: Jan. 5 Canonized: 1977

Have you ever wanted to do something that you knew you'd be good at, but had a hard time finding someone who would give you a chance to prove yourself? Have you then ever gone on to be not only "good" at it, but better than many others?

If you have, St. John Neumann (pronounced "noy mun") could well be your patron saint.

John was born March 28, 1811, at Prachitz, Bohemia, the third of six children of Philip and Agnes Neumann. In 1831, he realized a longtime dream by entering the seminary. But there were too many priests in Bohemia and the bishop refused to ordain him.

So, in 1836, he came to the United States and was ordained for the Diocese of New York. For the next four years, he was a missionary, working mainly among German-speaking Catholics in upstate New York.

By 1840, the Redemptorists had started a branch in Pittsburgh and, in 1842, he became the first Redemptorist to make vows in the U.S. He expanded his missionary activities to include Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In 1844, he became the rector at St. Philomena in Pittsburgh and, in 1847, became vice regent and superior of the American Redemptorists.

In 1852, Neumann became the fourth bishop of Philadelphia. He undertook his new position with great vigor, reorganizing the diocese, starting parishes, building churches - including the cathedral - and opening Catholic schools, to which he attracted numerous orders of teaching brothers and sisters.

He was an especially strong advocate of Catholic schools - enrollment in the schools in his diocese increased twenty-fold under him - so it's fitting that his feast day occurs during the month that we celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

John was a prolific writer. His works include numerous newspaper articles - many of them written anonymously - and two catechisms, which the U.S. bishops endorsed in 1852 at their first Plenary Council. His catechisms were used for the next 35 years in Catholics schools.

Bp. Neumann also introduced to the U.S. the practice of 40 Hours devotion before the Blessed Sacrament.

He also was known for his sanctity and his frugality. He had only one pair of shoes, which were worn out, and he went for years without buying a new suit.

Neumann is among the few saints who served in the United States. And to think that his native Bohemia could not find a use for his talents.