John Neumann was born in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) on March 28, 1811. Since he had a great desire to dedicate himself to the American missions, he came to the United States as a cleric and was ordained in New York in 1836 by Bishop Dubois. In 1840, he entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). He labored in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1852, he was consecrated bishop of Philadelphia. As a bishop he worked hard for the establishment of parish schools and for the erection of many parishes for the numerous immigrants. Bishop Neumann died on January 5, 1860. He was beatified in 1963 and canonized in 1977. He was the first man to profess his vows as a Redemptorist in North America.
For more information
To learn more about St. John Neumann, visit the website for the National Shrine of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia.
For a good biography of St. John Neumann, along with a collection of his own writings, check out Saint John Neumann: His Writings and Spirituality, by Richard Boever, CSsR.