St. John Neumann - Gaithersburg, MD
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Navy72
N 39° 11.647 W 077° 11.156
18S E 311225 N 4340594
Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, C.Ss.R. was a Redemptorist missionary to the United States who became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia (1852–60). He is the only male U.S. citizen to be canonized. (06/2011). Statue is located at entrance to church.
Waymark Code: WMBVFF
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 06/23/2011
Views: 7
St. John Neumann
Feast Day: January 5
Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, C.Ss.R. was a Redemptorist missionary to the United States who became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia (1852–60). He is the only male U.S. citizen to be canonized. (06/2011).
Source of the following description is the website of the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province at the weblink below.
John Neumann was born in Prachatice in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) on March 28, 1811. He studied theology in the seminary of Budweis. Zealous for the missionary life and to lead souls to Christ, he decided to leave his homeland to dedicate himself to the European immigrants in America, who were deprived of spiritual support.
Neumann was ordained a priest by the bishop of New York in June 1836, and gave himself to the pastoral care of people in the vast area around Niagara Falls.
Wanting to live in a religious community that corresponded more to his missionary vocation, in January 1842 he entered the Redemptorists. A tireless missionary, Neumann busied himself in particular with the German immigrants, first in Baltimore, then in Pittsburgh.
Having filled the role of vice-provincial superior of the Redemptorists from 1846-49, he became the parish priest of St. Alphonsus Church in Baltimore. In 1852, at the age of 41, he was named bishop of Philadelphia.
Neumann had a strong effect on the religious life of the United States by founding Catholic schools and promoting devotion to the Eucharist. He founded a new religious institute — the Third Order of Saint Francis of Glen Riddle. The School Sisters of Notre Dame likewise regard Neumann as their secondary founder, their "Father in America." In just seven years, he built 89 churches, as well as several hospitals and orphanages. As a bishop, Neumann was untiring in visiting his vast diocese.
On January 5, 1860, at the age of 49, he died suddenly of a heart attack on a Philadelphia street. Neumann was beatified during the Second Vatican Council on October 13, 1963, and was canonized on June 19, 1977. In the homily on the occasion of Neumann's canonization, Pope Paul VI summarized the activity of the new saint: "He was close to the sick, he loved to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners, and now he is the glory of all emigrants."
St. John Neumann is invoked as a patron of sick children and of immigrants.
The National Shrine of Saint John Neumann is in Philadelphia.
Associated Religion(s): Roman Catholic
Statue Location: St. John Neumann Church, 9000 Warfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Entrance Fee: None
Website: [Web Link]
Artist: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the statue. A waymarker and/or GPSr is not required to be in the image but it doesn't hurt.