THREAD; John Nepomucene Neumann. Born in Europe to German/Czech parents, John Nepomucene was named after the patron saint of Bohemia and was destined to enter the church. #Catholic 
1/ The Austro-Hungarian government suspended ordinations, however, so in 1836, John emigrated to the United States in order to undertake missionary work.
2/ He was ordained within three weeks of arriving Manhattan and joined the Redemptorist Order - the first American priest to do so - in 1842, meanwhile preaching to fellow immigrants in New York State, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
3/ He was known for his frugality and owned only one pair of boots during his years in America. John was naturalised in 1848 and appointed bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. At the time Philadelphia had a large and expanding Catholic immigrant population.
4/ Under his tenure a massive program of building was inaugurated, resulting in the completion of Baltimore's cathedral and the creation of almost 100 churches and 80 schools in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
5/ New parish churches were being completed at a rate of something like one per month. (picture below - the remains of Saint John Neumann at the national shrines of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia. The site is one of the most important Catholic heritage sites in the city)
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