St John Neumann

John Nepomucene Neumann was born in Bohemia and emigrated to the United States, where he was ordained in New York in 1836. He joined the Redemptorists — the first to profess vows in the congregation in America — and ministered to German-speaking immigrants.

Consecrated fourth Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852, he organized the diocese's parochial school system and built scores of churches. Canonized in 1977, he is the first American man and first American bishop to be declared a saint.