Nicole Patterson talks on Saint John Neumann

Nicole Patterson will be giving a talk tonight at Secular Oratory.  Since our schedule was originally published, Nicole has changed the topic of her presentation; tonight she will be discussing the life of Saint John Neumann (1811-60), the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia.

Born in what is now the Czech Republic, John Nepomucene Neumann spent most of his life serving his fellow immigrants in the United States of America, first as a missionary in upstate New York and then as a Redemptorist priest in Pittsburgh and Baltimore.  When he was appointed Bishop of Philadelphia in 1851, his pastoral zeal, his commitment to education, and, above all, his obvious holiness, made the “little bishop” beloved during his short tenure in the City of Brotherly Love.  His lasting impact on the life of our local Church, where his mortal remains are still enshrined (at the Redemptorist parish of Saint Peter the Apostle at Fifth Street and Girard Avenue) eventually led to his being the first male American citizen to be canonized, in 1977.

Nicole’s talk will follow our regular Scripture sharing, which begins in church at 7:30 pm.  Since St John came from the Pilsen region of Bohemia (indeed, in the Diocese of Budweis), Nicole has graciously offered to provide some of the special refreshments so dear to the pilseners for after the talk.

Hope to see you tonight!