Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York named a basilica

The cathedral where St. John Neumann was ordained to the priesthood — Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan — was named a basilica this week. The pre-cursor to the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue is one of only 68 basilicas in the United States.

Click here to view video of the basilica proclamation.

In 2011, the Redemptorists celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. John Neumann, who immigrated from his native Czech Republic to become a missionary in the U.S. He arrived in New York City in 1836.