St. John Neumann returns to New York City

The relics of St. John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and the first male American saint, spent a weekend in New York City June 24-26. The visit to the Basilica of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral coincided with a 40 Hours celebration to mark the saint’s 200th birthday. Neumann is credited with establishing this Eucharistic devotion in the United States.

In addition to celebrating his birthday, the weekend also happened to be the 175th anniversary of Neumann’s ordination to the priesthood, which took place at Old St. Patrick’s on June 25, 1836. Redemptorist Fr. Matthew Allman preached at the Masses during the weekend, and the closing Mass on Sunday (which also celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi) ended with a Eucharistic procession through the cathedral.