Saint John Neumann's Example of Catholic Community Outreach

Colleen Mallette looks at the results of Saint John Neumann’s accomplishments, observing their parallels to our needs today. 

Saint John Neumann’s feast day is celebrated January 5th (this year it was not observed because it was a Sunday). He was an important figure in American Catholic history, and it is good to re-examine his accomplishments because our country is sorely in need of a similar impact today.  

Neumann's impact 

While he was bishop of Philadelphia in the mid-1800s, John Neumann’s diocese saw incredible growth that influenced others around the country in a positive way. In many parts of our country now, we are also in need of an increase in attendance at Masses and interest in vocations.  

Under Bishop Neumann’s leadership, new parishes were built at the rate of one per month! He established the first diocesan Catholic school system, which grew to over 200 within his eight-year tenure. He also created the Catholic social services and religious congregations.   

These community services added a touch of morality and dignity to the treatment of all people, regardless of financial status. Priests and nuns handled the teaching, nursing, and caregiving of the poor, incarcerated, and homeless, spreading the love and compassion of Christ to all while serving their needs.   

Students were taught the Ten Commandments and received the sacraments in school. Patients in hospitals were given rosaries and taught how to pray in order to be encouraged and strengthened. Homeless shelters provided for basic physical needs while also recognizing emotional needs without judgment. 

What we can learn from Saint John Neumann today  

These charitable qualities are often missing today in our communities, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that anxiety levels are also at their highest. The current mantra of “you do you and I’ll do me” doesn’t give anyone a sense of identity or real relationships. People are struggling to feel noticed and cared for, leaving them without much hope. Daily life can easily be overwhelming and seem purposeless, especially without a belief in a higher power and the truth of eternal life offered with belief in Jesus our Savior.  

By providing basic physical needs, education, and health care with the love of Jesus, Saint John Neumann mapped out a beautiful way to earn people’s trust and then provide a reason to hope. This hope then spreads to others and leads to a more peaceful and joyful community.   

One of Saint John Neumann’s famous quotes shows the positive influence he had in his era:   

Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. God sees every one of us; He creates every soul, for a purpose. (Our Patron - St. John Neumann - Lancaster, PA) 

In what way can you use your talents in a new way to spread the love of Christ to those in your community in 2025?  

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Copyright 2025 Colleen Mallette
Images: Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons