John Neumann was born in Bohemia on 20 March 1811. Since he had a great desire to dedicate himself to the American missions, he came to the United States as a cleric and was ordained in New York in 1836 by Bishop Dubois. In 1840 he entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He served in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1852 he was consecrated bishop of Philadelphia. There he worked hard for the establishment of parish schools and for the erection of many parishes for the numerous immigrants. Bishop Neumann died on 5 Jan 1860. He was declared venerable by Pope Benedict XV in 1921. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council on 13 October 1963, and was canonised by that same pope on 19 June 1977. – Catholic Online