North American Redemptorist saints, blesseds, and early pioneers

On June 20, 1832, a few months shy of the Congregation’s 100th birthday, six Redemptorist pioneers from Austria landed in America. They came to work among the isolated German immigrants in western Ohio and the Native Americans in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Arbre Croche, Michigan.

Despite their passionate zeal for bringing the Gospel to the Indians, the confreres soon discovered that the transient nature of their flock made community living difficult. To preserve this hallmark of Redemptorist life, the missionaries soon took on more stable work at the parish level, establishing and nurturing communities of German­-speaking immigrants in big eastern industrial cities such as Pittsburgh, New York,  Rochester, Buffalo, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R., 1811—1860 (January 5)

Bohemian-born John Nepomucene Neumann was ordained in 1836 for the diocese of New York.

Desiring community support, he became a Redemptorist in 1842. Five years later he was appointed superior of all Redemptorists in America. Then in 1852 the Holy Father named him bishop of Philadelphia. He founded the parochial school system in the United States; promoted the Forty Hours Devotion; and authored several catechisms for German immigrant children. He died suddenly on the streets of Philadelphia in 1860. He was only 48 years old. Daily duties performed faithfully and well made him a saint. He was canonized in 1977. Cures are numerous at his tomb in Philadelphia.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. 1819—1867 (October 5)

Francis Seelos came to America from Germany as a Redemptorist novice at 23 with a desire to help abandoned German immigrants. Ordained in 1844, he was a parish priest in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cumberland, Annapolis, Detroit, and New Orleans. In 1860 he averted being appointed bishop of  Pittsburgh by telling the pope how unqualified he was. He was a kindly parish priest, a compassionate confessor and spiritual guide, a prudent seminary professor and director, and an itinerant mission preacher. He died in New Orleans during the 1867 yellow fever epidemic, having contracted the disease while ministering to the sick. He was beatified in 2000.

The national shrine of Blessed Francis Seelos is in the Church of St.Mary’s Assumption, New Orleans, Louisiana.
 

Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, C.Ss.R., 1903—1973 (June 27/28)

Vasyl Velychkovsky was born in Stanislaviv, Western Ukraine, in 1903. He studied at the seminary in Lviv and was ordained a deacon in 1923. He entered the Redemptorists as a deacon, professed vows in 1925, and was soon ordained a priest. After teaching at the preparatory seminary in Zboisk, Vasyl worked as a missionary for the next 20 years in rural Ukraine. He was arrested in 1945 and condemned to death, but the death sentence was commuted to 10 years’ imprisonment

In 1963 in a hotel room in Moscow, USSR, Velchkovsky was consecrated a bishop by Metropolitan Joseph Slipyj and became the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Arrested once more in 1969, he spent three years in prison  In the spring of 1972, near death, he was exiled from Ukraine. He died in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1973 as a result of a slow-acting poison that had been administered before his release.

The shrine of Blessed Vasyl Velychovsky is in St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Venerable Alfred Pampalon, C.Ss.R. 1867 —1895 (September 30)

Alfred Pampalon was born November 24, 1867, in Levis, near Quebec City, Canada.  He was one of eight children, and when he was 5 his mother died. Although somewhat frail, Alfred was an excellent athlete. As a student he was devout, prayerful, and helpful. Alfred felt a desire to devote his life to God’s service. It seems his decision to join the Redemptorists came after a serious illness in 1885. During his years of formation and study in Belgium  his classmates dubbed him “the Lamb of God,” a testimony to his piety and gentleness. He was ordained in 1892.

Alfred contracted tuberculosis and in 1895 returned to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre in Canada. He was renowned as a confessor and spiritual director, especially among the poor. He died on September 30, 1895, at the age of 28. His heroic virtues were officially acknowledged by John Paul II on May 14, 1991. Devotion to him as a patron of alcoholics and drug addicts is growing.

Venerable Alfred Pampalon is buried in the lower chapel of the Basilica of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre, Quebec, Canada.

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Venerable Joseph Passerat, C.Ss.R. 1772 —1858

Joseph Passerat was born in Joinville, France, in 1772. He served as a drum major and Quartermaster in Napoleon’s army until one day he skipped into Germany. His quest for the priesthood led him to Warsaw, where under the direction of St. Clement, he entered the Redemptorists. For 20 years Clement used Passerat in his plans for expansion and chose him to succeed him as vicar general of all the Redemptorists in northern Europe.

Passerat sent the first six Redemptorists to the United States in 1832 and for 28 years, fostered the American Mission. St. Clement called him the Great Pray-er, a legacy that he has stamped upon the New World Redemptorists. His cause for canonization is progressing in Rome.