Early Life
Neumann was born in Prachatitz, Bohemia, in the Austrian Empire, which is now part of the Czech Republic. He attended school in České Budějovice before entering the seminary there in 1831. Two years later he transferred to the University of Prague, where he studied theology, though he was also interested in astronomy and botany. His goal was to be ordained to the priesthood, and he applied for this after completing his studies in 1835. His bishop, however, had decided that there would be no more ordinations for the time being, as Bohemia had a high number of priests.
Neumann traveled to the United States with the hope of being ordained. He was received by Bishop John Dubois, S.S., into the Diocese of New York, which at that time covered a large territory, including the entire states of New York and New Jersey. He was ordained in June 1836 at what is now the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. After his ordination, the bishop assigned Neumann to work with recent German immigrants in the Niagara Falls area, where there were no established parish churches. He traveled the countryside and visited the sick, taught catechism, and trained teachers to take over when he left. From 1836 until 1840, he served as the founding pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Williamsville, New York.
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