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Our memorial today is for St. John Neumann. He was born in the Czech Republic in 1811 and after going thru seminary he found that his diocese did not need any more priests. He immigrated to the US when he was 25 and was ordained a priest in New York. Since he spoke several languages, he was very popular with the expanding Catholic immigrant population.

 
St. John was appointed Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852 during a difficult time. Since jobs were scarce, waves of Catholic immigrants into Philadelphia brought discrimination and anti-Catholic riots. During St. John’s administration, several new parish churches were built every year. Most immigrants settled in closed communities centered around these churches with speakers of the same language. The need for Catholic education was unprecedented and St. John was the first bishop in the country to organize a diocesan school system. The number of parochial schools grew tremendously and in response, St. John invited religious orders to move to his diocese to help. This model for Catholic education became widespread and it’s influence remains with us today.
 
In light of our Gospel today, we can wonder if St. John’s challenges with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia made him feel like the disciples did when Jesus told them, “Give them some food yourselves.”  Shepherding and educating his diverse and rapidly expanding diocese may have seemed like feeding 5000 with 5x loaves and 2x fish.
 
One of the commentaries suggested that when Jesus gave the disciples a seemingly impossible challenge, He was awakening their faith. He was calling for the disciples’ active participation in His divine work of providing for the needs of the people.
 
It’s significant that Jesus asks the disciples “How many loaves do you have?  Go and see.” He insists on beginning with what they have to offer. He takes what is offered and does incredible things with it.
 
It can be the same for us. If we  offer up our time, talent or treasure, we can ask, and expect, God to multiply it beyond our wildest imagination.
 
As we reflect on the needs of those around us, let us ask for the intercession of St. John Neumann to awaken our faith and help us to know what we are being called to offer up today.