The Catholic Standard and Times

Father Moley: Safeguarding the legacy of Philly’s bishop-saint

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE
CS&T Staff Writer

Redemptorist Father Kevin J. Moley, who last summer became pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, said he could not have received a better appointment.

“I was sent to a parish where one of my confreres is a saint, a Redemptorist, a wonderful missionary, a beautiful example of what it means to give your life totally to God.”

St. Peter the Apostle Church, Fifth Street and Girard Avenue, is the site of the National Shrine of St. John Neumann. A native of Bohemia, John Neumann was Philadelphia’s fourth bishop and its first saint, and the United States’ first male saint.

“Every day I am learning something new about this great bishop, Redemptorist and servant of the Lord and His people,” the 62-year-old Father Moley said.

Father Moley considers it a privilege to be stationed at the parish and shrine, and “to be part of all the stories and blessings of this great Redemptorist saint of God.” Among those stories, he said, was one that involved a truck driver who stopped by the church and shrine: The man told Father Moley he had been in a coma for three years; then a family member placed a medal on him, on the day before St. John Neumann’s Jan. 5 feast day — and on the feast day, he came out of his coma.

“He told me that he was riding by the church and shrine, and saw the name of St. John Neumann, and decided to stop in to thank the saint,” Father Moley said.

“I told him that I was talking to St. John Neumann in the morning, and St. John Neumann said to me. ‘Have you seen that truck driver whom I helped to come out of a coma?’ The man laughed, and said, ‘He probably did say that to you. Well, here I am.’”

St. John Neumann had no ambitions to be a bishop, according to Father Moley: “He only wanted to serve God as a Missionary Redemptorist, and to serve God’s people. I am totally amazed that a man who served as bishop for only eight years could build 80 churches and 40 schools. I built two chapels in Puerto Rico, and it took me two years to do that.

“St. John Neumann loved the immigrants of the United States so much that he learned eight languages to serve them,” Father Moley added. “That is extraordinary for me, as I know two languages, and it took me many years to do that.”

The beloved saint also established the Forty Hours devotion to the Eucharist in Philadelphia.

“St. John Neumann, knowing that St. Alphonsus, the founder of the Redemptorists, had tremendous devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, wanted to make sure that tradition was kept,” Father Moley said. “The Forty Hours was his way of saying, ‘If we are to be Christians, if we are to be Catholics, we have to have a deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.’ The Eucharist meant so much to St. John Neumann.

“As a Redemptorist, I really believe devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is essential in our Catholic faith, our Catholic belief,” Father Moley continued. “Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament teaches us to be a reflection of Jesus Christ to others, and to see in others the reflection of Jesus Christ.”

St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia on March 28, 1811, ordained a priest in 1836, and became a Redemptorist in 1842. He served as bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1852 to 1860. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI on June 19, 1977.

The step where he collapsed before his death at age 48, on Jan. 5, 1860, near 13th and Vine Streets, is displayed in the shrine museum.

Pilgrims from the United States, Canada and points around the globe travel to the shrine. “Some people may come out of curiosity, but the majority come because they know that this is a holy place and sacred ground, and that this man of God centered his whole life on God and His people,” Father Moley said.

St. John Neumann was a small man — he measured a mere 5'2"— Father Moley said: “He wasn’t the best dressed man in Philadelphia. His English had a strong Bohemian accent. But he was a powerful instrument of God.

“He worked himself to exhaustion many times in his life, but he did it for the honor and glory of God,” Father Moley said. “It is very hard for me, as pastor, to tell St. John Neumann that I am tired, because he always tells me that I have done nothing so far.

“I am honored to be here, to learn from him, to be made pastor by Cardinal Rigali, who has a strong love and devotion to St. John Neumann. I am blessed that my religious superiors, Father Patrick Woods, provincial of the congregation, and his Council, have offered me this wonderful home, church and shrine,” Father Moley added.

“The people of this Church of St. Peter and Shrine of St. John Neumann are a joy to work for and with.”

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Father Moley has been a priest for 35 years. He worked for 26 years in Puerto Rico, and for more than 18 years, he has been a pastor at various parishes. He was major superior of the Redemptorists of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic from 1990 to 1996, as well as major superior of the Baltimore-New York Province from 2002 to 2005.

“I am happy to be a pastor and priest again in a parish, and thank God for His wonderful kindnesses to me, His love, goodness, mercy and generosity,” Father Moley said.

“I thank God for all the wonderful people I have met, served and loved, and who have loved me. “

For more information, call St. Peter the Apostle Parish at (215) 627-2386 or the National Shrine of St. John Neumann at (215) 627-3080. Access the shrine Web site at www.stjohnneumann.org.

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.