Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. (1819-1867)

Born in Bavaria, he was studying for the diocesan priesthood when he encountered the Redemptorists and joined them. The Redemptorists were walking primarily with the German community in the United States, and in 1843 he arrived in New York. Ordained in Baltimore in 1844, he worked in Pittsburgh with St. John Neumann, future Bishop of Philadelphia. His availability and innate kindness in understanding and responding to the needs of the faithful, quickly made him well known as an expert confessor and spiritual director. After nine years in Pittsburgh, he served in Baltimore, Cumberland and Annapolis, all the while engaged in parish ministry and serving in the formation of future Redemptorists From 1863 until 1866 he dedicated himself to the life of an itinerant missionary, preaching in English and German. After a brief period of parish ministry in Detroit, Michigan, he was assigned in 1866 to New Orleans as pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption. He was joyously available to his faithful and singularly concerned for the poorest and the most abandoned. In September 1867, exhausted from visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever, he contracted the dreaded disease. He died on October 4, 1867. Pope John Paul II beatified Father Seelos in 2000. For more on Seelos check out this link at Youtube:

(From the Seelos.org website)