By Jay Sorgi • Posted October 30, 2026

It’s certain that neither St. John Neumann nor St. Maria Goretti stood even six feet tall, but an eight-foot-tall likeness of Philadelphia’s saintly bishop who started the Catholic school system in the United States has joined his saintly counterpart at the archdiocesan school that bears their name.

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez blessed the new statue of St. John Neumann Tuesday evening, Oct. 27 in the new memorial prayer garden outside SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School, which faces Moore Street alongside South 10th Street in South Philadelphia.

The new statue stands by one of St. Maria Goretti that has been a landmark for decades in the East Passyunk neighborhood.

The Millay Club, the alumni group of Neumann Goretti High School and its predecessor Catholic high schools, raised the money to create the statue through a pair of anonymous donors.

“It is a very commanding sight, especially at night when it’s all illuminated with a big spotlight, and we can’t be more proud of it,” said Millay Club Board Member Patricia Coggins ’68.

The statue stands at the school near fundraising bricks with the names of many alumni and supporters, through the Millay Club’s Buy-a-Brick campaign.

The statue itself represents a link for alumni of Southeast Catholic High School, which began in 1934 at the corner of South Seventh and Christian streets; Bishop John Neumann High School which moved to South 26th and Moore streets in 1957; and St. John Neumann High School in 1977 which adopted its name following Neumann’s canonization.

“There was a gentleman saying how beautiful it was. He was a graduate of Bishop Neumann (in) 1964,” Coggins said. “He’s in the neighborhood, and he loves seeing the statue.”

Neumann for boys and Goretti for girls combined into one high school in 2004 at the South 10th and Moore location which has stood since 1955.

“I hope the men feel that when they see the St. John Neumann statue, they feel that this is their school now,” said Linda Crusco ’71, the president of the Millay Club Board of Directors. “By seeing the St. John Neumann statue, I (hope) they feel that now we are one.”

Inspiration for the brick campaign and the subsequent statue, according to Coggins, came from both the nearby Epiphany of Our Lord Parish at South 11th and Jackson streets, and a moment at a stop sign at the corner of South Third Street and Snyder Avenue.

Coggins recalled how Father James Casey, pastor of her home parish of Epiphany, had created a memorial garden in front of the rectory.

“I happened to look to the left and saw the Woodland String Band (building) with all the bricks on their wall, and I thought, ‘Maybe this would be a good idea for us because we have all this space,’” Coggins said. “It’s been a process. It’s been a little over a year, but it finally came to fruition.”

The unveiling of St. John Neumann’s statue comes at a major milestones for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The 2026-27 academic year represents the 175th anniversary since the saintly fourth bishop of Philadelphia founded Philadelphia’s Catholic school system in 1852. Next year also presents the 50th anniversary of his canonization.

“I think I speak for all of us (that) the statue represents the height of his goodness and holiness,” said Millay Club Board Member Elizabeth Ridolfo Farley ’67. “I am just overwhelmed by the beauty of these two statues being finally joined together.”

She said that she felt for Bishop Neumann and St. John Neumann high school graduates who gave up their school location when their school and St. Maria Goretti High School merged in 2004.

“The fact that the school did not have St. John Neumann represented prior to now (and) that St. John Neumann is now there standing where he rightfully belongs, my heart overflows with happiness to see them both together,” Farley said.

Watching this process happen has made Neumann Goretti President Tim Cairy pause to recognize the fierce loyalty the alumni at the Millay Club have for keeping Neumann Goretti High School thriving.

He believes the statue’s installation teaches a lesson to the school’s current students and far beyond about the importance of making a difference in one’s community, particularly when it is centered in their Catholic faith.

“I hope this inspires future generations to give back (to) their community,” he said. “Hopefully it inspires our students, our faculty, the South Philadelphia community to see the generosity, the seed of hard work. (These) are volunteers These aren’t people who are paid to do this giving back to something they love and care for. That’s the most important thing, (that) we give back in a sense of service to the next generation.”

Eileen Kelly-Kazelskis ’67, a board member of the Millay Club, believes the new statue of St. John Neumann will help cement the school’s permanence in South Philly as a beloved anchor of the Catholic faith in that section of the city.

“It’s the only Catholic high school in South Philadelphia,” she said, “and I almost feel like the two statues coming together now (are) saying, ‘We’re here to stay.’”