St. John Neumann, January 5
A Bohemian immigrant ordained in New York in 1836, John Neumann became a Redemptorist and bishop of Philadelphia. He organized the first diocesan Catholic school system in the country and built dozens of churches. He died on a Philadelphia street in 1860 and was canonized in 1977.
On the U.S. liturgical calendar, January 5 is a memorial: Saint John Neumann, bishop.
Other saints on January 5
- St. Simeon Stylites, hermit (459)
Name days on January 5
In countries that keep name days, January 5 is the day for people named John.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| John | December 27 |
January 5 on the calendar
January 5 is the 5th day of the year, with 360 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping January 5
January 5 falls in the Christmas season. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named John, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around January 5
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| January 2 | Sts. Basil and Gregory |
| January 3 | Most Holy Name of Jesus |
| January 4 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton |
| January 6 | St. André Bessette |
| January 7 | St. Raymond of Penyafort |
| January 8 | St. Severinus of Noricum |
The day before, January 4, is the day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The day after, January 6, belongs to St. André Bessette. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.