St. John Henry Newman

John Henry Newman was born in 1801 in London. He became an Anglican priest and an influential Oxford scholar and preacher. His study of the early Church, combined with a long examination of his own convictions, led him to be received into the Catholic Church on October 9, 1845.

Newman was ordained a Catholic priest, founded an Oratory in England and wrote on conscience, faith, education and the development of doctrine. His conversion cost him friendships and standing, yet his writing remained attentive to honest inquiry. He became a cardinal in 1879 and died in 1890.

His October 9 observance marks his reception into the Catholic Church, not his death. The U.S. calendar was updated to include his optional memorial for 2026. A figure of particular interest to students and educators, Newman invites prayer for an informed conscience and the courage to follow truth where it leads. St. John Henry Newman, pray for us!