By Catholic Review Staff
St. John Neumann in Annapolis will host a one-man play Nov. 11 focused on the life of Blessed Francis X. Seelos. Written and performed by Casey Groves, “Seelos: Doctor of Souls” will be directed by Jesuit Father George Drance.
Ordained a Redemptorist priest at the now-closed St. James parish in Baltimore in 1844, Blessed Seelos ministered in Pittsburgh before being assigned pastor of St. Alphonsus in Baltimore in 1854. While at St. Alphonsus, Blessed Seelos also ministered at St. James and St. Michael in Baltimore. He laid the cornerstone for St. Joseph in Fullerton.
Blessed Seelos became pastor of St. Mary in Annapolis and novice master for Redemptorist seminarians in 1857, and two months later he became pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland and director of the Redemptorist seminary at the parish.
Known for his intense prayer life and cheerful holiness, Blessed Seelos died in New Orleans at age 48 while ministering to victims of a yellow fever epidemic. His canonization cause is now under consideration in Rome.
The play will begin at 6:30 p.m. at St. John Neumann, a mission of St. Mary, Annapolis. Support and funding is being provided by the Seelos Center of New Orleans. Free will offerings will be accepted.