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In 1799, the archbishop founded the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, under the direction of the Sisters of the Visitation. Both the school and the convent are still active more than 200 years later in the heart of Washington, DC.

In 1799, the archbishop founded the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, under the direction of the Sisters of the Visitation. Both the school and the convent are still active more than 200 years later in the heart of Washington, DC.

A story that has come down through the years is that in the early morning hours of December 14, 1799 Father Neale was called to Mount Vernon from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River to give former President George Washington his last rites.<ref>''The Denver Register'', February 24, 1957</ref> Although Washington was an [[Episcopalian]] he had for years shown an interest in Roman Catholicism and is said to have had a death bed conversion to that faith being baptized by Father Neale. Although some Protestants and Freemasons argue against this story there is further evidence in the inventory of Washington's effects which included a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of St. John.<ref>[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=full%20text;idno=abt5709.0001.001;didno=ABT5709.0001.001;view=image;seq=291;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset Washington's Inventory]</ref> <ref>The Denver Register, May 11, 1952</ref>  

A story that has come down through the years is that in the early morning hours of December 14, 1799 Father Neale was called to Mount Vernon from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River to give former President George Washington his last rites.<ref>''The National Catholic Register'', February 24, 1957</ref> Although Washington was an [[Episcopalianeath bed conversion to that faith being baptized by Father Neale. Although some Protestants and Freemasons argue against this story there is further evidence in the inventory of Washington's effects which included a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of St. John.<ref>[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=full%20text;idno=abt5709.0001.001;didno=ABT5709.0001.001;view=image;seq=291;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset Washington's Inventory]</ref> <ref>''The National Catholic Register'', May 11, 1952</ref>  

In 1809, his brother, [[Francis Neale]], became president of [[Georgetown University|Georgetown College]].

In 1809, his brother, [[Francis Neale]], became president of [[Georgetown University|Georgetown College]].]] he had for years shown an interest in Roman Catholicism and is said to have had a d

Neale served as spiritual director until his naming into the archbishopal role following John Carroll as archbishop of [[Baltimore]] from December 3, 1815 to June 18, 1817. During his reign as an archbishop, he presided St. Mary's Catholic church's operations and decided upon his decision that the French priest Joseph Clorivière was to serve office in the church. This wasn't welcomed by Irishman [[John O'Raw]] and this nominee refusal was met with the [[Charleston schism]] (1815-1819).

Neale served as spiritual director until his naming into the archbishopal role following John Carroll as archbishop of [[Baltimore]] from December 3, 1815 to June 18, 1817. During his reign as an archbishop, he presided St. Mary's Catholic church's operations and decided upon his decision that the French priest Joseph Clorivière was to serve office in the church. This wasn't welcomed by Irishman [[John O'Raw]] and this nominee refusal was met with the [[Charleston schism]] (1815-1819).