Birthplace: Parzham Bavaria
Date of Birth and Death: 1818-1894
Feast Day: April 21st
Notable: Capuchin Lay Brother
Life:Born as Johann Birndorfer, the youngest of nine children, he grew up in a pious loving environment on a farm. He frequently sought silence and solitude to worship.
In his mid-teens, his parents died leaving him the farm and thereon led a life [...]
Birthplace: Poitiers France
Date of Birth and Death: 300-368
Feast Day: January 14th
Notable: Patron of Children with Learning Disabilities
Life:
At the time of St. Hilary’s birth, the Church was just becoming established as Emperor Constantine legalised Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. Born of rich, pagan parents, he was intrigued by the Scriptures and decided to learn more about [...]
Birthplace: Italy
Date of Birth and Death: 1225 - 1274
Feast Day: January 28th
Notable: Patron of Catholic Schools and Students
Life:
St. Thomas Aquinas was born in southern Italy around 1225. He was of noble descent and educated at the best schools. At the University of Naples, he showed exceptional ability in speech and logic. Influenced by the [...]
Birthplace: Dalmatia (modern day Croatia)
Date of Birth and Death: 345-420
Feast Day: September 30th
Notable: Patron of Librarians and Scholars
Life:
Jerome was born around 345 in Dalmatia. He was an avid student studying Latin and Greek in Rome where he was baptized at the age of 18. From Rome he travelled to Gaul, back to Italy and then [...]
Birthplace: Siena Italy
Date of Birth and Death: 1347 - 1380
Feast Day: April 29th
Notable: Patroness of Italy and Women Involved in Catholic Action
Life:
Catherine was born in the mid-14th century into a large wealthy family in Siena Italy. From an early age, she chose to devote herself to Christ rather than marry an seek material comforts despite [...]
Birthplace: Portugal
Date of Birth and Death: 1185-1231
Feast Day: June 13th
Notable: Patron of the Poor, “Finders of Lost Things”
Life:
Anthony was born in Portugal in 1185. At the age of 15 he entered an Augustine monastery but left for another in Coimbra. There seeing the bones of Franciscan martyrs and was inspired to be like them giving [...]
(Eulogy given for Nicholas Kennedy Leon at the 11am Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church on April 11th, 2008)
Whenever I envisioned myself giving a eulogy, I thought it may be for my parents, my brother or sister or a close friend. I never thought I would have to give one for one of my children.
[...]
Birthplace: Ireland
Date of Birth and Death: 543-615
Feast Day: November 23rd
Notable: Abbot of Luxeuil and Bobbio
Life:Born in Leinster Ireland, Columbanus was a handsome, well educated young man who had an eye for attractive women. When a female hermit advised him to turn his back on temptation, he took her literally. against his mother’s will, he became [...]