St John Bosco is remembered as a man who spent his life helping poor and abandoned children and teaching them about God.

He saw terrible poverty and hunger on the streets, where he worked as a priest, in Turin,  a large city in Italy. He wanted to help the poor children so that they could have a better life.

St John Bosco was very good at juggling and tight rope walking. He used to gather the children off the streets and entertain them with the many tricks he could do.

Some other people saw the good work he was dong to help these children and they decided to help him too. John Bosco and his helpers started to set up schools in Turin to help the poor children. They also set up an order of priests in the Catholic Church called the Salesians. The order spread all over the world. 

The priests in this order still do wonderful work in helping young people to understand about God and his work.

St John Bosco Fact file

Feast Day - 31st January 

Birthplace - Becchi, Italy

Born - 16th August 1815

Died - 31st January 1888

Canonised - 1st April 1934 by Pius XI

Patron Saint of young people, especially those living in poverty.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is remembered as a man who dedicated his life to spreading God’s love and standing up for his faith, even in the face of incredible hardship.

Born in Poland, he felt called to the priesthood from a young age. St. Maximilian had a deep devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and founded a movement called the Militia of the Immaculata to help people grow closer to her and, through her, to God.

During his life, he used modern technology, like printing presses and radio, to share the message of the Gospel. He even founded a city dedicated to Mary called Niepokalanów in Poland, where thousands of people worked together to spread the Catholic faith.

When World War II broke out, St. Maximilian was arrested by the Nazis for sheltering Jewish refugees and speaking out against the regime. He was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he continued to serve others despite the harsh conditions.

One day, a fellow prisoner was chosen to die as punishment for an escape attempt. St. Maximilian stepped forward and offered his life in exchange for the man’s. He was placed in a starvation bunker but remained strong in faith, leading prayers and songs with the other prisoners. On August 14, 1941, he was killed by lethal injection, giving his life in the ultimate act of love and sacrifice.

Today, St. Maximilian Kolbe is remembered as a model of courage, charity, and faithfulness.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Fact File

Feast Day: August 14
Birthplace: Zduńska Wola, Poland
Born: January 8, 1894
Died: August 14, 1941
Canonized: October 10, 1982, by Pope John Paul II
Patron Saint: Families, prisoners, journalists, and those struggling with addiction

St. Dominic Savio is remembered as a young boy who showed extraordinary faith, kindness, and devotion to God from a very young age.

Dominic was born in a small village in Italy and was raised in a loving Catholic family. From an early age, he showed a deep love for God and wanted to become a saint. By the time he was seven years old, Dominic had made his First Holy Communion and promised to live a life of holiness, famously saying, “Death rather than sin.”

When he was twelve, Dominic met St. John Bosco, who recognized his great faith and intelligence. St. John Bosco invited Dominic to study at his school for boys, where Dominic impressed everyone with his kindness, humility, and deep prayer life. He was known for helping his friends make better choices and often resolved conflicts among the other boys.

Dominic loved Mary, the mother of Jesus, and had a special devotion to her. He encouraged his friends to pray the Rosary and to trust in God. Though he was young, he showed great maturity in his faith and even started small groups with his classmates to help them grow closer to God.

Sadly, Dominic’s life was short. He became very ill and passed away at just fourteen years old. Even in his final days, he remained cheerful and hopeful, offering his sufferings to God. St. John Bosco wrote about Dominic’s holiness and how he inspired those around him.

Today, St. Dominic Savio is remembered as a shining example of youthful holiness and the power of faith.

St. Dominic Savio Fact File

Feast Day: May 6
Birthplace: Riva, Italy
Born: April 2, 1842
Died: March 9, 1857
Canonized: June 12, 1954, by Pope Pius XII
Patron Saint: Choirboys, altar servers, and young people

St. Bernadette Soubirous is remembered as a humble young girl who experienced miraculous visions of the Virgin Mary and shared a message of faith and healing with the world.

Bernadette was born into a poor family in the small town of Lourdes, France. She struggled with poor health from a young age, but she always trusted in God.

When Bernadette was 14 years old, she experienced a series of visions of the Virgin Mary in a grotto near her home. During these apparitions, Mary asked Bernadette to pray for sinners, encourage others to do penance, and have a chapel built at the site. Mary also revealed a hidden spring of water, which has become famous for its healing properties.

Although many people doubted her at first, Bernadette remained humble and faithful. She bravely shared Mary’s messages despite criticism and disbelief. Eventually, the Church investigated and declared the apparitions to be authentic. The site of the visions, now called the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, has become a place of pilgrimage for millions seeking healing and spiritual renewal.

Later in life, Bernadette became a nun, dedicating herself to prayer and serving others. She lived a life of simplicity and holiness, even as she endured illness and suffering. She died at the age of 35, trusting completely in God’s love.

Today, St. Bernadette is an example of humility, faith, and devotion, inspiring people around the world to trust in God and seek His grace.

St. Bernadette Soubirous Fact File

Feast Day: April 16
Birthplace: Lourdes, France
Born: January 7, 1844
Died: April 16, 1879
Canonized: December 8, 1933, by Pope Pius XI
Patron Saint: Those who are sick, shepherds, and people ridiculed for their faith

St. Teresa of Calcutta is remembered as a woman who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor with immense love, compassion, and faith.

Born in Albania, St. Teresa (then known as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) felt called to religious life as a young girl. She joined the Sisters of Loreto and began her missionary work in India, where she taught at a school for girls.

While living in Calcutta (now Kolkata), she experienced a deep calling from God to serve the poorest and most abandoned. She left her teaching position and founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order devoted to caring for the sick, hungry, homeless, and dying.

St. Teresa was known for her tireless work in the slums of Calcutta, providing food, medical care, and love to those society had forgotten. She believed in seeing the face of Jesus in every person, especially in those suffering. Her humility and joy inspired people around the world, regardless of their faith or background.

Despite experiencing spiritual darkness at times, St. Teresa continued to trust in God and carry out her mission. Her work grew into a global movement, with the Missionaries of Charity now operating in over 130 countries.

She received numerous honors during her lifetime, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Yet, she always insisted she was simply "a pencil in God's hand," doing His work.

St. Teresa of Calcutta is a powerful example of how ordinary acts of love can transform the world.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Fact File

Feast Day: September 5
Birthplace: Skopje, Albania (modern-day North Macedonia)
Born: August 26, 1910
Died: September 5, 1997
Canonized: September 4, 2016, by Pope Francis
Patron Saint: World Youth Day, the poor, and charitable works

Guardian Angels

St. Catherine of Siena is remembered as a woman of profound faith, wisdom, and courage, who devoted her life to prayer, service, and helping the Church in times of great need.

Born in Siena, Italy, Catherine was the youngest of 25 children in a devout family. From a young age, she felt called to live a life dedicated to God. At just 16, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, living as a laywoman and devoting herself to prayer, fasting, and helping the sick and poor.

Catherine had mystical visions of Christ and developed a deep, personal relationship with Him. Through her writings and actions, she encouraged others to grow closer to God and live lives of holiness. Despite having no formal education, she wrote numerous letters and a famous book, The Dialogue, which are considered spiritual masterpieces.

In a time of political turmoil and division in the Church, Catherine worked tirelessly for peace and reform. She traveled across Italy, urging leaders to pursue justice and encouraging Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome from Avignon. Her courage and wisdom made her a trusted advisor to both Church leaders and ordinary people.

Catherine’s life was marked by extraordinary love for God and others. She offered herself completely to His will, even suffering for the salvation of souls. She died at the age of 33, leaving a legacy of faith and service.

Today, St. Catherine of Siena is remembered as a Doctor of the Church and a patroness of Europe, inspiring Christians to live with passion and purpose.

St. Catherine of Siena Fact File

Feast Day: April 29
Birthplace: Siena, Italy
Born: March 25, 1347
Died: April 29, 1380
Canonized: June 29, 1461, by Pope Pius II
Declared Doctor of the Church: October 4, 1970, by Pope Paul VI
Patron Saint: Europe, Italy, nurses, and those seeking forgiveness

Laudato Si' Team

St. Francis of Assisi is remembered as a man of humility, peace, and extraordinary love for God, people, and all of creation.

Born into a wealthy merchant family in Assisi, Italy, Francis lived a carefree and privileged life as a young man. However, a profound spiritual awakening led him to give up his riches and embrace a life of poverty, dedicating himself to God.

Francis felt a deep connection to all living things and saw God’s beauty reflected in the world around him. He is well known for his love of nature and animals, often preaching to birds and calling animals his brothers and sisters. His famous Canticle of the Sun celebrates God’s creation, referring to the sun, moon, and elements as family.

In 1209, Francis founded the Franciscan Order, a group of men who lived simply, preached the Gospel, and served the poor. Later, he founded the Order of Poor Clares with St. Clare of Assisi, providing women a way to live a similar life of devotion.

One of the most moving moments in his life came when Francis received the stigmata—wounds mirroring those of Christ’s crucifixion—on his body while praying on Mount La Verna. This was a sign of his deep identification with Christ’s suffering and love.

Francis is also known for creating the first Nativity scene, a live reenactment of Jesus’ birth, to help people understand the humility of God’s incarnation. He lived with joy and humility, always putting others before himself and spreading the message of peace.

St. Francis of Assisi is a timeless example of how a life of simplicity and love for God can inspire others to see His presence in everything.

St. Francis of Assisi Fact File

Feast Day: October 4
Birthplace: Assisi, Italy
Born: 1181 or 1182
Died: October 3, 1226
Canonized: July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX
Patron Saint: Animals, the environment, and Italy

Caritas Ambassadors

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is remembered as a young woman who showed the world the beauty of loving God through small, simple acts in everyday life. She is affectionately known as the “Little Flower.”

Born in France as Thérèse Martin, she was the youngest of nine children in a devout Catholic family. From an early age, Thérèse was deeply drawn to God and desired to become a saint. At just 15 years old, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux, determined to dedicate her life to prayer and service.

Thérèse believed holiness could be achieved not through great deeds but by doing small things with great love for God. She called this her “Little Way,” a spiritual path marked by humility, trust, and complete reliance on God’s grace.

Despite living a hidden life in the convent, Thérèse shared her deep love for God and her insights into faith through her writings, especially her autobiography, The Story of a Soul. Her words have inspired countless people to see the extraordinary value of ordinary actions done with love and devotion.

Thérèse suffered from tuberculosis but accepted her pain with great faith, offering it as a sacrifice to God. She passed away at the age of 24, but her influence continued to grow after her death. She was canonized less than 30 years later and declared a Doctor of the Church for her profound spiritual teachings.

Today, St. Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most beloved saints, a powerful example of how even the smallest acts of love can lead to holiness.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fact File

Feast Day: October 1
Birthplace: Alençon, France
Born: January 2, 1873
Died: September 30, 1897
Canonized: May 17, 1925, by Pope Pius XI
Declared Doctor of the Church: October 19, 1997, by Pope John Paul II
Patron Saint: Missions, florists, and those who trust in God’s mercy

Mini Vinnies

St. Vincent de Paul is remembered as a man of great charity and compassion, who dedicated his life to serving the poor and reforming the Church.

Born in France to a poor farming family, Vincent initially pursued the priesthood with the hope of improving his social status. However, his encounters with the suffering of the poor deeply changed his heart and led him to a life of service and humility.

Vincent became known for his tireless work to care for the sick, feed the hungry, and provide for the needy. He organized charitable efforts, gathering resources from wealthy benefactors to help those in need. His compassion extended to prisoners, orphans, and abandoned children, and he worked to improve their lives with both practical care and spiritual guidance.

To sustain his mission, Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Vincentians, a group of priests who focused on preaching, educating, and serving the poor. He also co-founded the Daughters of Charity with St. Louise de Marillac, a community of women devoted to helping the sick and needy.

Vincent emphasized the importance of humility and seeing Christ in those who suffer. His legacy of charity inspired countless others to continue his work, and his example remains a cornerstone of Christian service.

Today, St. Vincent de Paul’s name is associated with charitable organizations worldwide, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which continues his mission of serving the poor.

St. Vincent de Paul Fact File

Feast Day: September 27
Birthplace: Pouy, France
Born: April 24, 1581
Died: September 27, 1660
Canonized: June 16, 1737, by Pope Clement XII
Patron Saint: Charitable societies, hospitals, and prisoners