January 5
Saint John Nepomucene Neumann
Patron Saint of Catholic Education, Catholic Schools and Immigrants
St. John Nepomucene Neumann (1811–1860) was born in what is now the Czech Republic and later emigrated to the United States. He became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and was renowned for his tireless work in expanding Catholic education, founding the first Catholic diocesan school system in the country. A member of the Redemptorist order, he was dedicated to serving immigrants and strengthening the Church in America. Known for his humility, deep prayer life, and pastoral care, he was canonized in 1977, becoming the first American male saint.
January 14
Blessed Peter Donders
Blessed Peter Donders (1809-1887), born in Tilburg, Holland, in 1809, was a Dutch priest and later a Redemptorist missionary who dedicated his life to serving the poor and marginalized in Surinam. Sent to the leper colony in Batavia in 1856, he spent over 30 years caring for lepers, advocating for better conditions, and expanding his mission to indigenous communities. Ordained in 1841 and becoming a Redemptorist in 1867, he was known for his compassion, tireless work, and efforts to uplift those suffering under slavery and neglect. He died in 1887 and was beatified in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.
February 25
Approval of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and its Rule (1749)
March 15
Saint Clement Hofbauer
Priest, Patron of Warsaw and Vienna, Patron Saint of Bakers
Saint Clement (1751 – 1820) was born in Tasswitz, Moravia (now the Czech Republic). He began as an apprentice baker and later worked as a servant at an abbey. This allowed him to pursue his calling to the priesthood, leading him to study in Vienna. After learning about the Redemptorists, he and a friend walked to Italy to join the order. Clement then tirelessly brought the Good News and the Redemptorists first to Warsaw (1787–1808) and later to Vienna (1808–1820), dedicating his life to renewing the proclamation of the Gospel.
March 23
Saint Alphonsus was proclaimed Doctor of the Church (1871)
April 26
Saint Alphonsus proclaimed Patron Saint of Confessors and Moralists (1950)
May 13
Foundation Anniversary of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (OSsR), also known as the Redemptoristines (1731)
June 27
Redemptorist Martyrs of Ukraine: Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky (1884-1959), Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky (1903-73, Blessed Zenon Kovalyk (1903-41), Blessed Ivan Ziatyk (1899-1952)
The Redemptorist Martyrs of Ukraine were missionaries serving the Church amid Soviet attempts to suppress religious life and forcibly dissolve the Greek Catholic Church. These Redemptorists were targeted for their unwavering loyalty to the Church and the Pope. Arrested by Soviet authorities, they endured brutal interrogations, torture, forced labor, and imprisonment. Despite severe persecution, they refused to betray their faith or abandon their people. Their courage and fidelity, even unto death, made them powerful witnesses of Christian hope and steadfastness. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001 as martyrs for the faith during his visit to Lviv in 2001, along with other 21 Ukrainian martyrs.
Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky (1884–1959) was born in Western Ukraine and became a diocesan priest after studies in Rome. He joined the Redemptorists in 1919 and was ordained a bishop in 1931, serving Ukrainian Catholics in Volyn and surrounding regions. After World War II, he was arrested and spent 11 years in Soviet prisons and labor camps. Upon release, he quietly continued his ministry in Lviv, acting as a bishop of the underground Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church until his death.
Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky (1903–1973) was born in Western Ukraine and joined the Redemptorists in 1925. He served as a missionary for two decades before being arrested in 1945 and sentenced to death, later commuted to 10 years in prison. In 1963, he was secretly consecrated a bishop and led the underground Church. Arrested again in 1969, he was later exiled and died in Canada in 1973, likely from poisoning suffered in prison.
Blessed Zenon Kovalyk (1903–1941) was a Redemptorist priest known for his fearless preaching and devotion to Mary. After mission work with Bishop Charnetsky, he was arrested by the Soviets in 1940. While imprisoned, he continued ministering to fellow inmates. When Soviet prisons were opened in 1941, his body was found crucified to a prison wall, a martyr for his faith.
Blessed Ivan Ziatyk (1899–1952) was a Ukrainian priest and theologian who joined the Redemptorists in 1935. He held leadership roles during the suppression of the Church, acting as Provincial and Vicar General after the bishops were arrested. In 1950, he was imprisoned by the Soviets and died in 1952 from brutal beatings while in custody.
June 27
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
(celebrated 3rd or 4th Sunday of June in some of the Redemptorist Churches in the Visayas and Mindanao)
June 30
Blessed Gennaro Sarnelli
Blessed Gennaro Sarnelli (1702-1744), born in Naples in 1702, was a nobleman who became a priest after earning a doctorate in law. Deeply moved by the needs of the poor and sick, he joined the Redemptorists in 1733 and worked alongside Saint Alphonsus Liguori. He dedicated his life to preaching, helping at-risk youth, caring for the sick and imprisoned, and fighting against social injustice, especially prostitution. A prolific writer, he published over 30 works on moral and spiritual topics. He died in 1744 at age 42 and was beatified in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.
July, 3rd Sunday
Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer
August 1
Saint Alphonsus Ma. de Liguouri
Bishop, Doctor of theChurch, Founder of theCongregation of the MostHoly Redeemer, Patron Saint of Confessors, Moral theologians, Theologians, as well as Patron Saint of those who suffer with arthritis
Saint Alphonsus (1696-1787) founded the Redemptorists in 1732 to bring the Good News to the abandoned and the poor and later became Bishop. He died on August 1, 1787 and was canonized in 1839. He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1871, and declared the patron saint of confessors and moral theologians in 1950. He is honored with the titles “Doctor of Prayer” and “Most Zealous Doctor. He is also known as the patron saint of people suffering with arthritis.
August 25
Blessed Methodij Dominik Trcka
Blessed Methodius Dominik Trčka (1886-1959) was born on July 6, 1886, in Frýdlant nad Ostravicí (now the Czech Republic). A Redemptorist priest dedicated to mission work, he ministered to both Latin and Byzantine rite Catholics, especially among Eastern European communities. He was a key figure in establishing Redemptorist foundations in Slovakia and supporting the Greek Catholic Church. During the Communist regime, he was arrested in 1950, falsely accused of espionage, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Despite torture and harsh conditions, he remained faithful and forgiving. He died in prison on March 23, 1959, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
September 8
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 11
Blessed Maria Celeste Crostarosa
Foundress of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer
Blessed Maria Celeste Crostarosa, born in Naples in 1696, experienced a deep spiritual connection with Jesus from a young age. After beginning as a Carmelite, she received a divine inspiration to found the Redemptoristine Nuns with a Rule focused on living Christ’s saving work. Despite opposition, her visions were confirmed by St. Alphonsus Liguori, who supported her mission. Though later expelled, she established a monastery in Foggia and lived a life of prayer, humility, and faith. Beatified in 2016, she remains a powerful example of devotion and spiritual courage.
September 26
Blessed Caspar Stanggassinger
Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger (1871-1899), was a Redemptorist deeply devoted to the Eucharist and committed to preaching the Gospel. Though he entered the Congregation hoping to serve in foreign missions, he was instead assigned to form future missionaries and assist in local pastoral work. Known for his simple yet powerful preaching, he urged people to turn to the Blessed Sacrament in times of need. At just 28, he died of peritonitis shortly after beginning his work at the seminary in Gars, Bavaria. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1988.
September 27
Redemptorist Province of Cebu Anniversary (1996)
September 30
Venerable Alfred Pampalon
Patron of Alcoholics and Drug Addicts
Venerable Alfred Pampalon (1867-1896) was born in 1867 in Lévis, Quebec, the ninth of twelve children in a family connected to church building through his father’s work. After early schooling and business studies, a serious illness led him to pursue the priesthood, inspired by a miraculous recovery attributed to Saint Anne. He joined the Redemptorists and took his vows in Belgium despite fragile health. Ordained in 1892, he served in various pastoral roles before returning to Canada due to worsening health. Assigned to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, he dedicated his final years to simple ministry until his death in 1896. Recognized for his deep faith and suffering, he was declared venerable in 1991 and is now the patron saint of those struggling with addiction.
October 5
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (1819-1867)was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1819 and later joined the Redemptorists to minister to German-speaking immigrants in the United States. Ordained in 1844, he served in various parishes and roles, including pastor, novice master, and missionary preacher, known for his warmth, simplicity, and deep pastoral care. He worked closely with St. John Neumann and traveled extensively across the U.S., preaching missions in both English and German. In 1866, he was assigned to New Orleans, where he cared for yellow fever victims until he contracted the disease and died in 1867. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
October 16
Saint Gerard Majella
Patron of mothers, those enduring difficult pregnancies, those experiencing difficulty conceiving a child
Saint Gerard Majella (1726–1755) was an Italian lay brother of the Redemptorists known for his deep faith, humility, and miraculous help, especially with pregnancy and childbirth. Despite health challenges, he devoted his life to prayer and charity. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession involving pregnancy, childbirth, and infants, many people informally consider him a patron of children, especially in cases of illness or danger. Canonized in 1904, he is the patron saint of expectant mothers, unborn children, and the falsely accused.
October 30
Venerable Joseph Passerat
Venerable Joseph Passerat’s (1772-1858) journey from military life to religious is a remarkable story of transformation and faith. Born in 1772 in Joinville, France, he initially served in Napoleon’s army, a role far removed from the quiet contemplation of the priesthood he would later embrace. Drawn by a deeper calling, Passerat fled to Warsaw, where under the guidance of Saint Clement Hofbauer, he found his true vocation within the Redemptorist community. Over two decades, he became a pivotal figure in expanding their presence across northern Europe, eventually succeeding Saint Clement as vicar general. His boldest legacy came in 1832 when he dispatched the first Redemptorists to America, nurturing their growth for 28 years and planting seeds of faith that continue to flourish. Known as “the Great Pray-er,” Passerat’s spiritual dedication shaped a generation of missionaries, and today his cause for sainthood progresses in Rome, celebrating a life devoted to prayer, perseverance, and missionary zeal.
November 6
18 Redemptorist Martyrs of Cuenca and Madrid:
Cuenca: Fr. Javier Gorosterratzu (1877–1936), Fr. Ciriaco Olarte (1893–1936), Fr. Miguel Goñi (1902–1936), Fr. Julián Pozo (1903–1936), Fr. Pedro Romero (1871–1938), Br. Victoriano Calvo (1896–1936)
Madrid: Fr. Vicente Renuncio Toribio (1876–1936), Fr. Crescencio Severo Ortiz Blanco (1881–1936), Fr. Ángel Martínez Miquélez (1907–1936), Br. Bernardo (Gabriel) Sáiz Gutiérrez (1896–1936), Br. Nicesio Pérez del Palomar Quincoces (1859–1936), Br. Gregorio Zugasti Fernández de Esquide (1884–1936), Br. Aniceto Lizasoain Lizaso (1877–1936), Fr. José María Urruchi Ortiz (1909–1936), Br. José Joaquín (Pascual) Erviti Insausti (1902–1936), Fr. Antonio Girón González (1871–1936), Fr. Donato Jiménez Viviano (1873–1936), Br. Rafael (Máximo) Perea Pinedo (1903–1936);
On this day, the Church commemorates a group of 18 Spanish Redemptorist martyrs who gave their lives for the faith amid the violent persecution of the Church during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. They were members of Redemptorist communities based in Cuenca and Madrid, steadfast in their vocation despite the danger surrounding them.
These Redemptorists were ordinary men—teachers, preachers, cooks, laborers—who lived their religious vocation with humility and love. When called to make the ultimate sacrifice, they responded not with bitterness, but with forgiveness, prayer, and fidelity. They were murdered during the brutal anti-religious persecution that marked the early years of the Spanish Civil War. Though targeted for their religious identity, each of them faced suffering and death with a quiet courage rooted in deep faith.
Their unwavering witness to Christ was recognized by the Church, with the martyrs of Cuenca beatified by Pope Francis in 2013 and those of Madrid honored in a separate beatification in 2022.
Cuenca
Fr. Javier Gorosterratzu, born in Navarra in 1877, joined the Redemptorists at just 16 years old. A gifted teacher and preacher, he spent his early ministry in Burgos and León, where he became well-known for his skill in the confessional and as a spiritual director. A man of intellect and deep piety, he authored two historical texts and a philosophy manual. On August 10, 1936, he was arrested by militia forces and executed at the Cuenca cemetery. His final act was to forgive his executioners.
Fr. Ciriaco Olarte, born in 1893 in Álava, came from a devout Catholic family that nurtured his vocation. After his ordination in 1917, he served as a missionary in Mexico, where he faced religious hostility and violence. Returning to Spain in 1926, he continued his ministry in Madrid and later in Cuenca. On July 31, 1936, he was arrested and brutally attacked at a site called Las Angustias. Though mortally wounded, he was abandoned to die slowly from his injuries.
Fr. Miguel Goñi, a native of Navarra born in 1902, longed to be a priest from an early age. Despite fragile health and an introverted nature, he embraced the demanding life of a mission preacher with zeal and gentleness. Ordained in 1925, he served in Cuenca from 1932 onward, particularly at the parish of St. Philip Neri. Arrested by the militia, he was shot and left to bleed to death on July 31, 1936.
Fr. Julián Pozo, born in 1903 in Álava, joined the Redemptorists at age ten. From his youth, he was marked by a spirit of prayer and contemplation. Tuberculosis accompanied him throughout his ministry, yet he remained cheerful and spiritually strong. A devoted confessor and guide to many souls, he was arrested on August 9, 1936, while praying the rosary. He was executed that same day on the road between Cuenca and Tragacete.
Fr. Pedro Romero, the eldest of the group, was born in 1871 in Burgos. Though shy by nature, he embraced a life of prayer, penance, and reconciliation. During the war, he lived discreetly with a local family but continued to serve the poor and reconcile sinners. In 1938, he was arrested and imprisoned, where he died from dysentery on May 29, after months of suffering.
Brother Victoriano Calvo, born in Guadalajara in 1896, felt called to religious life despite his family’s disapproval. Determined to follow his vocation, he joined the Redemptorists in 1919. He served faithfully as a porter and clerk in Cuenca and became known for his simplicity, humility, and spiritual depth. On August 10, 1936, he was arrested and martyred alongside Fr. Gorosterratzu.
Madrid
Fr. Vicente Renuncio Toribio, born in Burgos in 1876, dedicated his life to missionary work, teaching, and formation. He served in leadership roles within the Redemptorist community and was well known as editor of the Shrine’s magazine. As tensions escalated in Madrid, he went into hiding with friends. Arrested on September 17, he endured nearly two months in prison before being executed on November 7. His final words were a powerful act of intercession: “I offer my life for my confreres in Spain, for the whole Congregation, and for unfortunate Spain.”
Fr. Crescencio Severo Ortiz Blanco, a philosopher and seasoned missionary, had just arrived in Madrid in July 1936. Days later, on July 20, he was seized and executed alongside Fr. Ángel Martínez Miquélez and Br. Bernardo Sáiz Gutiérrez as they searched for safety. Fr. Ángel, a young priest known for his commitment to education and mission work, had been transferred only ten days prior. Br. Bernardo, a devoted kitchen worker known for his piety and quiet service, died with them—faithful to his brothers until the end.
Br. Nicesio Pérez del Palomar, nearly blind and 77 years old, had lived a long life of hard work and prayer. With him was Br. Gregorio Zugasti, who refused to abandon his elderly confrere during the persecution. The two were captured on August 14 and executed on August 16, their shared martyrdom a testament to loyalty and fraternal charity.
Br. Aniceto Lizasoain Lizaso, a humble and dedicated coadjutor who had served in various roles across communities, was betrayed while staying in a boarding house. Despite his desire to become a priest, he remained a brother out of fidelity to his vocation. He was killed on August 18.
Fr. José María Urruchi Ortiz, the youngest among the martyrs at only 27, was a brilliant student who persevered through academic challenges to become a priest in 1932. He was arrested with Br. José Joaquín Erviti, a gentle and prayerful soul who had taken refuge with him. Both were executed on August 22, their bodies later discovered on the road south of Madrid.
Fr. Antonio Girón González, a gifted educator and man of deep interior life, was unwavering in his devotion to the Virgin Mary. Even while in hiding, he continued praying the Rosary. Captured and executed on August 30, his death was the culmination of a life marked by quiet holiness and service.
Fr. Donato Jiménez Viviano, a missionary and promoter of religious vocations, also went into hiding after persecution intensified. Captured in mid-September, he was imprisoned and likely killed on the night of September 17, sealing his witness with his life.
Br. Rafael Perea Pinedo, a cheerful and generous brother, worked as a porter and sacristan in Madrid. After leaving his community house in July, he moved from place to place until he was caught and executed on November 2.
November 9
Founding Anniversary of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (1732)
November, 2nd Sunday
Redemptorist Vocations Sunday
December 8
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the Redemptorist Congregation
December 11
Anniversary of the Entrustment of the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists to “Make Her Known” (1865)