Saint Peter (The Apostle)

- Commonly referred to as “Simon Peter”, “Cephas” or “the rock”, “the first Pope”, “Prince of the Apostles” or “Founder” – Saint Peter was one of three members of Jesus’ inner circle and was told by Jesus that it was upon him that he would build his church – Saint Peter is the Patron Saint of fisherman, longevity and Popes – The feast day for Saint Peter is primarily June 29th (but also February 22nd and November 18th).

Saint James, the Great (The Apostle)

- Commonly referred to as “James the Greater” – James was the brother of John (the Apostle) and was also the second of three members of Jesus’ inner circle – Saint James is the Patron Saint of laborers, hatmakers and rheumatism – The feast day for Saint James is July 25th.

Saint John (The Apostle)

- Commonly referred to as “the beloved disciple” – John was the brother of James the Greater, and together they were called “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus – John was the third member of Jesus’ inner circle and was the only one of twelve apostles who did not forsake Jesus in the hour of his Passion – Saint John was the author of one of the four Gospels in the New Testament, as well as three Epistles – Saint John is the Patron Saint of Asia Minor – The feast day for Saint John is December 27th.

Saint Jude (The Apostle)

- Commonly referred to as “Thaddaeus” or “Judas Thaddaeus of Lebbaeus” – He was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, but not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, who was also an Apostle of Jesus and later betrayed Jesus – Saint Jude (Thaddaeus) is the Patron Saint of hopeless or deperate causes – The feast day for Saint Jude is October 28th.

Saint Matthew (The Apostle)

- Another of the twelve apostles of Jesus, Mark was the author of one of the four Gospels in the New Testament – Saint Matthew is the Patron Saint of bankers, accountants and tax collectors – The feast day for Saint Matthew is September 21st.

Saint Thomas (The Apostle)

- Commonly referred to as “Doubting Thomas”, he was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus – Saint Thomas is the Patron Saint of architects, construction workers, builders and people in doubt – The feast day for Saint Thomas is July 3rd.

Saint Mark

- Although he was not a disciple of Jesus, Mark was the author of the oldest (and shortest) of the four Gospels in the New Testament – Saint Mark is the Patron Saint of notaries – The feast day for Saint Mark is April 25th.

Saint Luke

- Although like Mark he was not a disciple of Jesus, Luke was the author of one of the four Gospels in the New Testament as well as “Acts of the Apostles” – Saint Luke is the Patron Saint of physicians and surgeons. The feast day for Saint Luke is October 18th.

Saint Cajetan

- Commonly referred to as “Cajetan of Thiene”, “Gaetano” and “Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene” – Lived during the 1500’s and entered the religious community to serve the sick and the poor – Founded a bank (Bank of Naples) to help the poor and offer an alternative to using loan sharks – Saint Cajetan is the Patron Saint of job seekers, unemployed people, gamblers and good fortune – The feast day for Saint Cajetan is August 7th.

Saint Michael (The Archangel)

- Commonly referred to as “The Great Prince”, “Prince of Seraphim” and “The Protector” – One of three Angels to actually be named in the scriptures, Michael is the leader of the forces of heaven against evil – Saint Michael is the Patron Saint of protection (against sickness & death), police officers, radiologists, grocers, mariners and paratroopers – The feast day for Saint Michael is September 29th.

Saint Elizabeth (Ann Seton)

- Born during the time of the American Revolution, she later became the mother of 5 children and the first American born citizen to be Canonized by the Catholic Church – She founded the “Sisters of Charity” and opened the first American Catholic School and establised the first American Catholic Orphanage all in her 46 year life span – Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is the Patron Saint of the loss of parents and her feast day is January 4th.

Saint Francis (of Assisi)

- Founder of the “Franciscan Order” of brothers – Saint Francis lived by the Gospel and followed the Gospel literally in trying to live and preach as Jesus did – He was a true lover of nature and felt that all of God’s creations were part of his brotherhood – Two years before his death, Francis received the “Stigmata” which are the real and painful wounds of Christ on the hands, feet and side – Saint Francis is the Patron Saint of animals, merchants and ecology. The feast day for Saint Francis of Assisi is October 4th.