“Catholics should celebrate their differences and retain their cultures but should reflect their joy at being one in Christ.” - Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman
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August 2025 - Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
August 2025 - Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The physical heart of Mary is venerated (and not adored as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is) because it is united to her person and is the seat of her love (especially for her divine Son), virtue, and inner life.
August 16 - St. Roch/Rocco. He is patron saint for dogs and plagues. More info on St. Roch's Day.
August 17 | Our Lady of Knock
The feast commemorates when Our Lady appeared in Ireland on the night of August 21, 1879. Though she never said a word, her appearance comforted many and gave a renewed vigor to the faith of the Emerald Isle, and encouraged many to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The anniversary of this apparition is remembered each year at the Knock Shrine on August 21 with a special liturgy offered at the site Our Lady's appearance. However, the rest of Ireland celebrates Our Lady of Knock on August 17. It is classified as a "memorial," and parishes around Ireland may celebrate Our Lady's apparition on that day.
Currently this celebration is only on select calendars, primarily in Ireland, and not on the universal Roman calendar. August 17 was chosen as the feast day of Our Lady of Knock, as the August 21 is already assigned to St. Pius X, the Pope of the Eucharist.
St. Ezequiel Moreno was a member of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. He was born on April 9, 1848, in Spain and later served as a missionary to the Philippines. He was eventually assigned to South America and became the Bishop of Pinara and later of Pasto, both in Colombia. He is invoked as a Patron of Cancer Patients.
August 22 | The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Once celebrated on the last day of May ("Mary's month"), is now celebrated on the octave day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15).
The feast of the Queenship of Mary was established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII, but the tradition of celebrating Mary as queen of heaven goes back much earlier, with various saints and Church fathers referring to Mary as "lady" and "queen" as early as the fourth century. The idea is that if Jesus is "king", then it is fitting that his mother would share in his reign as queen.
When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, he says that her son, Jesus, will inherit the throne of David (Luke 1:32).
Idea for celebrating with kids:
Hold a crowning for Mary that day in your classroom or home. Have the children be part of it but praying the "Hail, Holy Queen" and singing Immaculate Mary.
Painting by North American artist, Miguel Cabrera (1695-1768). During his lifetime he was considered the greatest painter in all of New Spain, which spanned across North and South America.
August 23 | St. Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa de Lima)
Born in the Americas (in present-day Peru) in 1586, St. Rose of Lima is the patron of Peru, South America and the Philippines.** Her feast day is celebrated August 30 as a national holiday in Peru and some Latin American countries. Elsewhere, including Spain, her feast day is celebrated August 23. The celebration in Lima, Peru, which is nationally televised, includes a daylong procession of her image through the downtown, and visits to her church and sanctuary, where believers wait in long lines to drop their petitions into a well.
She was the first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
** Many of the Spanish missionaries sent to evangelize in the Philippines were in fact from New Spain.
Painting by Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682).
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - The Immaculate Heart of Mary
August 15 | The Assumption of Mary
August 17 | Our Lady of Knock
August 19 | St. Ezequiel Moreno
August 22 | The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 23 | St. Rose of Lima
August 24 | St. Bartholomew the Apostle
Often identified as the Apostle Nathanael little is known of his activities as a disciple other than what is related in the Gospel of John concerning Nathanael's first meeting with Jesus. After the Resurrection, he is traditionally believed to have preached in India and Armenia. He is the patron saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and many miracles are reported surrounding his relics.
August 25 | St. Joseph Calasanz (San José de Calasanz)
A Spanish writer, educator, and priest, St. Joseph Calasanz was the founder of Pious Schools providing free education to the sons of the poor, and the religious order that ran them, commonly known as the Piarists. He was a close friend of the renowned astronomer Galileo Galilei.
August 28 | St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Bishop
He was born in a Roman community that resided on the coast of Africa (present-day Algeria). There is an excellent 30-minute children’s movie on his life on Formed - Catholic Heroes: The Story of St. Augustine.
September 2025 - Month of Seven Sorrows of Mary
September 2025 - Month of Seven Sorrows of Mary
September 5 - Feast of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
September 19 - Feast of Januarius (Gennaro)
"Festa of San Gennaro" is a highlight of New York's Little Italy.
September 20 - Feast of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Ha-sang, & Companions
September 30 - St. Jerome / Geronimo
The observation of Hispanic Heritage Month started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson.
It was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.
It was enacted into law on August 17,1988.
It celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central/South America.
The term Hispanic has been widely used for year to describe a person whose heritage comes from Spanish-speaking countries.
September 9 | St. Peter Claver (San Pedro Claver)
St. Peter Claver was a Spanish Jesuit priest who became the patron saint of enslaved people, the Republic of Colombia, and ministry to Africans. He left his homeland forever in 1610 to be a missionary in the colonies of the New World. He sailed into Cartagena in present-day Colombia. He was ordained there in 1615.
By this time the slave trade had been established in the Americas for nearly 100 years, and Cartagena was a chief center for it. Ten thousand slaves poured into the port each year after crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of the passengers died in transit. Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by Pope Paul III and later labeled "supreme villainy" by Pope Pius IX, it continued to flourish.
Peter Claver's predecessor, Jesuit Faother Alfonso de Sandoval, had devoted himself to the service of the slaves for 40 years before Claver arrived to continue his work. During the 40 years of his ministry, Claver instructed and baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves. He delared himself, "the slave of the Negroes forever."
On this day, Panama also celebrates its Marian patroness - Santa María la Antigua.
September 9 - Feast of San Pedro Claver
St. Peter Claver was a Spanish Jesuit priest who became the patron saint of enslaved people, the Republic of Colombia, and ministry to Africans. He left his homeland forever in 1610 to be a missionary in the colonies of the New World. He sailed into Cartagena in present-day Colombia. He was ordained there in 1615.
By this time the slave trade had been established in the Americas for nearly 100 years, and Cartagena was a chief center for it. Ten thousand slaves poured into the port each year after crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of the passengers died in transit. Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by Pope Paul III and later labeled "supreme villainy" by Pope Pius IX, it continued to flourish.
Peter Claver's predecessor, Jesuit Faother Alfonso de Sandoval, had devoted himself to the service of the slaves for 40 years before Claver arrived to continue his work. During the 40 years of his ministry, Claver instructed and baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves. He delared himself, "the slave of the Negroes forever."
On this day, Panama also celebrates its Marian patroness - Santa María la Antigua.
September 5 | St. Mother Teresa
September 9 | St. Peter Claver (San Pedro Claver)
September 11 | On this day, Venezuela celebrates its Marian patroness - Nuestra Señora de Coromoto.
September 12 | Most Holy Name of Mary
September 14 | Exaltation of the Cross - This feast honors Christ’s Cross, an instrument made sacred by the Lord’s offering of Himself upon it for our salvation.
September 15 | Our Lady of Sorrows
September 19 | Feast of St. Januarius or Gennaro (Patron of Naples and Little Italy in NYC)
In the United States, the "Festa of San Gennaro" is also a highlight of the year for New York's Little Italy, with the saint's polychrome statue carried through the middle of a street fair stretching for blocks.
September 20 | Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Ha-sang, & Companions
September 21 | Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
September 23 | St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
September 24 | On this day, Perú celebrates its Marian patroness - Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Our Lady of Mercy).
September 26 | Sts. Cosmas and Damian
September 27 | St. Vincent de Paul
September 28 | St. Wenceslaus / St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions
September 29 | Feast of the Archangels
September 30 | St. Jerome (San Geronimo)
Patron saint of librarians and students, he is known in Spanish as San Geronimo and is the patron saint of Taos Pueblo Indians in New Mexico. Every year there is a big celebration in honor of his feast day.
October 2025 - Month of the Most Holy Rosary
October 2025 - Month of the Most Holy Rosary
October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. This is because the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on October 7, which is when the victory of the Battle of Lepanto took place in 1571.
Every October, the Catholic Church in the U.S. celebrates Respect Life Month
Italian-American Heritage Month celebrates the distinguished cultural contributions of Americans with Italian lineage.
St. Mother Cabrini was first U.S. citizen to be canonized as a saint.
October 2 is the feast of the Guardian Angels. This is often the first prayer Catholic children learn, especially in Spanish-speaking countries.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - The Holy Rosary
Full Month | Italian-American Heritage Month
October was selected as Italian-American Heritage Month due to Columbus Day being observed on the second Monday in October. It celebrates and recognizes the achievements, success, and valuable contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans.
EWTN has a wonderful movie about the life and work of St. Mother Cabrini, an Italian-American nun. FORMED also has many wonderful resources on her life for both kids and adults. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a Catholic religious institute that was major support to her fellow Italian immigrants to the United States. She was the first U.S. citizen to be canonized as a saint on July 7, 1946. Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized in 1975 and was the first saint who was born in what is now the U.S. (was born when U.S. was still part of England) and St. Katherine Drexel was first U.S. born saint canonized in 2000.
October 1 | Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels
The first prayer many Hispanic Catholic children, especially in Mexico, learn is the Guardian Angel prayer. There are several versions in Spanish, and they usually rhyme:
Ángel de mi guarda, mi dulce compañía, no me desampares, ni de noche ni de día. No me dejes solo que me perdería.
Ángel de la guarda, dulce compañía, no me desampares, ni de noche ni de día, hasta que me pongas en paz y alegría, con todos los Santos, Jesús y Maria.
Ángel de la guarda, mi buen amigo, llévame siempre, por el buen camino.
October 2 | St. Thérèse of Lisieux (M)
October 4 | St. Francis of Assisi (M)
October 7 | Our Lady of the Rosary
On this feast day, we celebrate the Holy League’s defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Prior to the battle, St. Pius V had requested all to pray the rosary; thus, he attributed the victory to the power of the Marian prayer rather than the power of ships and cannons. Guatemala’s Marian patroness is Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary).
October 9 | St. John Henry Newman / Columbus Day (observed)
October 12 | On this day, Brazil celebrates its Marian patroness - Nuestra Señora Aparecida o Nuestra Señora de la Concepción Aparecida.
October 13 | Miracle of the Sun
The sixth and final apparition in Fatima (catholicnewsherald.com)
October 15 | St. Teresa of Ávila (M)
October 16 | St. Gerardo Majella
October 17 | St. Ignatius de Antioch
October 18 | Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist
October 19 | St. Pablo de la Cruz
October 20 | St. Pedro de Alcantara
October 21 | St. Ursula
October 22 | St. Pope John Paul II
October 23 | St. Juan de Capistrano
October 24 | St. Anthony Marie Claret (San Antonio Maria de Claret)
October 25 | St. Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvão - First saint from Brazil
October 28 | St. Jude the Apostle
October 29 | St. Narcissus
October 30 | St. Alonso Rodriguez
October 31 | St. Quintin
November 2025 - Month of the Holy Souls
November 2025 - Month of the Holy Souls
Black Catholic History Month was initiated in 1990 by the National Black Catholic Clergy of the United States. November was chosen because it holds two commemorative dates for prominent Catholics: St. Augustine of Hippo, born in Africa and whose birthday is November 13; and St. Martin de Porres, whose feast day is November 3.
On November 1, All Saints' Day, we commemorate all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven.
On November 2, we honor the Holy Souls for their fidelity in life, as well as pray for them, since they are being purified before entering the All Holy Presence of God.
St. Martin de Porres - October 3
November 21
St. Andrew Dung-Lac was a Catholic convert ordained to the priesthood who was martyred in Vietnam between 1820 and 1862. He was one of 117 people martyred in Vietnam during this time. The feast on November 24commemorates more than 100 Catholics, including lay and Religious, Vietnamese and foreign missionaries, who were killed in Vietnam. Their deaths, often by horrific torture, were inflicted over three centuries. The group was made up of 96 Vietnamese, 11 Spaniards, and 10 Frenchman. Eight of them were bishops, 50 were priests, and 59 were lay Catholics, including a nine-year-old child.
November 1 | All Saints Day
November 2 | All Souls’ Day
El Salvador also celebrates its Marian patroness on this day, Señora de la Paz (Our Lady of Peace).
November 3 | St. Martin de Porres
November 4 | St. Charles Borromeo
November 5 | Sts. Elizabeth and Zacharia - the parents of St. John the Baptist
November 6 | St. Leonardo
November 8 | On this day, Uruguay celebrates its Marian patroness - La Virgen de los Treinta y Tres.
November 9 | St. Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity
November 11 | St. Martin of Tours (St. Martin’s Day)
November 13 | St. Augustine and St. Mother Cabrini
November 14 | St. Joseph Pignatelli
November 15 | St. Albert the Great
November 16 | St. Gertrude - known for the prayer for the release of 1,000 souls from Purgatory
November 17 | St. Elizabeth of Hungary
November 19 | On this day, Puerto Rico celebrates its Marian patroness -Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia (Our Lady of Divine Providence).
November 21 | The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On this day, Ecuador also celebrates its Marian patroness - La Virgen de El Quinche.
November 22 | St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
November 23 | St. Clement I
November 24 | St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions (Vietnamese Martyrs)
November 24 | Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - Last Sunday of the month of November
November 27 | Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
November 30 | St. Andrew, Apostle
December 2025 - Month of the Immaculate Conception
December 2025 - Month of the Immaculate Conception
The advent wreath is not a common tradition to many Catholics from other countries, but it is gaining in popularity with globalization. The tradition was brought to the United States from German Catholics and Lutherans. The origins are not completely clear, but it did begin in Germany and was a practice shared by both Lutherans and Catholics there.
The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated during advent on December 6. A fun tradition that many schools have begun to do is having a student, parent or teacher dress as St. Nicholas to distribute treats and read stories about him.
The early church originally celebrated Our Lady's preservation from sin on December 9, and the Spanish brought this tradition to the New World. Saint Juan Diego was attending Mass for this reason when he met our Lady on December 9, 1531. The use of the Gregorian calendar in 1582 changed the date to December 8.
In 1708, Pope Clement XI mandated the feast as a holy day of obligation.
Our Lady appeared on December 9, 10 and 12 to indigenous convert, Juan Diego, less than 30 years after the Spanish arrived in America. A divine image of her was provided so that a chapel would be built in her honor. Within 7 years 9 million natives accepted the Catholic faith.
Many of the paintings depicting the Immaculate Conception were inspired by this image and its portrayal of the woman described in the Book of Revelation.
Like many saints, St. Lucy is a beloved in many cultures around the world. For instance, in Northern Italy, it is tradition for children to write letters to her before feast day on December 13 for presents they'd like to receive. They must have proof they've been good otherwise they get nothing. They're also advised to leave a plate with cookies for Lucy and some hay and milk for Gastaldo, her faithful donkey on the eve of her feast day.
In Scandinavian countries, on the night of the December 12, children make special cookies for her and then the next morning the eldest daughter in the family wakes up before everyone else, dresses in white with a red belt and serves the whole family the cookies made the night before.
Las Posadas is a novenario (a Catholic extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and by Hispanics in the U.S. It is typically celebrated December 16 and December 24. The word posada means lodging or accommodation. Spanish missionaries started the tradition in the New World over 400 years ago in 1586 to teach the story of Jesus' birth.
Many of our schools choose to celebrate this advent tradition the nine days leading up to the Christmas break.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - Immaculate Conception
December 1 - December 24 | Advent
December 3 | St. Francis Xavier
December 4 | St. John of Damacus
December 6 | St. Nicholas
December 7 | St. Ambrose
December 8 | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin (S)
The United States also celebrates this day and title for its Marian feast day. Spain, Nicaragua, and the Philippines also celebrate their Marian patroness La Inmaculada Concepción de María. The United States also celebrates this day and title for its Marian feast day. Paraguay also celebrates their Marian patroness on this day but with the title, La Virgen de Caacupé.
December 9 | St. Juan Diego
December 12 | Our Lady of Guadalupe (F)
December 13 | St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
December 14 | St. Juan de la Cruz
December 16 | St. Adelaide
December 17 | St. Lazarus
December 16 - 24 | Las Posadas.
December 25 | The Nativity of the Lord (S)
December 26 | St. Stephen, Martyr
December 27 | St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
December 28 | The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
December 31 | Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
January 2026 - Month of the Holy Name of Jesus
January 2026 - Month of the Holy Name of Jesus
The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of the Jesus. January 3 is the optional memorial for the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
"In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth" (Phil 2:10).
Above is a picture of bulletin board in the main hallway of Immaculata School in Hendersonville showing the many titles of Jesus.
Historically, Epiphany has been celebrated on January 6 worldwide (12th day of Christmas), however, since 1970, “Latin Rite” Roman Catholics in the U.S. have celebrated this solemnity on the first Sunday after January 1st. Outside the U.S., Christians continue to celebrate on January 6.
Above is a picture of parents in the Padrinos Program and students of St. Mark School in Huntersville dressed as the three wise men in honor of the Tres Reyes Magos.
January 6 - February 2: Outside the U.S., January 6 is still the date for the Epiphany and February 2 marks the date for Candlemas (Presentation of the Lord). For many Catholic cultures, especially in Europe and in Latin America, this time is still Christmas season.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Patroness of Catholic Schools)
Born in New York City, she is a Catholic convert who founded the American Sisters of Charity. With them, she founded the first Catholic school for girls in the U.S., many of whom were immigrants. While it was free, she did ask for donations from wealthy families who could pay for the education to help cover the costs of the school.
St. John Neumann (Patron of Catholic Education) -
An immigrant from Bohemia (Czech Republic), he founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S.
Lunar New Year (Vietnamese and Korean) or Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán (Vietnamese) Gujeong (Korean): For Catholics in Asia, the Lunar New Year is celebrated almost as if it were feast days. Many go to Mass the night before or the morning of the first day to give thanks to God and celebrate the New Year with God’s blessings. It’s also a time to remember their ancestors. In the Catholic context, symbols and themes of the festival, including the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, are often inculturated in homilies and through the giving of blessed symbolic objects after Mass.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - The Holy Name of Jesus
December 25 - January 7 (U.S.) | Liturgical Christmas Time
January 1 | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
January 4 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
January 5 | St. John Neumann
January 6 | Epiphany
January 7 | St. Raymond of Penyafort / San Raimundo de Peñafort
January 12 | St. Arcadius / San Arcadio
January 13 | St. Hilary of Poiters / San Hilario de Poiters
January 14 | St. Felix of Nola
January 15 | Martin Luther King Jr.
January 16 | St. Marcelo
January 17 | St. Anthony the Great
January 18 | St. Margaret of Hungary
January 19 | St. Juan de Ribera
January 20 | St. Fabian and St. Sebastian / San Fabián y San Sebastián / Thánh Fabian và Sebastian
January 21 | St. Agnes / Santa Inés / Thánh Agnes (M)
On this day, the Dominican Republic also celebrates its Marian feast day Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia.
January 24 | St. Francis de Sales / San Francisco de Sales / Thánh Phanxicô dê Salê (M)
January 25 | Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle
January 26 | Sts. Timothy and Titus / Santos Timoteo y Tito / Thánh Timôthêô và Titô (M)
January 27 | St. Angela Merici / Santa Ángela Merici / Thánh Angela Merici
January 28 | St. Thomas Aquinas
January 29 | Lunar New Year
January 31 | St. John Bosco / San Juan Bosco / Thánh Gioan Bosco (M)
February 2026 - Month of the Holy Family
February 2026 - Month of the Holy Family
The special devotion which proposes the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of virtue of all Christian households began in the 17th century. It started almost simultaneously in Canada and France. This devotion soon spread and in 1893 Leo XIII expressed his approval of a feast under this title and himself composed part of the Office. On account of the flight into Egypt this feast has been observed by the Copts from early times.
Black educators and Black United Students at Kent State University first proposed Black History Month in February 1969. February was chosen primarily because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976 during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history".
Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also known as Candlemas.
Although not widely celebrated in the U.S.A., it is widely celebrated throughout the World. For many around the world, it marks the end of the Christmas season.
Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”
When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were canonized in 1862.
St. Valentine’s Day / Día de San Valentín
In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed St. Valentine’s name from the General Roman Calendar, leaving his liturgical celebration to local calendars, though the Church continues to recognize him as a saint, listing him as such in the February 14 entry in the Roman Martyrology. In Spanish-speaking countries and in Europe, the date is referred to as Saint Valentine’s Day.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - The Holy Family
Full Month | Black History Month
Meet four Black women who condemned abortion, calling it 'Black genocide' (liveaction.org)
Lent | Wednesday, February 18 - Thursday, April 2
February 2 | Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A few additional worldwide Catholic traditions that are celebrated on Feb 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation:
In France and Belgium, La Chandeleur is celebrated by having all the candles in the house lit. Tradition also says manger scenes should not be put away until Feb. 2, the last feast of the Christmas cycle.
Puerto Rico, Canary Islands, Philippines, Guatemala, Peru, Venezuela, etc. – La Fiesta de la Candelaria officially marks the end of the Christmas season and families put away their Christmas decorations after this day. Since February 2nd also marks the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, many will honor La Virgen de la Candelaria by having a procession. She is the patroness for several cities in these areas.
In Mexico, many people will remember the presentation of the Christ child at the Temple by dressing and adoring a statue of the child Jesus. La Fiesta de la Candelaria is also closely linked to the Epiphany, during which the tasting of the rosca de reyes (kings’ cake) will determine who is responsible for organizing Candlemas. Whoever finds the muñeco (Christ child figurine) in the cake is named godfather of the child, who will then dress the niño dios (an image of the Christ child in the form of a doll) on Candlemas with richly decorated clothes, which is then brought to the church to be blessed.Following this is the family meal. Whoever draws the bean on Epiphany must also prepare tamales. The whole family is invited to this meal (often the same people as for the Rosca at Epiphany), which gives the festival an aspect of family and sharing.
On this day, Bolivia celebrates its Marian feast day for Nuestra Señora de la Copacabana.
February 3 | St. Blaise and St. Ansgar / San Blas y San Óscar / Thánh Baise và Ansgar
February 5 | St. Agatha / Santa Águeda (M)
February 6 | St. Paul Miki and Companions (26 Martyrs of Japan)
February 7 | St. Tobias
February 8 | St. Jerome Emiliani; St. Josephine Bakhita / San Gerónimo Emiliani; Santa Josefina Bakhita / Thánh Jerome Emiliani; Thánh Josephine Bakhita
February 10 | St. Scholastica and St. Jose Sanchez del Rio
February 11 | Our Lady of Lourdes / Nuestra Señora de Lourdes / Lễ Đức Mẹ Lộ Đức
February 14 | St. Valentine’s Day / Día de San Valentín
February 15 | St. Claude La Colombière
February 18 | St. Simon
February 20 | Sts. Fracisco and Jacinta Marto
February 21 | St. Peter Damian / San Pedro Damián / Thánh Peter Damian (doctor of the Church)
February 22 | The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle / La Silla de San Pedro Apóstol / Toà Thánh Phêrô (F)
February 23 | St. Polycarp / San Policarpio / Thánh Polycarp (M)
February 27 | St. Gabriel de la Dolorosa
February 28 | Blessed Antonia of Florence
March 2026 - Month of St. Joseph
March 2026 - Month of St. Joseph
After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is the greatest of the saints. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church. He is also considered the patron saint of the New World, China, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru and Vietnam. In the United States, it may seem that March is dedicated to St. Patrick, but the Church has dedicated the entire month to St. Joseph.
March 19, St. Joseph’s Day, was once a day in which all Catholics around the world celebrated their own fathers. In the recent century, many governments have tried to distance themselves from this religious tie by declaring their own Father’s Day on a separate day. However, the following countries still celebrate fathers on St. Joseph’s Day: Andorra, Angola, Catholic Belgium, Bolivia, Croatia, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mozambique, Portugal, Spain, and Catholic Switzerland.
Since St. Joseph is the patron saint of Sicily, Italian Americans have wonderful traditions when celebrating San Giuseppe:
Dress in red (kind of like dressing in green for St. Patrick’s Day, students can dress in red for St. Joseph’s Day on the Friday before March 19).
Eat Zeppole pastries
Have a St. Joseph’s table.
A Pennsylvania heiress who became a religious sister, St. Katherine Drexel championed for the rights of Native Americans and African Americans. She donated a substantial amount of money to a number of churches in what is now the Diocese of Charlotte. For instance, she gave enough money to Greensboro’s first Catholic parish of St. Benedict so that a church could be built. Sixty years before the famous sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter just down the road, St. Benedict Catholic Church had pew space reserved for black Catholics alongside white Catholics thanks to her.
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity are early Christian martyrs from North Africa. They are remembered at every Mass during the Roman Canon recited by the priest during consecration. Formed has a good animated 30-minute movie about them (suggested for kids 7 and up) called: Catholic Heroes of the Faith - The Story of Saint Perpetua.
The celebration of this saint in the U.S. is a perfect example of how Catholics immigrating from other countries can influence our greater traditions. He forgave those who kidnapped and enslaved him by returning to bring Christianity to pagan Ireland after having escaped. As shown here, he used the three-leaf clover to teach the Trinity.
A Salvadoran Roman Catholic archbishop, St. Oscar Romero, was a vocal critic of the violent activities of government armed forces, right-wing groups, and leftist guerrillas involved in El Salvador’s civil conflict. He was killed was saying Mass.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - St. Joseph
March 3 | St. Katherine Drexel / Santa Catalina Drexel / Th. Katharine Drexel
March 4 | St. Casimir / San Casimiro / Thánh Casimir
March 7 | Sts. Perpetua and Felicity / Santas Perpetua y Felicitas / Th. Perpêtua & Th. Phêlixita
March 8 | St. John of God / San Juan de Dios / Thánh Gioan Thiên Chúa
March 9 | St. Frances of Rome / Santa Francisca de Roma / Thánh Phanxica Romana
March 12 | Anniversary of martyrdom of Vietnamese Catholic priest and Servant of God, Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep
March 17 | St. Patrick / San Patricio / Thanh Patrick
March 19 | St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity) / San José, esposo de la Santisima Virgen María (Solemnidad) / Lễ Đức Thánh Giuse, Phu QuânĐức Mẹ (Lễ Trọng)
March 23 | St. Turibius of Mogrovejo / San Toribio de Mogrovejo / Th. Turibius of MogrovejoProminent in the history of the Catholic Church in Peru, he supported the rights of the native people.
March 24 | St. Oscar Romero (died 1980; canonized 2015)
March 25 | The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) / La Anunciación del Señor (Solemnidad) / Lễ Truyền Tin cho Đức Mẹ (Lễ Trọng)
April 2026 - Month of the Holy Eucharist
April 2026 - Month of the Holy Eucharist
The month of April is dedicated both to devotion to the Eucharist and devotion to the Holy Spirit. This tradition has developed because Easter Sunday often falls in April, and when it does fall in March, the Easter season continues on through all of April. In essence, April is a month of Easter, and during the Easter celebration we remember the Eucharistic sacrifice Christ gave us and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, which would come after Jesus's resurrection.
Born in Seville, Spain, he was a bishop and scholar who helped the Church preserve its own traditions, and the heritage of western civilization, in the early Middle Ages.
Born in France, St. John Baptist De La Salle was a pioneer in programs for training lay teachers. He is the patron of all educators.
Catholics observing Palm Sunday in the Philippines.
Holy Week honors the week that changed the world. From Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, there were many events that are vital to our faith, including the Institution of the Eucharist, the Passion of Jesus, and His Resurrection from the dead. Catholics around the world celebrate with a variety of traditions during this week.
The Visitation to Seven Churches is a devotion practiced by Catholics around the world. It involves traveling to seven local churches after the Mass on Holy Thursday.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - Holy Eucharist (Blessed Sacrament)
April 4 | St. Isidore of Seville / San Isidoro de Sevilla / Thanh Isiđôrô
April 5 | St. Vincent Ferrer / San Vicente Ferrer / Th. Vinh-Sơn Ferriê'
April 7 | St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle / San Juan Bautista de la Salle / Thanh Gioan Baotixita đê Lasan
Born in France, St. La Salle was a pioneer in programs for training lay teachers. He is the patron of all educators.
April 13 | Palm Sunday / Domingo de Ramos / Chúa Nhật Lễ Lá
April 14 - 19 | Holy Week / Semana Santa / Tuần Thánh
April 20 | Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord / Domingo de Pascua de la Resurrección del Señor / Chúa Nhật Lễ Phục Sinh
April 25 | St. Mark the Evangelist / San Marcos / Thánh Máccô (F)
April 28 | St. Peter Chanel; St. Louis Grignion de Montfort / San Pedro Chanel; San Luis Grignion de Montfort / Thánh Peter Chaeni / Thánh Louis Grignon de Montfort
Born in France, he was a Catholic priest, missionary, and martyr. He was among the first missionaries to land in Futuna, an island in the South Pacific. Chanel labored faithfully amid the greatest hardships, attending the sick, baptizing the dying, and winning from all the name of "the man with the kind heart". Eventually, natives begun to convert but when the son of the island’s king asked to be baptized, the king had Father Chanel murdered. St. Peter Chanel is the patron saint of Futuna and the Oceana region. Thanks to his efforts, 99% of the people in Futuna and Wallis are Catholic.
April 29 | St. Catherine of Sienna / Santa Catalina de Siena / Thánh Catarina ở Siena (M)
May 2026 - Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 2026 - Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The month of May is traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church has emphasized the month of May as a time of honor and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary for centuries.
This month is part of the Easter season, between Easter Sunday (April 20) and Pentecost (June 8).
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (as of 2021, officially changed from Asian American Pacific Islander Month) is observed in the U.S. during the month of May, and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S.
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima - May 13
On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to three shepherd children, Lúcia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinta Marto, at the Cova da Iria outside the village of Aljustrel, near Fatima, Portugal. In the months that followed, the children would see Mary five more times. On the sixth and last appearance, the Virgin told the children her name: The Lady of the Rosary. Throughout these appearances, the children received prophetic messages of prayer, penance and peace called the “Secret,” and residents of Fatima witnessed a stunning atmospheric event that would become known as the Miracle of the Sun.
The full meaning of the miracles of Fatima would not be understood until decades beyond – and now, a century later, they continue to inspire the faithful across the globe.
May 21 | St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions
This day remembers the 25 priests and laymen who were killed during the anti-clerical laws placed by President Plutarco Calles during his presidency from 1924-1928. Since the Mexican revolutionary war (1810-1820), the Catholic Church has been a target of the Mexican government in an effort to weaken its position in the country and its influence over its citizens. Prior to the war, Spain ruled the area for more than 300 years.
After the revolution, Mexican government leaders (headquartered in central Mexico) had the goal to diminish the church and put in anti-clerical laws immediately. President Plutarco Calles, a former Mexican general, decided to put the anti-clerical laws in extreme action unlike the politicians before him, whom while anti-Catholic didn’t want to anger the people too much.
Many Mexican Catholics do not know much about this time period as the political party that President Calles incepted is still in power today and it’s not taught in public schools.
Full Month | Catholic Devotion - Blessed Virgin Mary
Full Month | Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 1 - June 7 | Easter Season
May 2 | St. Athanasius / San Atanasio / Thánh Anathasiȏ (M)
May 3 | Sts. Philip and James, Apostles / Santos Felipe y Santiago / Thánh Philipphê và Giacôbê (M) - Patron Saints of Uruguay
May 12 | Sts. Nereus and Achilleus; St. Pancras / Santos Nereo y Aquileo; San Pancracio / Thánh Nereus và Achilleus; Thánh Pancras
May 13 | Our Lady of Fatima / Nuestra Señora de Fátima / Lễ Đức Mẹ Fatima
May 18 | St. John I / San Juan I / Thánh John I
May 20 | St. Bernadine of Siena / San Bernardino de Siena / Thánh Bernadine ở Siena
May 21 | St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions / San Cristóbal Magallanes y sus compañeros / Thánh Christopher Magallanes LM và các bạn
May 25 | St. Bede the Venerable; St. Gregory VII; St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi / San Beda el Venerable; San Gregorio VII; Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi / Thánh Bede Venerable, LM TSHT; Thánh Gregory VII, GH; Thánh Mary Magdalene deś Pazzi
May 27 | St. Augustine of Canterbury / San Agustin de Canderbury / Thánh Augustine ở Canterbury /
May 29 | The Ascension of the Lord / La Ascensión del Señor (S)
May 30 | St. Joan of Arc / Santa Juana de Arco / Thánh Joan ở Arc
May 31 | The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary / La Visitación de la Santisima Virgen Maria / Đức Mẹ Maria thăm viếng bà Thánh Isave (F)
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