<p>Although Anthony came from Portugal, the city of Padua in Italy claims him as its own. Born in 1195 of the nobility, he was baptized Ferdinand and at 15 joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine. For eight years he applied himself to intense study and became an accomplished biblical scholar. His contact with some Franciscans who were later martyred inspired him to move to the Franciscans. Illness prevented mission work and he was sent to Italy where, having led a hidden life, he was ordered to fill in for an absent preacher.

<p>Barnabas, a Jew from Cyprus, came to Jerusalem where he joined the early Christian community. The apostles changed his name from Joseph to Barnabas which Luke tells us meant "man of encouragement." All that we know of Barnabas is recorded by Luke in Acts: he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. It was Barnabas who accepted Paul into the community after his conversion and who was at Paul's side for many years as his partner in evangelizing the Gentiles.

<p>Ephrem lived from about 306 to 373. Although the details of his life have been lost, we do have many of his writings in the original Syriac, as well as in Greek, Latin, and Armenian.</p>

<p>Norbert was born near Xanten (Germany) in 1080. As a young man in minor orders, he lived a life devoted to pleasure until a narrow escape from death in 1115 inspired him to reform his life and become a monk. Irked by his extreme asceticism and his attempts to reform them, his fellow monks denounced him. Resigning his position, Norbert gave away all his worldly goods and went to Rome where Pope Gelasius II granted him permission to preach the gospel wherever he wished.</p>

<p>Born around 680 in Devonshire, England, Wynfrid was raised in English Benedictine monasteries. By 717, he was a renowned teacher and preacher, but gave up his work in response to a call to the mission field of Friesland (northern Netherlands), where he laboured alongside Saint Willibrord.</p>

<p>The 22 Martyrs of Uganda died on June 3, 1886, and were canonized in 1964. Charles Lwanga and his companions had become Christians through the Catholic missions of the Missionaries of Africa (popularly called the White Fathers).</p>

<p>A teacher of great repute, Bede is the only English Doctor of the Church. Born in the north of England about 673, he was sent to a Benedictine monastery at the age of 7, and was educated in a neighbouring monastery, where he remained for the rest of his life. At 19, he became a deacon and at 30, a priest.</p>

<p>Louis-Zéphirin Moreau was born in Bécancour, Quebec, in 1824. The fifth of 13 children, Louis-Zéphirin was educated in the seminary but was initially rejected for the priesthood because of his frail health. His desire was strong, however, and his persistence resulted in his ordination in 1846. He soon became secretary for the diocese of Montreal, and later for the newly founded diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe, of which he became its fourth bishop in 1875.

<p>Saint Rita was born in Umbria, Italy, in 1386. Although she wanted to be a nun, her parents betrothed her to a cruel and ill-tempered man whom she married at age 18. When her husband was murdered 18 years later, her twin sons were determined to avenge his murder. Rita pleaded with them to forgive the murderers, and her prayers eventually prevailed. Now a widow, Rita sought to enter the convent, but was initially refused because some relatives of her husband's murderers were members.

<p>Charles Joseph Eugène de Mazenod was born in France in 1782. Ordained in 1811, his religious experience led him to minister to the poor and the young. Interested in popular missions, Eugène founded a missionary institute of priests and lay brothers in 1826, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, whose particular charism is to minister to those who have never heard of Christ. By the middle of the 19th century, in response to requests for help from North American bishops, especially Bishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal, the congregation sent several of its small number to Canada.