July 30

Charles Chiniquy was born in Quebec in 1809. Ordained as a Catholic priest, he served for several years in Canada and Illinois. After disputing church practices, he was excommunicated in 1856 and joined the Presbyterian Church. Chiniquy became a prolific author and orator, warning against alleged abuses within the Catholic hierarchy. His books and lectures attracted large audiences in the United States. Though controversial, his work influenced 19th-century debates on religion and papal authority.

Born in Boonville, Missouri, Clarence Theodore Vivian became a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He served as national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, promoting nonviolent protest. An accomplished author, he wrote several books on faith and social justice. Throughout his life, he championed equality, voter registration, and community empowerment. He received numerous awards for his leadership in the civil rights movement. He passed away in 2020, leaving a lasting legacy of courage and compassion.

Georg Gänswein (born July 30, 1956) is a German archbishop and Vatican official. Ordained in 1984, he became the personal secretary to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and continued in the role when Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. In 2012, Pope Benedict appointed him Prefect of the Pontifical Household, overseeing papal liturgies and audiences. He was created an archbishop that same year and served in the role until 2020. Known for his deep theological insight and administrative skill, he has lectured on canon law and Church governance. After leaving the Prefecture, he was named consultor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, continuing his service to the Church.

Ordained minister at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, Clementa C. Pinckney was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2000 and to the State Senate in 2004. He became the youngest African American state senator in South Carolina history. Pinckney championed education reform, social justice, and community development throughout his career. He was tragically killed in the 2015 Charleston church shooting while leading Bible study at his church. His legacy endures through the work of the Clementa C. Pinckney Foundation and numerous memorials in his honor.