October 14

Laura Askew Haygood was a pioneering educator and Methodist missionary in the late 19th century. Born in Georgia, she dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for women. In 1882, she founded the Haygood Memorial Girls’ School in Georgia. Haygood later traveled to China, where she established missionary schools and promoted women’s education. Her work combined curriculum development with spiritual outreach and community support. She was known for her advocacy of female empowerment and cross-cultural exchange. Haygood’s legacy endures through the institutions and programs she founded.

Hassan al-Banna was an Egyptian schoolteacher and imam who founded the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928, aiming to promote Islamic principles in society and governance. Born in 1906 in Mahmudiyya, he combined religious teaching with social activism and established a network of community centers, schools, and charitable services. Under his leadership, the Brotherhood grew rapidly into one of the most influential political and religious organizations in the Arab world. Al-Banna emphasized education, moral reform, and political engagement as means to revive Islamic values. His activities brought him into conflict with the Egyptian government, and he was assassinated in Cairo in 1949 under mysterious circumstances. His ideas and organizational model have shaped Islamist movements globally.

Born in 1915, Loris Francesco Capovilla began his ecclesiastical career as a young priest in Bergamo, Italy. He became the trusted private secretary to Pope John XXIII, playing a key role in convening the Second Vatican Council. In recognition of his service, he was elevated to cardinal in 2014 at the age of 98, one of the oldest in church history. Capovilla's deep humility, pastoral care, and commitment to Vatican II reforms left an indelible mark on modern Catholicism. He served until his death in 2016, celebrated for his devotion, wisdom, and contributions to church renewal. His life remains an inspiration to clergy and laity worldwide.