November 30

John of Vercelli, born around 1205 in northern Italy, entered the Dominican Order and rose to prominence as a scholar and preacher. Elected Master General in 1264, he oversaw the Order’s expansion across Europe and enhanced its educational missions. He served as papal legate in various diplomatic missions and promoted missionary work in Asia and the Middle East. His leadership helped solidify the Order’s intellectual reputation, and he died in 1283, leaving a strengthened and more cohesive Dominican community.

Seungsahn (1927–2004) was a revered Zen Buddhist teacher who established temples and practice groups worldwide under the Kwan Um School of Zen. Ordained as a monk in Korea, he arrived in the United States in 1972 and opened his first American Zen center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for his warm teaching style, he used kong-an practice and everyday mindfulness to guide students. Under his leadership, the Kwan Um School grew to include over 100 centers across North America, Europe, and Asia. Seungsahn authored several books on Zen practice, leaving a lasting influence on Western Buddhism.

Born in 1934 in Van Nuys, California, Crouch began his broadcasting career in local radio. In 1973, he and his wife Jan founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) with a small transmitter. Under his leadership, TBN grew into the world’s largest religious television network, reaching millions globally. He hosted flagship programs such as Praise the Lord and produced faith-based content for diverse audiences. Crouch’s vision transformed Christian broadcasting and influenced religious media for decades. He remained an active voice in TBN until his death in 2013.