December 26

Clemens Maria Hofbauer was born in 1751 and ordained a Redemptorist priest. After the suppression of his order in Germany, he continued his mission in Warsaw, Poland. He established orphanages, schools, and churches, ministering compassionately to the poor and marginalized. His leadership revitalized the Redemptorist community in Eastern Europe and fostered vocations amid political turmoil. Known for his devotion, he was beatified in 1888 and canonized by Pope Pius X in 1909. Saint Clemens Maria Hofbauer remains a patron of Vienna and a symbol of missionary zeal and charity.

Philaret Drozdov (1782–1867) served as Metropolitan of Moscow from 1821 until his death. He was renowned for his theological writings and liturgical reforms within the Russian Orthodox Church. Drozdov published critical editions of church texts and championed traditional Orthodox practices. He navigated the church through times of political change and resisted Western influences. His leadership strengthened clerical education and missionary efforts across Russia. Canonized as a saint in 1994, his legacy endures in modern Orthodox theology.

Born in Durban, South Africa in 1938, he studied theology before emigrating to the United States. He served as the founding pastor of the Stanford Community Church while teaching early Christian studies at Stanford University. His publications explored themes of forgiveness, non-violence, and the human psyche in religious contexts. Hamerton-Kelly held degrees from Rhodes University and the Claremont Graduate University, integrating psychological insight into his biblical scholarship. As a speaker, he was known for engaging lectures and community outreach. He died in 2013, and his writings continue to influence theologians and pastors worldwide.