Wondering what saints your family should turn to for their needs? Some saints have special connections to family roles. Saints — men and women the Church believes are in heaven — commonly asked to intercede for families (and their feast days) include:

Blessed Virgin Mary (Jan. 1)
Patron of mothers

St. Joseph (March 19)
Patron of fathers

St. Gianna Beretta Molla (April 28)
Patron of mothers and the 2015 World Meeting of Families

St. Eugene de Mazenod (May 21)
Patron of dysfunctional families

St. Rita of Cascia (May 22)
Patron of difficult marriages, impossible causes, infertility and parenthood

St. Gerard Majella (Oct. 16) ­
Patron of expectant mothers

St. John Paul II (Oct. 22) ­
Patron of World Youth Day and the 2015
World Meeting of Families

St. Nicholas (Dec. 6)
Patron of children, brides and grooms

Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin
Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux.
Their canonization is expected in October.

St. Margaret of Cortona (Feb. 22)
Patron of single mothers

Sts. Joachim and Anne (July 26)
Patrons of grandparents