Teenage saint inspires all ages
News
The story of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian teenager who used technology to promote the Eucharist and his love for God, has captured the imagination of young people around the globe.
His popularity is set to rise following the Vatican’s announcement that his postponed canonisation (due to the death of Pope Francis) will take place in Rome on September 7.
While he may have grown up on the other side of the world in Milan, he is fast becoming known amongst Australian youth thanks to the tireless efforts of Brisbane woman Kate Hobbs.
A devotee of the Blessed Adoration, Kate put together a travelling exhibition of Carlo Acutis and his online documentation of 134 Eucharistic miracles. When he became Blessed Carlo Acutis in October 2020 she obtained a first class relic – seven pieces of hair – which now forms the centrepiece of the exhibition.
Kate brought the relic to Kapunda in February and such was its impact that Seaton and Salisbury parishes followed suit.
Henry and Lilliana
Henry and Lilianna Jaworski, who worship at Croydon Park and Salisbury churches, visited the relic in Kapunda and placed prayers of intention in the box provided. Clearly moved by the experience, Henry told The Southern Cross it was “very special” to see so many students and parishioners visiting the Carlo Acutis shrine and exhibition at Salisbury.
“It was a beautiful feeling and it was our wish to make more people to know about it, it was our wish,” said Lilianna.
“My heart is so happy I can’t explain.”
The word is spreading and already one other parish has made arrangements for Kate to return to Adelaide to display the relic.
While Kate has travelled throughout Australia over the past few years, firstly with displays of the Eucharistic miracles promoted by Carlo and now with the relic, she isn’t the only one promoting his life and work.
There are 10 first class relics in Australia, including one at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Payneham, which is entrusted permanently to the parish. The parish has also been granted another first class relic to go in the church’s new altar but will receive it later in the year.
There are also four other exhibitions in Australia. But Kate, a mother of five and grandmother of four, is a fountain of knowledge on the young saint-in-waiting and is happy to speak to groups.
Salisbury pastoral associate Grace Healey said Kate was “very organised” and her displays highly professional.
There is a life-size picture of Carlo’s tomb on the shrine, a rolling photographic presentation and a 20-minute movie targeted at children, as well as the ornate reliquary containing the hairs.
“People come and sit down and cry,” Kate said.
“And then they come and say I don’t know what happened there…they’re so emotional. It’s astounding really when you think of these tiny pieces of hair and yet I watch people go to pieces.
“They sit there for ages. To be able to see God tangibly working in people through Carlo is amazing. I’ve had reports of people’s lives changed, what people consider to be little miracles in their lives.”
Kate said the official title of the original exhibition is the Vatican International Exhibition of Eucharistic Miracles and all are approved miracles.
Dubbed the millennial saint and the ‘saint in sneakers’, Carlo’s relevance to young people is undeniable.
“He loved computers but as an eight year old he saw the effect of gaming addiction on his life and so limited himself to one hour a week on Saturdays,” Kate told more than 300 students attending Mass at St Augustine’s Church on Friday, June 20.
“Carlo prayed every day from the age of five and he would visit every church in the street, so he fostered this love for Jesus and really wanted to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.”
In Salisbury alone, about 2000 students from St Augustine’s and Holy Spirit primary schools as well as from Thomas More College viewed the exhibition and relic, many writing petitions which will be sent to Carlo’s tomb in Assisi. A steady stream of parishioners also prayed and participated in blessed adoration after each of the three Masses held at St Augustine’s Church.
Thomas More College students, from left, Olivia Wilkins, Thi Nguyen, Armeet Kaur, Alphonsa George and Esther Hauhulh.
Thomas More students described the exhibition as “inspiring” and “incredibly insightful”.
Cassidy Simmonds said she enjoyed learning about a young saint who lived his life through God.
“He died knowing he would be with God, he said to his mother ‘I’m not going to make it out of this but live in my memory’,” she said.
“I thought that it was wonderful to see what can happen to someone if they devote their free time to God. It is amazing that anyone and everyone can do as Carlo did from when they are so young,” said Emily Jenkins.
Similarly, Angela Barnden said she found it interesting for a saint to be so young.
“I found it very inspiring for young students like us to have a role model we can relate to. It felt good to be part of our Catholic faith community,” she added.
Kate Hobbs can be contacted at admin@adorationveneration.com
