MERRILLVILLE - Strong, faith-filled disciples of Christ are needed to serve families, youth and communities. Parish leaders need the right resources and training to grow in their faith and lead others well. The Diocese of Gary’s Office of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization established the Carlo Acutis Endowment Fund to provide grants and scholarships that make continued formation possible.
The missionary discipleship and evangelization office formally announced the creation of the Carlo Acutis Endowment Fund during the Emmaus Conference in August. The fund will support the ongoing formation of parish leaders and others who serve the Church throughout the Diocese of Gary.
Approximately $2,500 of the $5,000 needed to establish the fund with the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana has been raised to date. Once established, the fund will continue to provide support through the earnings. The more it grows, the more support it can provide.
When it comes to going to workshops or attending conferences, cost can be a barrier. The diocese hopes this new fund will allow more individuals the opportunity to grow beyond monetary barriers and encourage continued formation. The fund could be used to assist those who want to participate in formation classes or give parish leaders the chance to personally invite other active parishioners to learn more about their faith.
The fund is named after St. Carlo Acutis, the first Millennial saint and a young man sometimes called “God’s influencer.” He was an English-born Italian Catholic teenager known for his devotion to the Eucharist and his use of digital media to promote Catholic devotion. Born in London and raised in Milan, he developed an early interest in computers and video games, teaching himself programming and web design and assisting his parish and school with digital projects.
Acutis used his gifts and knowledge of technology to share his faith with others. He helped his family put together an exhibition on Eucharistic miracles that has gone on to be displayed at thousands of parishes on five continents.
As St. Carlo Acutis's feast day approaches Oct. 12, the diocesean team continues to work toward reaching the $5,000 goal in hopes of establishing the endowment fund soon.
Jennie Weer, executive director of Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana, explained that a gift of any size “brings us closer to our goal and helps create lasting support for the people who serve our Church.”
Weer said that the foundation is honored to help make this vision possible, adding, “An endowment creates a lasting source of support, allowing the generosity of today’s donors to help form and strengthen the leaders who will serve in the Diocese of Gary for many years to come.”
Father Declan McNicholas, who will oversee the fund through the Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization Office, reflected on how the fund is appropriately named.
“St. Carlo Acutis is a wonderful example of how we can use our gifts and the tools of our time to bring others closer to Christ,” he said. “This fund will help us form disciples who can do the same in our parishes and communities.”
To give today and help the diocese invest in the future, visit https://catholicfuture.org/news/carlo-acutis-evangelization-fund-1. To view a video that explains more about the Saint Carlo Acutis Endowment Fund, click here.
