“To always be close to Jesus, that's my life plan.” – Blessed Carlo Acutis
CHESTERTON – In August, St. Patrick Catholic Church hosted Father Paolo Ravagli, a priest from the Diocese of Imola in Italy, for a week-long vacation while sharing more about pastoral ministry in the United States. That visit led to the presentation of an unexpected gift from one parish to the other.
As a sign of friendship, Father Ravagli recently gifted the faith communities of St. Patrick and St. Ann of the Dunes with a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. A first-class relic is from the physical remains of a saint. In this case, it is strands of his hair – "Ex capillis Caroli Acutis," which translated means “from the (head) hair of Carlo Acutis.”
“I was not aware of this gift in advance,” explained Father Jon Plavcan, St. Patrick pastor. “Only when Father (Ravagli) and I spoke on the phone a few weeks ago, he stated to me that the community would be receiving a gift. I thanked him for his generosity to the parishes and school.
“Two days later Father (Ravagli) informed me that the gift would be arriving shortly at the parish and that it was a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, whom I have been trying to promote among the schoolchildren during this time of the Eucharistic Revival.”
Father Plavcan added that about two years ago he petitioned the Diocese of Assisi for a relic of Carlo Acutis.
“It is my hope and prayer that by having the relic of Carlo Acutis, it will foster a greater desire for the Eucharist,” said Father Plavcan. “Also, for the youth of the parish to come to a fuller appreciation that all are called to be saints.”
Father Plavcan welcomed Bishop Robert J. McClory to preside over a Mass of thanksgiving for the life of Blessed Carlo and the gift of a relic on Sept. 11 with students of St. Patrick Catholic Community School in attendance.
During the homily, Bishop McClory asked the students to define what a saint is. One student responded with, “Someone who goes to heaven,” and another added, “Someone who follows God.”
Bishop McClory explained Carlo Acutis was an example of someone who made the most of his 15 years on Earth, dedicating his time to sharing his love of Jesus with others.
“Sometimes we have favorite saints because we say, ‘There’s something in the way that they lived that’s kind of like the way I want to live,’ and so maybe for some of you Carlo Acutis will be that saint,” said the bishop.
Through the use of the technology Father Ravagli was able to view the Mass remotely over the Internet while in Italy. Father Plavcan and those at St. Patrick shared their appreciation by giving an enthusiastic “Grazie, Father Paulo” out loud over the livestream for him to hear.
Father Plavcan made mention of the arrival of the relic at earlier Masses, inviting parishioners to attend the Wednesday morning liturgy. Kim Morton was one of those who filled in pews behind the students in the church to participate in the service and venerate the relic.
“You don’t get to experience something like this every day,” she said.
Reflecting on what it means for the parish to house the relic, Morton said, “I think it’ll be wonderful. As the bishop said, it could help the schoolchildren and the younger people have someone to lead them to Jesus.”
Morton shared that she has come to know more about Blessed Carlo in recent years. As a leader of the parish's youth group, she recalled that one of the rooms in the Heeg Center for youth was named after him.
Friends Leanne Sandrick and Melissa Pacilio have children who graduated from St. Patrick School and remembered the students studying about the life of Carlo Acutis last year.
“It’s neat to have such a young life be an influence on the kids and someone the kids can relate to, being the patron saint of influencers and computer programmers,” said Pacilio.
“We can do much in this computer age to promote Christianity, the Eucharist and the good of God. To come to know that ‘The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven,’” said Father Plavcan. “I have noticed an increase of adorers for the Adoration Chapel since the introduction of the diocese’s Adoration Passport initiative. “There are many different license plates that gather in the parking lot at St. Patrick.”
Father Plavcan will celebration Mass on Oct. 12, the Feast of Blessed Carlo Acutis, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick. Those in attendance will be given the opportunity to venerate the relic following the service.
Who is Blessed Carlo Acutis?
Carlo Acutis was born May 3, 1991, in London, though his family moved to Milan shortly afterward. From a young age, Acutis seemed to have a special love for God, even though his parents weren’t especially devout. He went to Mass and confession as often as he could and loved the Eucharist. He was fascinated by Eucharistic miracles. Researching with computers, he began creating what would eventually become a website to catalog and share the information with others.