MOST READ: New statue honouring a beatified teenager is blessed in Tipperary church

A very special gathering was held at the Church of the Holy Family in Ardfinnan in Tipperary last Wednesday as Mass was celebrated in honour of the upcoming canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis on April 27, 2025.

Fr Michael Toomey, PP, celebrated the Mass with over 1,000 people with many parishioners and people who travelled from right across the country who came to Ardfinnan to celebrate the Mass, and to learn more about this soon-to-be- Saint.

All the local schools in the Pastoral Area including members of Carlo Acutis Youth Ireland took part in the Mass, which was also viewed by over 3,000 online.

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Fr Michael talked about the inspirational message this 15 year old had in his love of computing, football, and praying the rosary and devotion to the Eucharist.

He said: “We are really looking forward to celebrating Mass with a number of parishioners as part of the parish pilgrimage in early April at his tomb in Assisi.”

Fr Michael will also be concelebrating Carlo’s Canonisation Mass with Pope Francis on April 27 at St Peters Basilica in the Vatican.

The Shrine in Ardfinnan depicts a statue made in Italy, with Carlo holding a mobile phone, game controller, and football, wearing sneakers and a back-pack.

The shrine also has his official photo and a livestream to his tomb in Assisi where pilgrims can pass by and pray and where his body can be seen.

It also has a replica football shirt of his favourite football team, AC Milan, and a picture of Carlo wearing a similar shirt as a child.

After the Mass, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford & Lismore, blessed the beautiful statue and shrine of Blessed Carlo installed by the parish in the Church, and the huge numbers of people of all ages were given the opportunity to venerate a relic of Blessed Carlo at the end of the evening.

Bishop Cullinan was also presented with a special custom-made Chasuble by the parish and everyone commented on what a wonderful celebration it was in this Holy Year.