Offaly parishes to mark the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis

THE Brendan Pastoral Area (parishes of Birr, Kilcolman, Kinnitty & Shinrone) warmly invites all parishioners and the wider community to a special Celebration of the Eucharist in honour of the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old modern witness to holiness.

The Mass will be celebrated in St Brendan’s Church, Birr on Saturday September 6^th at 7.30pm

This will be joyful celebration with participation from the Brendan Pastoral Area Youth Group and the Brendan Pastoral Area Choir.

Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonised on September 7th 2025 by Pope Leo XIV in Rome, is affectionately known as the “patron saint of the internet”. From a young age, Carlo developed a profound love for Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, which he called his “highway to heaven”. He created a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles across the world, using his computer skills to draw people closer to Christ through the reality of His presence.

Carlo lived his short life with extraordinary devotion. He went to daily Mass, prayed the Rosary, cared for the poor, and encouraged his friends to deepen their relationship with God. Yet he was also a typical teenager - he enjoyed football, video games, films, quizzes, and playing with his pets. His joy, kindness, and humour made him approachable and beloved by his peers.

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“For the first time in history we will see a saint dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a sweater.”

Carlo died in 2006 at the age of 15 after a brief battle with leukaemia. His beatification in 2020 followed the recognition of a miraculous healing of a young boy in Brazil who suffered from a rare pancreatic condition. Another miraculous healing - this time of a young woman in Florence who had been suffering with a serious neurological illness - has been attributed to Carlo’s intercession and has paved the way for his canonisation.

Carlo’s witness shows that sainthood is not reserved for priests, religious, or those far removed from ordinary life. It is a call for all - children, teenagers, and adults alike - to live with faith, joy, and love for God.

The Brendan Pastoral Area warmly encourages families, young people, and all members of the community to join this special Mass of thanksgiving and joy, celebrating the life, faith, and upcoming canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

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