Excitement builds for canonization of young saints

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
As the Vatican prepares for a Sept. 7 canonization of Blessed Carlos Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, many of the faithful of the Diocese of Sioux City – especially young Catholics – are excited. Many have a devotion to the young saints.
 
Bishop John E. Keehner recently learned he will be able to attend the historic canonization ceremony in Rome next month while he is in Italy for meetings.
 
An April 27 canonization ceremony was originally scheduled for Blessed Acutis, a teenager known for his devotion to the Eucharist and creating an online exhibition of Eucharistic miracles, during the Jubilee of Teenagers. However, it was postponed following the death of Pope Francis in April.
 
The late pope had also intended to proclaim Blessed Frassati, a young adult known for his life of service and charity, a saint during the summertime Jubilee of Youth in Rome. (See related story.) Relics of both future saints were displayed for veneration during the July 28 through Aug. 3 jubilee.
 
Role models
Karmen Bower, diocesan director of faith formation, said the witness of faith of the two young men is what has attracted young Catholics to learn more about them and view them as role models.
 
“I believe that many young people are drawn to Blessed Pier Giorgio and Blessed Carlo Acutis because they witnessed the love of God and the love of their neighbor outside of a formal vocation since they both passed away before entering a vocation,” she explained. “Young people in their teens and 20s can often feel like their lives are on hold until their vocation is realized but Pier Giorgio and Carlo Acutis can inspire them in how to love God and their neighbor during this time of waiting and transition.”
 
Blessed Frassati was beatified by St. John Paul II in 1990, which put his life of providing for the poor and supporting social teaching in the world spotlight. Bower was one of the young Catholics paying attention.
 Blessed Frassati“I have had a devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio since I learned about him in college,” the director said “It’s easy to be drawn to him and his story as an example of a young person witnessing the love of Christ to his peers and neighbors. As I’ve gotten older, I have several friends with children named after him, which speaks to his impact upon our generation.”
 
Relatable saints
Catechists and Catholic school educators also recognize the relatability of the two young saints and have focused upon their lives with their students in recent years.
 
Grant Monnig, sophomore and junior theology educator at Kuemper High School in Carroll said that both future saints will be covered as part of the Kuemper Virtues in Practice program this academic year.
 
“Students respond well to the stories of Blessed Carlo and Pier Giorgio and there is an excitement about their canonizations because they are so relatable,” the teacher explained. “Both of then demonstrated their sanctity at a young age. Both of them – especially Blessed Carlo – are very modern saints and both lived fairly ‘ordinary’ lives.”
 
The Sioux City Cathedral Parish youth group, Dead Theologians Society (DTS), focuses upon the lives of saints to inspire their students to “become the saints of tomorrow.” Santa Fernandez, parish director of religious education, and other DTS leadership attended a conference on the jubilee year in Ottumwa in July where Antonia, Blessed Acutis’ mother was a speaker.

 Santa Fernandez and relics of Blessed Acutis“They displayed a relic of Blessed Acutis, which we took photos of. It was a beautiful experience to hear a mother speak about her son who will soon be canonized,” Fernandez said. “I will ask the catechists to give a brief explanation about the two future saints so that children know that even in these times, young people can become saints.” 

Upcoming celebrations
Students at Sacred Heart Elementary in Sioux City will have a permanent reminder of Blessed Carlo and his life in their school building. Erin Chute, principal, said the school will bless the St. Carlo Acutis STEM Lab after the new school year begins. It is a multi-functional space with STEM education as the focus.
 
Chute said the Sacred Heart students learned about the future saint last spring when it was anticipated he would be canonized in April.
 
“We thought the first millennial saint that had a passion to share God’s miracles through the internet was a great namesake for a STEM room,” the principal shared.
 
Around the canonization date, which will land on a Sunday, some parishes and schools have events planned to enlighten parishioners regarding the lives of Blessed Acutis and Blessed Frassati.
 
Paulette Karolczak, faith formation director for All Saints Parish in LeMars said the faith formation classes will begin just a few days prior to the canonization.

 Holy Trinity of Webster County's website landing page for faith formation“At our faith formation kickoff on Sept. 3, we will share a brief history and prayers for both saints,” she said. “Then our Family of Faith groups for 1, 3, 4 and 5 will read about a saint each month and complete a coloring sheet. So, St. Carlo will be their September saint.” Amy Halder, student and family advocate for St. Mary School in Storm Lake and parish Life Teen leader, said she will celebrate the “amazing role models” in both the parish and the school.
 
“Our school/parish Life Teen youth group plans to honor Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati at a gathering tentatively planned for Sept. 3. We had a session learning about Blessed Carlo Acutis before school dismissed in May,” she said.
 
Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City launched a coloring contest in preparation for the celebration of the two young future saints. Mary Lehr, parish director of faith formation, explained on the weekend of Sept. 6 and 7, the parish will have books, medals, holy cards and pamphlets available after Mass. They also borrowed some of the eucharistic banners from Siouxland Catholic Radio in Sioux City for their celebration.
 
Tony Michaels, marketing and outreach director for Siouxland Catholic Radio, said in addition to loaning out the banners, he anticipates that EWTN will offer content about the saints closer to the canonization date.
 
Iowa Catholic Radio KCSL 89.9, with a tower near Spencer, also has eucharistic miracles of the world banners, curated by Blessed Acutis. Matt Willkom, director of programming and network development, said the banners are available for parishes, schools and other faith-based organizations to use at no charge.
 
Megan Ulrich, director of religious education for Ascension Parish, Sacred Heart Church in Boone, said a parishioner donated Blessed Acutis comic books to both the parish religious education program and Sacred Heart School. She noted that a confirmation student last year selected the millennial saint as her confirmation saint.
 
“Last school year we did have a middle school Life Teen Edge series that featured Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, so it will be neat that those kids will know a lot about him,” Ulrich said.
 
Content from Catholic News Service was included in this article with permission.

Cover photo - Catholic News Service/Vatican News - Pope Leo XIV signs an image of Blessed Carlo Acutis in St. Peter's Square after his general audience at the Vatican June 18, 2025.

Trailer from Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality documentary;

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