New Saints and Local Mentors for Today’s Young Catholics

New Saints and Local Mentors

for Today’s Young Catholics

This month, Pope Leo XIV canonized two remarkable young people: St. Carlo Acutis, a teenager from Italy who died of leukemia in 2006, and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a joyful young man from early 20th-century Italy who dedicated his short life to prayer, friendship, and service to the poor. Their stories remind us that holiness is not reserved for priests or religious, nor only for those advanced in years.

 

Saint Carlo, who loved computers and used his skills to spread devotion to the Eucharist, shows us that even a teenager in our own times can live as a missionary disciple. Saint Pier Giorgio, known for his laughter, mountain-climbing, and generous service, teaches us that holiness can flourish in the ordinary activities of young adulthood. Though their lives were separated by a century, both new saints speak powerfully to our youth today: God calls them to greatness, right here and right now.

 

Their canonization reminds us of something Pope Francis and many others have often said: young people are not only the future of the Church — they are her present! Their joy, energy, and willingness to serve can renew our parishes if we encourage them and walk with them in faith.

 

Here in our collaborative parishes, we are blessed with several opportunities for young people to grow as disciples. Faith formation classes assist parents and other adults in handing on the faith, as together we prepare our children and teens to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation — special moments of grace that anchor their lives in Christ. Our regional CYO basketball league gives youth the chance to grow in teamwork, discipline, and mutual support. Beyond programs, our young people also minister to others in profound ways: by teaching younger children, serving at the altar, proclaiming the Word, sharing music at Mass, and reaching out in service to those in need.

 

Both of our parishes have had strong youth ministry programs — both historically and in recent years. The pandemic brought these experiences to a halt, and with such a transitional age group, we quickly lost momentum and have struggled to resume the wider variety of offerings we used to have. The Collaborative Pastoral Council and both Parish Finance Councils have made strengthening our ministries with youth a priority for this ministry year. As we look to revive and expand our youth ministries, the example of Saints Carlo and Pier Giorgio calls us to dream big for our young Church. Our youth need spaces and opportunities where their faith is nourished, their talents welcomed, and their service encouraged. They also need mentors in this journey — adults and older teens who are willing to walk with them, guide them, and help them recognize Christ’s presence in their lives and how valued they truly are — by God and by us! With guidance from our archdiocese through the Vibrant Parishes initiative, I am working with a few representative adults and teens to discern how God is leading us to prioritize and structure these renewed efforts for our wider Catholic community.

 

The saints remind us that holiness is possible for everyone, no matter how old or young we are. So may we join our hearts in prayer for our youth and for all who accompany them, asking the Holy Spirit to guide our planning and renewal efforts. And let’s take up the joyful task of helping them discover that they, too, are called to be saints.