St. Carlo Acutis Challenge
Saturday May 2, 2026 Back to Around the Diocese
The St. Carlo Acutis Challenge
"A Saint Like You"
Grade 5-12 students from across our diocese have been challenged to follow in the footsteps of St. Carlo! That is, to use their gifts and talents to engage in the mission of the Church - to put together a project that highlights an aspect of the faith that they are passionate about. All parishioners are invited to join us on May 2nd from 10AM – 12NOON at Denis Morris Catholic High School (40 Glen Morris Drive, St. Catharines ON) to see the fruit of their efforts! Attendees will be able to vote for their favourite projects to help determine the winners of the people’s choice prizes!
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Who Was St. Carlo Acutis?
St. Carlo was just like you - a regular teenager who loved video games, soccer, and hanging out with friends. But he had something special: a deep love for Jesus in the Eucharist and an amazing talent with computers.
Born in 1991, St. Carlo used his tech skills to research and document Eucharistic miracles from around the world, creating a website that still inspires people today. He believed that "the Eucharist is the highway to heaven," and he used modern technology to share that highway with others.
Tragically, St. Carlo died of leukemia at just 15 years old in 2006. But his legacy lives on - he was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020 and was just canonized by Pope Leo XIV on September 7th of this year; he is often called "the patron saint of the Internet".
The Challenge:
Use the specific gifts and talents that God has given you to create a masterpiece that highlights an aspect of our Catholic faith that you are passionate about; something that will help spread the love of Jesus in our modern world. Whether it's a(n):
● Website or App
● Video or Game
● Podcast or Social Media Campaign
● Poem or Prayer
● Essay or Short Story
● Painting or Fashion Project
● Song or Dance
● Or something we haven't even thought of yet!
Whatever project you create, know that it is meant to evangelize (express that God is real, that He loves us, and that He desires a relationship with us), and it will be evaluated based on how effectively it accomplishes this goal.
Why Participate?
Just like St. Carlo and countless saints before him, you have unique gifts and talents. This challenge invites you to tap into that same sense of wonder and awe about our faith that Carlo had and use YOUR special abilities to create something beautiful for God. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commissions us all to “Go make disciples” – it is our mission to spread the love of God, and to make Him known and loved by all.
… And there are prizes!
Prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries, and all finalists will be showcased at our special celebration event on May 2nd! Click here for judging criteria
Questions? Call Nick Ali at the Catholic Centre, 905-684-0154 ext 214