A new statue honouring a beatified teenager is unveiled in a Tipperary church

A new statue honouring a beatified teenager who was devout as well as being a computer whiz kid and fan of computer games and football has been unveiled at Holy Family Church, Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary.  It was installed the same week as Pope Francis declared that Blessed Carlo Acutis will be Canonised as Saint Carlo at a Mass in the Vatican on April 27th 2025.  

The statue was donated and commissioned to celebrate the Holy Year of 2025, and in preparation of the Parish Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in the Spring, where parishioners will go to a visit the tomb of the soon to be saint and to have Mass at the shrine where he lies in repose. 

Carlo was born in Fulham, London on May 3 1991.  His Italian family moved to Milan and  later he was an amateur website designer with a deep faith, especially in the Eucharist and the Rosary.

Carlo sadly died on October 12 2006 aged just 15 after suffering from leukaemia. 

Carlo was beatified on October 10, 2020 after the Vatican claims he interceded from heaven in 2013 to cure a Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disease. The beatification ceremony took place in Assisi, the home of his idol Saint Francis, who dedicated his life to the poor, and where Carlos body now lies in repose in the veneration of many pilgrims. 

Parish Priest of Ardfinnan,  Fr Michael Toomey said: “Carlo is a powerful example of faith for young people. Having his statue here in our parish encourages young people to come to the church to pray and it makes the church place to pray for young people”.

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Father Michael, who is also the chaplain of the High School in Clonmel, has talked about Carlo to many classes. “They have been amazed at Carlos story and can easily connect to him because of similar interests they have particularly with computers, gaming, and football”.

“What fascinates many of the students is that this soon to be Saint is reposing in Nike trainers, his jeans and sweatshirt, who loved computer games and had a passion for football. He makes this soon to be saint relevant to our young people today” Fr Michael said. 

The statue in Ardfinnan was made in Italy, and has Carlo depicting a games console, mobile phone and football, along with a shirt of his beloved football team A.C. Milan, and is in a specially designed shrine which has some history of him, along with some of the quotes of his love of the Eucharist. There is also a livestream showing his tomb which is being venerated from Assisi, and prayer cards and candles are also available for people who wish to use these. 

On January 29th at 7pm, Bishop Cullinan will come to Ardfinnan Church to bless the statue, and a First Class Relic will be present in which many schools and parishioners near and far will be invited to come and pray for the soon-to-be first Millennial Saint.