For someone so young Saint Carlo Acutis has captured the hearts and minds of many in our Archdiocese.

Today, Sunday 7 September, he was canonised by Pope Leo XIV, alongside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Carlo is the first millennial saint to be canonised. He was just 15 when he died.

Here in the Archdiocese of Birmingham we have the first parish in Britain to be dedicated to Carlo, with a shrine.

The Parish of (now Saint) Carlo Acutis is made up of St Michael's; St Peter and Paul in Wolverhampton and St Bernadette, Wombourne and was founded in December 2020. 

Today’s joyous celebration was attended by hundreds from across the three churches and St Michael’s was buzzing with excitement and anticipation.

Parishioners gathered early to get a good seat to be able to watch the beginning of Mass - and declaration of the two new Saints, followed by rapturous applause - in Rome. The ceremony was live streamed from the Vatican on a large screen which formed the backdrop of the altar. Parishioners then had a photograph of St Carlo looking down on them.

Today’s Mass at St Michael’s was the only one for the Parish, given the sense of occasion. And it was clear a huge amount of work had gone into organising this celebration of prayer, liturgy, music and dancing.

Mass was celebrated by Bishop Timothy Menezes and concelebrated by Mgr Mark Crisp, Fr Gerry Bowen and Deacon Michael McKearney. They were very well supported by an impressive 50 altar servers from across the three churches.

During Mass the parish relic of Carlo Acutis was the focus at the centre of the altar.

In honour of today's canonisation, Bishop Timothy had written a special Homily. It opened:

I sometimes begin my homilies by saying a word to the children and young people who are present and then I continue with my homily for everybody else.

Today, I’m not going to move on to everybody else. Because today is a very special day for young people and so I shall begin, continue and end by speaking to the children and young people who are here.

And if the adults want to listen in, you’re welcome.

Dear children and young people!
What a day of joy.
What a day of celebration.

We have a new Saint: Saint Carlo Acutis.

Read Homily in full

Mass concluded with a procession of the relic to the parish shrine, and a blessing of the relic, a large portrait, and medals of Carlo Acutis for school children of the parish. A parish party followed.

In the run-up to today’s celebration the parish had hosted a Triduum of Prayer for St Carlo featuring various events.

St Carlo Acutis, Pray for us
St Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pray for us