Marilyn Santos and Father Jaroslaw Z. Skrzypek displayed the relic of St. Carlo Acutis presented Sept. 11 to St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi. (Courtesy Lisa Gomes)
By Father Jaroslaw Z. Skrzypek
Special to the Herald
St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi received a profound gift Sept. 11: a relic of newly canonized St. Carlo Acutis, shared by Marilyn Santos, an official with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops who was in Hawaii for a series of talks and events.
Santos’ events included a Day of Study at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua and an evening with the local Hispanic community at St. John the Baptist titled “Familias de Fe (Families of Faith).”
During her presentation in Kalihi, Santos — associate director of the USCCB’s Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis — shared St. Carlo’s powerful and inspiring story.
She explained how St. Carlo, a boy with a deep love for the Eucharist and a knack for computer programming, became a catechist for his own parents and those around him — inspiring them to return to the faith or, in the case of his Hindu caretaker, convert to Catholicism.
Santos also has a connection to the Acutis family: She and St. Carlo’s mother, Antonia, are friends, and Antonia Acutis entrusted her with 10 relics to share across the U.S.
The presentation of one of these relics to St. John the Baptist ensures the community in Kalihi can venerate and draw inspiration from this remarkable young saint.
The arrival of the relic serves as a powerful reminder of St. Carlo’s legacy and his call for all to use modern tools to spread the timeless message of the Gospel.
Father Jaroslaw Z. Skrzypek is the administrator of St. John the Baptist Church.