Sharing the truth of the Eucharist in a digital age Diocesan youth invited to take part in Project Acutis

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Young people throughout the Diocese of Charlotte have an opportunity to show their love for the Eucharist using their digital media skills in Project Acutis, a new faith-filled challenge sponsored by the offices of Catholic Schools and Youth Ministry.

“Project Acutis is a way for youth of our diocese, grades four through 12, to join with Catholics across the United States in the call to Eucharistic Revival by learning about, being inspired by and evangelizing through the many Eucharistic miracles that have taken place throughout the centuries,” said Paul Kotlowski, the diocese’s director of youth ministry.

Blessed Carlo Acutis, after whom this new youth project is named and dedicated, was an Italian teenager known for his piety, joy and service to others. Born with leukemia, he died in 2006 at age 15 and was buried in Assisi at his request because of his love for St. Francis. He has since captivated the world with his simple holiness. His example has shown youth and adults alike that holiness is possible no matter your age or state in life, even if you like to play video games and wear jeans and sneakers. He was devout as a young child and inspired a deep conversion in his mother. He ensured his family attended Mass daily, supported friends who were suffering through the divorce of their parents, and always stood up for children who were being bullied in school, especially disabled students.

Acutis was also a tech whiz and built a website cataloguing and promoting Eucharistic miracles, where he told people that “the more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like

Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.”

For Project Acutis, youth in the diocese choose one of the Eucharistic miracles on the site to use in a multimedia presentation, not to exceed 90 seconds. All youth in grades four to 12 are eligible, and prizes will be awarded to the top entries. Submissions are due Oct. 12, 2023. All submissions will be collected and shared for schools and parishes to enjoy.

Kotlowski encourages youth to look at the work compiled by Blessed Carlo Acutis and see what inspired him to dedicate himself to sharing these supernatural encounters with Jesus.

“It’s hard not to be drawn to Our Lord by these events as curiosity is awakened, and wonder and awe are fueled,” he added. “I pray that by learning about Eucharistic miracles, youth will come to know and believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.”

He also said the project is an excellent opportunity for the “young Church of western North Carolina to assist Bishop Peter Jugis in achieving his pastoral priority of becoming more adept in evangelizing in the digital age” as well as his priority for “all to renew and anchor their lives to the Most Holy Eucharist.”

Within his six pastoral priorities, Bishop Jugis noted, “Busy lives bombarded by distracting and worldly messages can only truly find the peace for which they yearn in the paschal mystery” and “We must learn to proclaim the faith in a digital age, that we may better evangelize a culture teeming with secular and contrary messages.”

By participating in Project Acutis, youth of the diocese can be a much-needed evangelizing voice as they express their love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

Join the challenge

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