Carlo Acutis National Apostolate

You do not need to be a statistician to note the correlation between the empty church pews and the strain of young people’s Mental Health services, as the young appear to lose their way. Our young people are struggling with life, and resorting to unhealthy coping strategies to alleviate how they feel. As always, God responds to our calls and we believe this response has been in the young person of Bl Carlo Acutis who is now on the way to sainthood. The Apostolate believe that St. Carlo Acutis has been given to us as a beacon to light our way to a new life through The Eucharist. St. John Paul II spoke of a new evangelisation, through The Eucharist, “The Eucharist thus appears as both the source and the summit of all evangelisation…”.

When Mother Elvira, the founder of the Cenacalo Community described the young addicts who came knocking at her door for help, she said “…they came neither seeking money or food but LIFE”, “We want to live” they would say.

We believe our young people want to live, but they cannot see the way or the how. Who is “The Way The Truth and The Life?”  JESUS. Where is He truly present? As Catholics we believe, He is present in body, blood, Soul and divinity within the Eucharist… or do we? Recent statistics in the United States of America (a survey has not been carried out in the UK to our knowledge) reports that only 30% of Catholics still believe this. Yet again God has responded to our call, for in St. Carlo, our young have an example of an alternative way to live.

However, it is not just the young who are in need of a personal encounter with Christ. As the EME (Eucharistic Miracles Encounter) travelled the length and breadth of Britain and then went International at WYD (World Youth Day) Lisbon, it became clear that it was not just our youth Christ wanted to reach, but also our ‘young at heart’ from all walks of life, including our priests and religious. The demand was too great for one person. God therefore sent His labourers: beautifully skilled and willing individuals who jumped aboard at different stops along the journey, each feeling compelled to be part of the re-evangelise of God’s people, thus The Carlo Acutis National Apostolate was born. We are an ever growing apostolate acting as Christ’s sign posts, a road map back to His true presence in The most Holy Eucharist.

We do not stand alone. The Apostolate enjoys the support of numerous shepherds from across the globe, most of whom have enjoyed a personal experience of the Saint Carlo programs Our Shepherds.

Carlo Acutis programmes are available for parishes, schools, retreats, religious and any all other organisations through The Carlo Acutis National Apostolate affectionately known as CANA.

The programmes are derived from The Eucharistic Miracles Encounter, a program inspired by the legacy of Saint Carlo’s life Our Journey. Each program is bespoke to the needs of each group but will always incorporate Eucharistic adoration and the blessed sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Mass where possible.