St. Aloysius Parish
St. Carlo Acutis Challenge
Calling All Young Catholics in Grades 5-12
Submission Deadline: April 17, 2026
Are you ready to change the world with your creativity and faith?
The Diocese of St. Catharines invites you to follow in the footsteps of Saint Carlo Acutis - a teenager who used his gifts and talents to spread God's love around the globe.
The Challenge:
Use the specific gifts and talents that God has given you to create a masterpiece that highlights an aspect of our Catholic faith that you are passionate about; something that will help spread the love of Jesus in our modern world. Whether it's a(n):
Website or App
Video or Game
Podcast or Social Media Campaign
Poem or Prayer
Essay or Short Story
Painting or Fashion Project
Song or Dance
Or something we haven't even thought of yet!
Important Dates
Start Date: October 21st, 2025.
Submission Deadline: April 17th, 2026.
Showcase & Awards: Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, @ Denis Morris Catholic High School.
Engage in this challenge in 3 distinct stages:
1. Spend some time reflecting on what aspect of the Catholic faith really resonates with you, or what teachings you are passionate about. For St. Carlo, it was Eucharistic miracles, but for you, it might be the saints, or the Mass, or the mystery of the Trinity, or Mary, or prayer, or confession, or salvation, or God’s unconditional love, or the stations of the cross, or simply the Good News, or any aspect of our beautiful Catholic faith.
2. Prayerfully consider what gifts and talents you have. God has carefully crafted you into the incredible individual you are and has blessed you with wonderful gifts and talents – think about the things that you like, the things that you are good at and enjoy doing! Maybe you are athletic, or technologically adept, or great at public speaking, or gifted with artistic abilities… How might you use your specific gifts and talents to present the area of faith you identified in the first step, in a way that is both appealing and effective?
3. Execute! Either on your own, or with a small group, put together your presentation or project, knowing that by doing so, you are engaging in the mission of the Church!
Important Dates:
Start Date: October 21, 2025
Submission Deadline:
April 17, 2026, to Nick Ali, Director of Evangelization and Faith Formation, (The Catholic Centre, 3400 Merrittville Hwy, Thorold ON) or [email protected]
Showcase & Awards:
Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Denis Morris Catholic High School (40 Glen Morris Dr., St. Catharines ON).
Who Was Saint Carlo Acutis?
Saint Carlo was just like you - a regular teenager who loved video games, soccer, and hanging out with friends. But he had something special: a deep love for Jesus in the Eucharist and an amazing talent with computers. Born in 1991, St. Carlo used his tech skills to research and document Eucharistic miracles from around the world, creating a website that still inspires people today. He believed that "the Eucharist is the highway to heaven," and he used modern technology to share that highway with others. Tragically, Carlo died of leukemia at just 15 years old in 2006. But his legacy lives on - he was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020 and was just canonized by Pope Leo XIV on September 7th of this year; he is often called "the patron saint of the Internet".
Why Participate?
Just like St. Carlo and countless saints before him, you have unique gifts and talents. This challenge invites you to tap into that same sense of wonder and awe about our faith that Carlo had and use YOUR special abilities to create something beautiful for God. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commissions us all to “Go make disciples” – it is our mission to spread the love of God, and to make Him known and loved by all. … And there are prizes!
Prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries, and all finalists will be showcased at a special celebration event on May 2nd!
Click here for judging criteria
Questions? Call Nick Ali at the Catholic Centre, 905-684-0154 ext 214
