Thousands venerate St Carlo Acutis relic in NZ

People were able to visit the relic in various locations in five dioceses, and many listened to talks by Msgr Anthony Figueiredo, who accompanied the sacred item during its stay.

A mihi whakatau and kawe mate took place at the relic’s arrival at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington on June 7. The relic was processed across the piazza and through the main doors of the cathedral, accompanied by pūtatara and karanga waiata.

After being placed in situ, there was an exchange of greetings through hongi, mihi to the presence of St Carlo, to the manuhiri bringing the relic and to the cathedral itself.

In Rotorua, the relic was welcomed first at St Michael’s Church, Ohinemutu, before being carried in procession to St Mary’s Church, Glenholme. In keeping with Māori custom, the relic was accompanied on foot between the two churches, passing by Rotorua Hospital along the way.

Throughout the day, hundreds of pilgrims gathered for Mass, adoration, confession and veneration, including many who travelled specially from Auckland and beyond.

In Christchurch, Msgr Figueiredo spoke about becoming a saint. Using G.K. Chesterton’s quote, he explained that each generation is converted by the saint who contradicts it most. He said that for our age, that is St Carlo Acutis, with the visiting priest saying St Carlo is a necessary antidote to the cancel God culture we live in. Msgr Figueiredo challenged his audience to become saints, just as St Carlo has.

At the Carmelite Monastery in Christchurch, Msgr Figueiredo concelebrated Mass and preached on the Gospel of the day: “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.” St Carlo’s treasure was in the heart of God, he said.

The relic was also taken to the Tyburn Monastery near Rotorua and to the Little Sisters of the Poor home in Dunedin.

St Carlo Acutis, who was canonised last September, was an Italian teenager with a deep Catholic faith and a passion for spreading that faith using technology. Among his online projects was a website of eucharistic miracles, which he built before he died in 2006 at the age of 15. He has been dubbed by many “the patron saint of the internet”, in light of that work.

The Catholic Enquiry Centre supported the Mission’s visit to New Zealand by providing educational resources on St Carlo Acutis and the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist. The CEC stated that St Carlo reminds people that holiness is possible in every age — and that the Eucharist is truly at the centre of the Christian life.

FULL STORY

MIHI WHAKATAU AND KAWE MATE FOR ST… (Archdiocese of Wellington/Facebook)

NB: We’re still sorting through… (Catholic Diocese of Hamilton/Facebook)

One of the highlights of the… (Catholic Diocese of Hamilton/Facebook)

Bishop Michael gave a beautiful… (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch/Facebook)

This morning Msgr Anthony… (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch/Facebook)

Relic taken to Little Sisters of the Poor Home (Catholic Diocese of Dunedin)

✨ St Carlo Acutis Invites Us to Encounter… (Catholic Enquiry Centre/Facebook)

A Relic of St Carlo Acutis is Coming to Aotearoa (Catholic Enquiry Centre)

Relic of St Carlo Acutis coming to New Zealand in June (NZCBC)