Every youth group has moments that show why this ministry matters.
Thomas’ Confirmation journey is one of those moments.
It captures the heart of what the St Carlo Acutis Youth Group offers, and how young people can grow in unexpected and beautiful ways when given the space to encounter Christ.
This is Thomas’ story.
The Beginning
When Thomas joined the youth group, he was quiet, thoughtful and observant. Like many young people, he was still growing in confidence and discovering his own relationship with faith. He listened deeply, took everything in, and slowly began to find comfort among the other young people.
The group activities, debates and prayer times helped him open up, form friendships and become more involved in discussions. He especially loved the weeks where the group explored the life of St Carlo Acutis.
A Spark of Inspiration
Very quickly, something beautiful began to take shape. In September, the youth group spent the entire month learning about Saint Carlo. They explored his kindness, his joy, his love for the Eucharist and his extraordinary faith lived through ordinary teenage life.
Thomas was captivated. He loved that Carlo was a normal young person with real interests like coding, technology, football and games. He loved that Carlo used his gifts to evangelise.
He loved that Carlo’s faith was simple, joyful and sincere.
Carlo was my age and he still did amazing things for God.
Something in Carlo’s life sparked something in Thomas.
Choosing a Confirmation Saint
When it came time to choose his Confirmation saint, Thomas made his decision immediately.
He said he wanted a saint who understood modern life, who was his age when he lived his faith so boldly, and who would inspire him to be closer to Jesus.
He chose St Carlo.
His parents were moved by his certainty. His catechists were inspired by his enthusiasm. His leaders could clearly see that something meaningful had taken root.
A Project from the Heart
What happened next surprised everyone.
On his own initiative, and with no prompt from school or catechists, Thomas went home and built an entire website dedicated to St Carlo Acutis.
He researched Carlo’s miracles, life, witness, holiness and teachings. He created pages, wrote content, selected images and crafted the site himself. He presented it to his family and proudly shared what he had learned.
This was not a school project. It was not homework.
I wanted everyone to know how amazing Carlo is.
It came from his own desire to share his faith with others, just as Carlo had done.
A Beautiful Sign of What Is Possible
Thomas’ Confirmation journey reminds us that youth ministry transforms lives.
When young people feel welcomed, loved and inspired, faith comes alive in their hearts.
May St Carlo continue to guide Thomas, and all our young people, closer to Jesus.
St Carlo Acutis, pray for us.