The Relics of St Carlo Acutis at St Mary’s in Burnley
Thursday 29th January 2026This week, hundreds of Catholics from across Lancashire and beyond gathered to honour the visit of the Relics of St Carlo Acutis to our diocese.
Parishioners, schoolchildren and people from all over were welcomed to St Mary’s in Burnley and invited to venerate the relics, to learn about Carlo’s life and devotion to Christ, and to come together in prayer and reflection. Throughout the visit, we heard a series of fascinating talks delivered by our guests from the Diocese of Assisi on topics such as the Eucharist and St Carlo’s life, including his “Five Steps to Sainthood.”
The relics were welcomed with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop John Arnold on Wednesday evening, with a homily from Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, Custodian of the Relics.
During his homily, Mgr Anthony reflected on Carlo’s short life, describing an ordinary young man who enjoyed his studies, loved animals and his family, and was due to one day take over the family business. Also central to Carlo’s daily life, Mgr told visitors, was his unfailing devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist.
The many faithful in attendance heard that at just seven years old, Carlo requested to receive first holy communion – three years earlier than most other Italian children – as he told his parents, “this is my programme of life.”
Echoing the Bishop’s earlier remarks, Mgr said: “Carlo’s spirituality was very, very simple…for Carlo, the heart of his life was to be united to Jesus.”
Mgr went on to explain the relics being presented, describing in particular the saint’s pericardium and its protective function as the membrane which surrounds the heart, the body’s most important organ, along with its vessels. He said: “This relic points us to find Carlo’s way…to keep Jesus in place in our life.”
As the visit of the relics continues at St Patrick’s Church in Collyhurst tomorrow, we look forward to welcoming hundreds more faithful parishioners, passers-by and children from our diocesan schools, as we gather to venerate the relics and join one another in prayerful reflection.
For further information on the scheduled events still to come, please click here.
Tagged | Around the Diocese | Bishop John | Relics | St Carlo Acutis | St Mary's Burnley
