Relics of St. Carlo Acutis attracted large crowds at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church on Monday, Feb. 16.

A total of 1,853 people waited in line to venerate St. Carlo’s relics at the church.

Relics were brought to the church by Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo, who is assigned to their care in Assisi, Italy. The relics are on tour in Ohio, previously visiting the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Diocese of Toledo.

St. Carlo (1991-2006) died nearly a decade ago after suffering from leukemia. In his 15 years, he lived a devout life of faith, exhibiting a great love for the Eucharist.

The young boy is also nicknamed the “patron saint of the internet.” He enjoyed video games, computers and created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world.

Carlo’s pericardium (the tissue surrounding his heart), a lock of hair, a piece of the bedsheet that collected his blood, sweat and tears, and a piece of his favorite t-shirt are among the relics spending six days in the Columbus diocese.

Lines of people flowed through the church sanctuary at St. Paul the Apostle on Feb. 16, the fourth day of veneration and sixth stop.

The previous day, Sunday, Feb. 15, veneration was held at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral, drawing thousands.

Carlo’s relics arrived at the Westerville church Monday ahead of the parish’s 8:15 a.m. Mass. Public veneration began afterward and continued drawing people that morning.

Nearly 450 people attended the morning Mass at St. Paul. A 7 p.m. evening Holy Hour at the parish, held in the presence of the relics, drew more than 230 people.

A steady stream of faithful flowed through the sanctuary during the day. Many waited in line to kneel before the Church’s first millennial saint.

“Seeing the many young people, many young families, who are not only our future but our present, aspire to great things, aspire to holiness – Carlo chooses where to come; he wants to inspire these kids in a special way,” Msgr. Figueiredo reflected.

“An ordinary life becomes extraordinary – what is normal in our lives can become holy. What is holy can become normal, and then our lives become more joyful, happier, more successful.

“That’s the message we want to convey to young people: As Carlos says, find God, (and) you will find the meaning of your life.”

Kristin Meder, who has been a parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle for 22 years, described having the relic at her parish as an “amazing” opportunity.

She said she was struck by Carlo’s love for the Eucharist and his bravery and boldness in sharing with others.

“I was getting a little emotional when I was up there, to just be so close to such an amazing saint,” she said afterward, reflecting on venerating the young saint’s relics.

Meder made her First Communion decades ago at St. Paul the Apostle in the original church building. Her children are graduates of the parish school, and she continues to be an active parishioner.

“To just really see how many people have come out, and how he brings especially the younger children, younger generation closer to our faith,” she said of Carlo, “it’s just very exciting.”

The feeling of amazement was shared by Dan Warner, who is active at the parish with his wife, Jami.

He was grateful for the chance to “venerate a modern-day saint here in Westerville.” The Warners had venerated St. Carlo’s relics at his tomb in Assisi, Italy, and now, Carlo came to them.

“It’s just it’s amazing to have that same experience here, close to home – and that everyone at the parish can share that … those who can’t travel or who are homebound,” Dan reflected, “they can come here and venerate this modern-day saint who everyone can relate to. It’s a beautiful thing.”

The parish also organized a food donation drive as part of the relic veneration.

St. Carlo had five steps to holiness: Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confession, remaining close to the Blessed Mother and saints, and charity. St. Paul the Apostle invited faithful to follow St. Carlo in charity by donating food and toiletry items during veneration.

“We delivered it all to (Columbus) St. James the Less this morning and … their shelves are filled to the max with a lot of back stock,” the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul group said on Feb. 17.

“In all the years we have been volunteering I have never seen it that well stocked.  It was amazing, and they were so thankful and very happy.”