Blessed Carlo Acutis liked to repeat those seven words: "THE EUCHARIST IS MY HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN". From an early age, Blessed Carlo put the Eucharist at the center of his life. Since his first communion at the age of seven, he went to Mass every day to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. This was his rich, daily spiritual nourishment. As he died at the young age of 15, Blessed Carlo has had a great influence on the Youth of our times. He has been called the first Saint of the "Millennium" generation (1991-2006).

It was fitting that following our "little" Eucharistic miracle (April 2021) our parish would hold an exhibit of Blessed Carlo "Miracles of the Eucharist"
(a display of 140 miracles throughout the entire world and put together on the Internet by young Carlo). I did not know what to expect. I had little knowledge of Blessed Carlo, excepted his deep love for the Eucharist. The display of miracles was amazing by its diversity in time and space, covering many countries of the world. I still do not fully understand how young Carlo was able to gather all this information (click here to read more about Carlo). My joy was to encounter several visitors from other parishes that were fascinated by our own little Eucharistic miracle. Maybe if Carlo was alive today, he would have added Our Lady Help of Christians, Waldorf, to his already long list of 140 Eucharistic miracles..

I would like to hear your own experience of learning about Blessed Carlo and your views on Eucharistic Miracles.

This was also our third experience in the last six months of venerating relics: it began with the two relics being placed by Cardinal Gregory in our new altar in January, followed by the Exhibit of hundred of relics in February and now the veneration of one single relic: Blessed Carlo Acutis. As Blessed Carlo needs a second miracle to be canonized Saint Carlo, I could sense the intensity of people venerating his first-class Relic (own hair) and praying for a miracle in their own life or the life of a beloved one. Nearly 1,000 people may have venerated Carlo's relic throughout the 3 days of the Exhibit, the majority happening in connection with our daily and weekend Masses.

May Blessed Carlo Acutis inspire us in keeping the Eucharist at the center of our life.

One in Christ,

Father Alain

CARDINAL WILTON GREGORY RESPONDS TO DOBBS RULING ON JUNE 24

“Nearly 50 years ago when Roe v. Wade was handed down, our nation became a house divided against itself by putting freedom of choice before even the inalienable right of life itself. Since then, we have tirelessly prayed and worked for a restoration of the values stated in the Declaration of Independence that have made ours a truly great nation.

Human life is precious and sacred. With the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, now we can begin to heal those divisions that have so diminished us as a people and as a society.

We rejoice in this latest step in our journey, but our work is not done. Locally and nationally, we still have more to do to advance the dignity of human life and to make sure that the full range of life issues are adequately addressed. This includes supporting pregnant women in making life- affirming choices, providing better availability of prenatal and postnatal care for children and their mothers, advo- cating for affordable child care and safe schools, and ad- vancing policies that support mothers in school and in the workforce.

We must also recognize that a life-affirming ethic should also draw attention to a host of other areas that should be of great concern to humanity. This includes revoking the death penalty and caring for the imprisoned; address- ing all forms of injustice, including racism; caring for the poor, the sick, elderly, and vulnerable; and advancing a greater recognition of our calling in the entire spectrum of human relationships to be brothers and sisters to one another.”