Irish school changes name to honor St. Carlo Acutis

A school in Ireland has become the first in the country to be named after St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. Gort A' Choirce national school in Donegal was officially renamed Scoil Naomh Carlo Acutis, with Bishop Niall Coll of the Diocese of Raphoe celebrating a Sept. 6 Mass to honor the millennial saint and his legacy.

“Many young people today are struggling with life. They are discovering the hard way that they need meaning and purpose,” Bishop Coll said in his homily. “Carlo discovered that he needed God in his life, and found Him. That made all the difference.”

Nicknamed “God’s influencer,” St. Carlo Acutis was fond of computer programming, web design, and video games, and created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles. He died in 2006 at the age of 15 from a form of leukemia. He was canonized in 2025 alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, director of international affairs for the Diocese of Assisi, brought St. Carlo Acutis’ relics to the Donegal school for the Sept. 6 Mass, including part of the pericardium surrounding the millennial saint’s heart.

Bishop Coll reminded those gathered for the Mass that Donegal has been Catholic for approximately 1,500 years.

“In some ways there has been a stumble in Ireland in the last two or three generations in the transmission of the faith. But that doesn't mean that the power and attraction of the Gospel have lost any of their strength,” he said. “Don't let anyone convince you that God doesn't matter.  When you send your children and grandchildren to school at Scoil Naomh Carlo Acutis, remember that they have a patron for the modern generation."

The school’s principal, Patricia Uí hArlaigh, told Zeale News that the school community had been praying for St. Carlo Acutis’ canonization since 2015.

“Central to St. Carlo’s Catholic faith was his deep, unwavering devotion to the Holy Eucharist. We want all children to follow this saintly example of adoration,” she said.

“In the spirit of Vatican II, which beautifully stated that ‘The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life,’ our school seeks to place this same mystery at the heart of our community and with all the young children in Ireland that they can look to this young Saint for guidance and hope,” she continued.

“As a faith school, it remains our constant hope that our students will flourish — deeply rooted in our rich culture, Irish  language, and faith,” Uí hArlaigh concluded. “We pray that under the protective care and intercession of St. Carlo Acutis, all members of our school community and the wider community all around Ireland will grow together in faith, finding true contentment and peace throughout their journeys in life.”

Uí hArlaigh told Zeale News that the school would like to plan a trip for students to visit St. Carlo Acutis’ grave in Italy and will begin raising funds soon.