Students at St. Raphael School in Bay Village were wondering what was hidden under black plastic in a nook of the parish pavilion overlooking the new playground.
“They’ve been curious about it,” said Ken Mitscavish, St. Raphael principal.
Their questions were answered during the annual daylong Spring Retreat on March 30, when a nearly seven-foot, gold-painted fiberglass statue of St. Carlo Acutis was uncovered and blessed. The 15-year-old Italian died of leukemia in 2006 and was canonized last fall by Pope Leo XIV. He is known for his intense devotion to the Eucharist.
(See photo gallery above.)
Father Dan Schlegel, St. Raphael pastor, borrowed a relic of the millennial saint that recently was gifted to the diocese, to show students. He discussed what relics are and why we venerate them during the retreat. After his talk, students were invited to take a closer look and to touch the reliquary, which contained a hair from St. Carlo.
“He (St. Carlo) shows us that holiness isn’t just for adults,” Father Schlegel said.
The retreat began with an all-school Mass celebrated by Father Ryan Arto, parochial vicar.
After Mass, students returned to their classrooms to learn about St. Carlo in a video and worksheets.
Next, students and faculty headed to the Parish Activity Center for a talk by Chuck Kyle, who was an English teacher and the head football and track coach at Saint Ignatius High School before retiring. Kyle’s three granddaughters attend St. Raphael.
He shared thoughts about faith, leadership and service, reminding the students that Jesus wants them to always do their best. “You need to prepare mentally, physically and spiritually,” he told them, a lesson that applies to daily life as well as football and other sports. “Believe in yourself.”
Kyle talked about how the devil tried to tempt Jesus, but he resisted. Later, Jesus “recruited” his apostles, all of whom had a good work ethic, he said. “Jesus was a very good coach, but he didn’t coach a sport,” Kyle said, explaining he had to teach his “team” (the apostles) as they joined him in his public ministry and established the Church. He reminded them of the two most important commandments: love God and love your neighbor.
“Be a leader and help others,” Kyle also told the students.
During the retreat, the children filled prayer bags with a prayer card, cross, rosary and other items. The bags later were delivered to St. Joseph School in Avon Lake, where the community is grieving the death of a student.
Father Arto guided the students through adoration before everyone headed outside for the statue blessing, which concluded the retreat.