From the Parish House

Sharing in the joy of the whole Church, we welcome the two newest canonised saints – St. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) and St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) – a young man from the early 20th century and a teenager from our own time, respectively. Both have been a great source of inspiration for many, especially for today’s younger generations.

In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration of the canonisation, Pope Leo said that Pier and Carlo “cultivated their love for God and for their brothers and sisters through simple acts, available to everyone: daily Mass, prayer, and especially Eucharistic Adoration.” Both expressed their deep closeness to God in their unique ways – through Jesus and through the people who surrounded their lives.

Carlo used to say, “In front of the sun, you get a tan. In front of the Eucharist, you become a saint!” In another quote, he said, “Sadness is looking at yourself; happiness is looking at God. Conversion is nothing more than shifting your gaze from below to above.” He also called the Eucharist the “highway to heaven.” These profound statements came from a 15-year-old living in what we now call the modern age – a world where science and technology often appear to triumph. Where could such wisdom in a young person come from, if not from his deep closeness to God?

With a fervent heart for the Eucharist, Carlo used his talents and skills to evangelise in the digital space to a modern audience. He created his own website to promote the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, cataloguing Eucharistic miracles from around the world. The site has been translated into more than 20 languages and is accessible to people across the globe. Carlo not only had a deep desire to embrace Jesus in the Eucharist, but he also lived a well-rounded life. In Pope Leo’s words, “He grew up naturally integrating prayer, sport, study, and charity into his days as a child and young man.”

Pier, on the other hand, had an extraordinary heart for the poor, the needy, and the sick. He lived during a time of major social change caused by the First and Second Industrial Revolutions, during which human dignity was profoundly undermined. The harsh living and labor conditions pushed many to the margins of society. Yet Pier, despite being from a wealthy and influential Italian family, chose to find God among the poor and suffering. He once said, “Around the poor and the sick, I see a light that we do not have.”

Pier joined various school and church groups such as Catholic Action, the Conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul, the FUCI (Italian Catholic University Federation), and the Dominican Third Order. Through these ecclesial involvements, he strongly promoted the foundational principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly those found in Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum – a ground-breaking document that has served as the basis for the development of Catholic social teaching through the years.

At the age of 24, Pier contracted poliomyelitis while serving the destitute. Even in his final moments, he attempted to scribble a message to a friend, asking him to take medicine needed for injections to a poor sick man Pier had been visiting.

The celebration of the canonisation of these two young saints last Sunday, I believe, was wisely planned by the provident hands of God. It comes at a most timely moment, as the world – especially young people – faces many challenges, including confusion caused by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, where human dignity can be at risk if technology is not used with divine wisdom and charity. These two saints are indeed powerful sources of inspiration and witnesses of faith for both the past and present.

As a community of faith, we continue to give witness to our faith in Christ and provide opportunities for others to experience God in their lives. Our parish will commence the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program with four Inquiry Sessions for any inquirers on 1 October, 15 October, 29 October, and 12 November at 7:00 pm in the Gathering Space at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene.

If you, your family members, or friends wish to participate in this program, please do not hesitate to contact our RCIA coordinator, Katarina Steele, at the Parish Office on a Tuesday or Thursday.

As mentioned in a previous article, our parish will hold a special Thanksgiving Mass to honour and bid farewell to our Music Director, John Weymouth, during 5:30 pm Mass on Saturday, 20 September at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene. Following this Eucharistic celebration, hospitality will be offered for everyone to come together and personally express heartfelt gratitude to John for his dedication and musical talents in serving our parish communities.

By Fr Sang Ho