Students Reflect on the Real Presence
Experiencing the Eucharistic Miracles of the World
Bishop Miege had the incredible honor of hosting the Eucharistic Miracles of the World exhibit, inspired by St. Carlo Acutis. Over two days, students from Miege and St. Agnes explored the exhibit, engaging deeply with stories of faith that powerfully reflect the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Our week included several special moments. Before All-School Mass, a presentation helped students focus their hearts on Jesus. We also hosted a presentation for the wider community, giving everyone time to explore the Eucharistic miracles firsthand. During the exhibit, students and visitors alike had the opportunity to reflect on these extraordinary signs of God’s love, leaving many with a renewed appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist.
Fr. Andrew concluded our All-School Mass with a special blessing using a first-class relic of St. Carlo Acutis — in this case, a piece of his hair. Relics are categorized into first-, second-, or third-class categories. A first-class relic is a part of the saint’s body, such as a piece of bone or hair. Our students learned that if they venerate a first-class relic and touch a holy card to it, the card becomes a third-class relic, creating a tangible connection to the saint.
“To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.” — St. Carlo Acutis
St. Carlo, pray for us!
Who is St. Carlo?
St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) was an Italian teenager known for his deep faith and devotion to the Eucharist. He was a self-taught website designer who documented over 130 Eucharistic miracles in his lifetime and became known as the “patron saint of the internet.” Despite his young age, he lived a life of humility, prayer, and service, inspiring people of all ages to encounter Jesus in their daily lives.
“He was a teenager of their generation. He wore tennis shoes, carried a phone, played soccer, and used a computer. All the encounters of this generation were part of his — from his clothes to the project that he made on the computer. It helps teens understand that holiness is the here and now. It is our mission to help our students realize that sainthood is not out of reach. It begins with daily choices to stay close to Jesus.”
– Principal Maureen Engen
St. Carlo Acutis by the Numbers
St. Carlo Acutis was canonized as a saint on Sept. 7, 2025 and beatified in 2020.
The year Carlo was born in London: May 3, 1991
THOUSAND
Estimated number in St. Peter’s Square for his and Pier Giorgio Frassati’s canonizations
His age at the time of his death on Oct.12, 2006
Eucharistic miracles St. Carlo researched in his lifetime
Patrick Brueggen: Sharing the Story of St. Carlo Acutis
Patrick Brueggen is a Catholic speaker and advocate for St. Carlo Acutis who presents the “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” exhibit throughout the United States. As International Coordinator for the Marian Catechist Apostolate, Brueggen has dedicated his ministry to helping youth and communities encounter the Real Presence of Jesus and the inspiring life of St. Carlo.
He has admired Carlo Acutis since before the saint’s beatification and has even spoken with Acutis’s mother, gaining unique insights into his life and faith. Brueggen travels extensively to present the exhibit, which documents extraordinary Eucharistic miracles from around the world.
In addition to sharing these miracles, Brueggen brings a first-class relic of St. Carlo to schools and parishes, providing a connection to the saint and fostering deeper devotion. Through his presentations, he emphasizes Jesus in the Eucharist and the example of Carlo’s holiness, inspiring modern audiences to live their faith courageously and joyfully.
In A Student's Own Words
“My perspective both broadened and deepened after reading about the different Eucharistic miracles, specifically what happened to Peter of Prague and how the Host in front of him turned into flesh. This tells me that miracles do happen and that Jesus does appear in the Eucharist.”
— Wyatt Garr, Class of 2026
Voices from Our Senior Class
Joshua Collins
“I’ve always known that the Eucharist is Jesus, is God. I now see clearly how the Eucharist is also God’s most clear sign of His love for us. It is Him giving Himself up for us every Mass.”
Harper DeKeyser
“This exhibit really shows that God will make Himself known to you through the Eucharist, whether you’re new to the Church or someone who has been practicing for a long time. Personally, that just kind of spoke to me. I get to see Him often in church and knowing that He’s with me in all the changes/walks of my life is relieving.”
Jeremiah Johnson
“I personally really liked the real-life proof and pictures from the occurrences. It helps me to give additional reasoning as to why I love my faith so much.”
Luke Nelson
“I truly saw how present the Eucharist is and how seriously I should take it.”