September 10, 2025

Westfield celebrates two new saints

REGIONAL
By Michael Pedro

 

WESTFIELD – With great joy and anticipation, people gathered at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield, Saturday, Sept. 6, preparing to celebrate the canonization of two young saints, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis. A Holy Hour, entitled “Walking with the Saints,” was held from 7-8 p.m., followed by an all-night youth event and watch party. Pope Leo XIV canonized the new saints at the Vatican Sunday, Sept. 7, which was about 3 a.m. Eastern time. Several teenagers from the Westfield Catholic Community stayed in the parish center overnight to watch the canonization live.

During the Holy Hour people had the chance to venerate a first- class relic of St. Carlo Acutis, while Psalm 33 played praise and worship music.

“We were always planning as a parish in the Westfield community to have an overnight experience for the middle and high school kids celebrating the two new saints being canonized tonight,” said Father Daniel Pacholec, the pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.

“Joe Austin… had an event scheduled for this afternoon called ‘Walking With the Saints’, and he asked if we could sort of combine efforts tonight,” said Father Pacholec.

St. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) died of polio at the age of 24. He was known as the “Man of the Beatitudes,” and helped those in need through numerous acts of charity. He was also an avid mountain climber and athlete. St. Carlo Acutis was a young programmer who launched a website dedicated to documenting eucharistic miracles around the globe. This earned him the nickname “God’s Influencer.”

Newly ordained Father John Williams gave a reflection during the Holy Hour.

“Some will say what a tragedy that they had to die so young. But they have inspired a new generation of Catholics to recommit themselves to their faith and the Eucharist and in a few hours will become saints of Mother Church. They remind us that the only true tragedy in life is not a premature death like theirs, but rather not to become saints like them,” said Father Williams, the parochial vicar at Blessed Trinity Parish in Greenfield.

The Holy Hour also drew people from outside the Diocese of Springfield, including Amanda Parramore, a young woman preparing to enter the church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

“This event is the third or fourth adoration event that I’ve ever been to, so it was really cool to experience that,” Parramore said. “I moved here recently, and I’m not yet baptized… so it’s all entirely new to me.”

A Mass was held following the Holy Hour. Then the youth event officially began, with pizza, games and fellowship. At 3 a.m., the teens were awoken by adult chaperones so they could watch the canonization.

“To me, this shows us that anyone can do anything productive for the faith,” said Jack Gilbert, a junior at St. Mary High School in Westfield. Gilbert who participated in both the Holy Hour and all-night event, is also a member of the Diocesan Youth Team.  

“Whether it is using the internet or helping the poor, you can become a saint. It’s not that hard, you just have to work for it,” he said.

This story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which temporarily airs Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m.  on WWLP-22NEWS.