Eucharistic Miracles Display Visits Duchesne

The Eucharistic Miracles of the World Display, created by Saint Carlo Acutis, made a special stop at Duchesne High School on September 22 and 23. 

The exhibit features panels displaying over 150 Catholic Church approved Eucharistic miracles that have been recorded throughout the centuries. 

Saint Carlo Acutis, recently canonized on September  7 of this year, created a website in 2004 cataloging every Eucharistic miracle in the world. After he died in 2006, his parents transferred his work onto a physical piece of media. Today, the display can be seen worldwide and has appeared in parishes, schools, and colleges throughout the United States. 

Duchesne’s Catholic Identity Committee coordinated with Stephanie Helfrich and Kelly Meyer, who have been touring the display, and made the plans for the exhibit to come to campus. Helfrich and Meyer were involved in an apostolate 18 years ago that brought Catholic speakers to parishes in the Western Vicariate. After raising the funds to have the exhibit printed, they have shown it in Potosi and Scott City, MO, Belleville, IL, and in many parishes throughout the St. Louis and St. Charles area. Both Stephanie's and Kelly's children attended Duchesne.

“I saw an exhibit of the Eucharistic Miracles at my parish last year and thought it would be great to have it at Duchesne,” said Theresa Ruzicka ’78, committee and board member. “The faculty, staff, students, and community can read about the true presence of Jesus’ body and blood. I heard one faculty member say it sends shivers down his spine to read about these miracles.”

“I think it’s important for our students to be around the Eucharist,” said Duchesne Campus Minister Mike Fitzgerald. “The best thing I’ve learned as a campus minister is to get them near the Eucharist, even if they don’t completely understand what’s happening.”

Students found reading stories about the Host surviving fires, boiling water, and turning to flesh fascinating. Others found it impressive that all the information was compiled by someone who was their age.  

“The Eucharistic miracle display was a really interesting way to see and learn about the miracles God has presented to us over the years,” said sophomore Maeve McCune. “It was amazing to see all the work Saint Carlo Acutis had put into making the display.”

Three local Catholic grade schools visited the exhibit as a part of a special field trip: All Saints Academy – St. Ferdinand Campus, All Saints Catholic School in St. Peters, and St. John Paul II Preparatory School.

“The students reverently explored each miracle,” observed Ann Tollefson ’76, Catholic identity committee and board member. “[They] were very grateful for the opportunity to attend the exhibit and tour the campus.” 

A special highlight of the exhibit was the presence of a first-class relic of Saint Acutis himself. He is quoted as saying that the Eucharist is his highway to heaven. Hopefully, through events like this, Duchesne students will draw closer to Christ in the same way.