The first session, “Wired for God”, was delivered by Father Michael Makri, Director of Don Bosco Youth Centre and the chief organizer of the retreat. In his talk, Father Makri presented the inspiring story of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who was born in 1991 in London and raised in Milan. From a young age, Carlo showed a remarkable love for the Eucharist and attended daily Mass. He was gifted with extraordinary computer skills, which he used not for entertainment or self-promotion, but to create a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles around the world. This digital apostolate became his way of bringing people closer to God. Father Makri invited the youth to reflect on their own use of phones and computers, encouraging them to imitate Carlo in using technology to spread goodness and faith rather than distraction. A special video presentation showcased Carlo’s famous website on Eucharistic miracles, leaving many participants deeply moved.
At 10:30 a.m., the retreat reached its spiritual high point with the celebration of the Holy Mass, presided over by Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh, Archbishop of Shillong. In his homily, the Archbishop outlined seven qualities of Carlo Acutis for young people to imitate: his deep love for the Eucharist, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, simplicity, joy, charity, purity, and his creative use of technology to spread the Gospel. He urged the youth to live these virtues in their own lives.
After lunch, the Don Bosco Media Network Television (dbmnTv) Team organized the activity “Create Like Carlo”, where youth groups worked together to produce short digital faith messages in the form of posters, reels, and skits. Inspired by Carlo’s apostolate, the creations were projected for all to see, drawing applause and admiration from their peers.
The closing session, “Saints Wear Sneakers”, was animated by Father George Shining, who reminded the young people that sainthood is not reserved for the past but is possible today, even in the modern world. The day ended with a commitment prayer, in which the youth affirmed their desire to “be saints like Carlo.”
As the retreat concluded with snacks and farewells at 5:00 p.m., the joy and happiness of the participants were clearly visible. Many expressed their gratitude for the enriching experience and voiced their desire for a longer, two-day program, eager to learn more and imitate the inspiring life of Saint Carlo Acutis. For the youth, the day was not only a preparation for Carlo’s canonization but also a personal call to live with the same faith, joy, and creativity that defined his short yet impactful life.