Saints in Sneakers and Hoodies: What Carlo Acutis & Pier Giorgio Frassati Teach Us About Campus Ministry
by Rosie Chinea Shawver, MDiv
When we think of saints, we often imagine stained-glass windows and centuries-old portraits. But the Church reminds us that holiness is as fresh as today’s headlines. Two modern figures, Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925), offer campus ministers a striking vision of faith that speaks directly to the hearts of college students today.
Carlo Acutis: Evangelization in the Digital World
Carlo, often called the “patron of the internet,” used his technical skills to build a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles around the world. He wasn’t a professional theologian or a priest-just a teenager who loved video games, soccer, and technology. Yet his simple desire to help others encounter Christ through the Eucharist led to a global ripple effect.
Campus Ministry Takeaway
Students today are digital natives. Carlo shows us that their tech skills and creativity can be leveraged for evangelization. Invite students to use their gifts-graphic design, coding, video editing, social media-to proclaim Christ on campus. The question isn’t if the Gospel can be shared online, but how creatively and authentically your students can do it.
Pier Giorgio Frassati: Holiness in Friendship, Service, and Student Life
Pier Giorgio studied engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin. His time at university wasn’t just about academics-it became a mission field. He founded and participated in Catholic student organizations, encouraged his peers to attend daily Mass, and organized hikes, service opportunities, and study groups that always pointed back to Christ. His presence on campus showed that faith wasn’t a private devotion but something vibrant, communal, and contagious.
Known as the “Man of the Beatitudes,” Pier Giorgio lived his faith not as something separate from his social life but woven into it. Friends were drawn to his joy, his integrity, and his ability to bring others along in service and prayer.
Campus Ministry Takeaway
College is a place where friendships shape futures. Pier Giorgio reminds us that peer-to-peer witness is powerful. Encouraging students to lead service projects, plan hikes or sports outings, or pray together outside of formal events helps them discover how faith can infuse every corner of daily life-including their academic journey.
Together: A Blueprint for Holiness on Campus
Carlo and Pier Giorgio never met in this life, but together they show us a path:
Carlo invites us to bring faith into the digital world where students live and learn.
Pier Giorgio shows us the beauty of building authentic friendships and campus communities rooted in joy and service.
For campus ministers, the message is clear: holiness is not abstract. It’s lived out through the gifts, friendships, and passions of students today. Helping young people see that their love of coding, hiking, music, or sports can be an avenue of evangelization and holiness is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.
A Pastoral Challenge
As you walk with students this semester, ask:
Who is the “Carlo” on your campus-the student whose digital gifts could build something lasting for the Church?
Who is the “Pier Giorgio”-the one who naturally draws friends into deeper joy, service, and faith?
Your role as a campus minister is to recognize those sparks of holiness and fan them into flame. Saints in sneakers and hoodies remind us: the next great evangelist may already be in your student lounge.
🌟 Frassati & Acutis Canonization Watch Party! 🌟
Ready to set your alarm - or stay up late - and join your colleagues from across the country for a once-in-a-lifetime moment? This Sunday, September 7th, we’ll gather for a nationwide virtual watch party to celebrate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati!
🕞 Start time: 3:30 AM Eastern (check your time zone!)
🎥 Where: Online watch party, hosted by our friends at the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults
👉 Register here to join the community watch party
Prefer to watch on your own? You can also tune in live on EWTN’s YouTube channel.
Don’t miss this historic celebration of two young saints whose witness continues to inspire campus ministry today!