ON SEPT. 7, DIOCESE of Orange parishioner Patricia Reyes gathered with thousands of the faithful in St. Peter’s Square for the canonization of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.
A sense of deep gratitude and unity filled her heart as she witnessed the momentous event.
THE REYES FAMILY AT ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PATRICIA REYES
“It felt like Heaven and earth were one,” she recalled, reflecting on the Eucharist at the Mass that proclaimed the Church’s newest saints.
Reyes, 24, is the eldest of six children. She and her family are active members of St. Norbert Catholic Church in Orange and are deeply involved in the Neocatechumenal Way within the diocese.
THE FOUNDATION: FAITH AND FAMILY
Reyes’ faith is deeply rooted in the Neocatechumenal Way, a community her parents embraced before they were married. This foundation provides the context for her life and the lives of her five siblings. While acknowledging her parents’ faith as a profound influence, Reyes noted that actively engaging in ministry is what truly keeps her own faith strong and alive.
This summer, Reyes accepted a pivotal role as coordinator of Confirmation and Youth Ministry at St. Norbert. She embraces the responsibility, trusting that God will sustain her in a role where she may be the only encounter with Christ some young people ever have. Her mission is simple yet essential: “showing them God’s love.”
A MESSAGE FROM THE NEW SAINTS
The canonization of St. Carlo Acutis,who died at age 15, and St. Pier Giorgio, who died at age 24, in St. Peter’s Square, drew in an estimated 80,000 people. The canonization of St. Carlo Acutis marks the Church’s first millennial saint. He was a gamer and computer programmer who loved the Eucharist. Using his computer programming skills, he was known for an exhibition of Eucharistic miracles, with the hope that people would see that Jesus is present and attend
Mass.
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati serves as an inspirational figure for young individuals, athletes and everyday churchgoers dedicated to serving the poor and marginalized. His devotion extended not only to the Church but also to mountain climbing, an activity he utilized to foster a connection with Christ for himself and others.
Returning from the Vatican, Reyes felt a deepened, practical connection to the new saints. She realized they were “normal people who aren’t that far away from our daily lives.”
This insight has become the cornerstone of her ministry at St. Norbert, viewing the young saints as intercessors and role models for her teens. The central takeaway for Reyes—and the message she imparts—is one of accessible holiness. She believes that the saints are telling us we don’t need to have “huge talents or crazy gifts” to proclaim the Gospel.
THE REYES FAMILY WELCOMING CARLOS BACK FROM THE MEETING FOR YOUNG MEN HELD IN PORTO SAN GIORGIO, IT, WHERE THESE YOUNG MEN WERE SENT TO SEMINARIES AROUND THE WORLD.
“Everything we need to be a saint is right in front of us,” Reyes affirmed.
Reyes wants her youth ministry group to grasp the reality of Christ’s presence and victory.
“We are not just here to learn facts,” she said. “We are here because Christ is alive and in us every second of the day.”
The lives of St. Carlo and St. Pier Giorgio provide a roadmap for this belief.
THE REYES FAMILY WITNESS
The impact of the Rome pilgrimage was amplified by a bittersweet family moment: Reyes’ brother, Carlos, left shortly after to enter the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Denver, Colorado. Reyes is so proud of Carlos, marveling at her brother’s determination to surrender his life to Christ. This experience reinforces Reyes’s ultimate perspective on her own role and life.
The quick transition from a celebration in Rome to a family goodbye has kept her focused on the eternal: “Everything I have is not the endgame of life; the goal is to get to Heaven.”
As she begins her new journey in youth ministry, Reyes’ most immediate prayer is practical and constant: she is “praying for the grace to be open to God’s will,” a daily decision she describes as a continuous “battle between your will and God’s will.”