Italian teenager Blessed Carlo Acutis relics draw prayerful to St. Elizabeth in Wilmington — Photo gallery

Visitors spent the weekend streaming into St. Elizabeth parish in Wilmington beginning Aug. 26 to get a glimpse of relics of the late Italian teenager Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Relics are a very deep and ancient Catholic tradition, according to Father Roger DiBuo, pastor at St. Elizabeth, and Catholics in the area were able to venerate a first-class relic of a 20^th century young man who died at age 15 and was beatified a few years ago.

Father DiBuo said more than 600 people turned out for the weekend program.

“We had a lot of families, that’s what we noticed,” Father DiBuo said. “Many people waited in line just to touch the relics.”

Priests, deacons, altar servers and members of the community took part in the Eucharist and Relic procession at St. Elizabeth Aug. 26.

More than 100 people participated in a Saturday vigil Mass, which was followed by the procession.

Saturday’s events included a talk by Bill Ryckman, a relics procession and a Eucharistic miracle panel display.

Sunday also included a procession of the relics and benediction.

The St. Pius X Columbiettes of the city of Wilmington organized the two-day stop at St. Elizabeth Church.

“I am so happy,” Father DiBuo said. “The Columbiettes did a lot of work.”