Relics of St. Carlo Acutis made their third stop in the Columbus diocese on Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Southeastern Correctional Institution (SCI), about six miles south of Lancaster.
Tour itinerary and organizers
The six‑day tour began Friday, Feb. 13 with visits to The Villas at Saint Therese independent living community and Mother Angeline McCrory Manor health‑care facility, followed by the Columbus Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the Recent Evangelization parish. Parishioners Dr. Stephen and Mary Ann Jepsen of Columbus‑Powell St. Peter St. Joan of Arc organized the effort to bring the relics to Columbus.
Relics and clergy
Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo arrived in the diocese from Assisi, Italy, with the relics, which include St. Carlo’s pericardium, a lock of hair, a piece of the bedsheet on which he suffered and died, and a fragment of his favorite T‑shirt. Mass at SCI’s chapel was celebrated by Msgr. Figueiredo, Father Matt Morris (SCI chaplain) and Deacon Jeff Hurdley (minister at Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption), with about 50 inmates in attendance.
Inmate participation
Inmates were invited to venerate the relics, a rare opportunity for those incarcerated. One inmate, whose name was withheld, had been baptized and confirmed Catholic by Father Morris the previous week. He had previously watched a documentary about the 2020 beatification of then‑Blessed Carlo and prayed for intercession for his step‑granddaughter’s kidney cancer, which was in remission by the time Carlo was canonized on Sept. 7, 2025.
Future of the relic tour
The relics are scheduled to continue visiting other diocesan parishes over the remaining days of the six‑day tour. Analysts note that the presence of the relics in diverse venues—from senior living communities to correctional institutions—may encourage broader participation in upcoming events, such as the Ash Wednesday celebration at the St. Thomas More Newman Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the relics visit the Southeastern Correctional Institution?
The relics arrived at the SCI on Saturday, Feb. 14, as part of the tour’s third stop.
Who were the clergy leading the Mass at the correctional facility?
Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo, Father Matt Morris (SCI chaplain), and Deacon Jeff Hurdley officiated the Mass.
What items were included in the relics displayed at SCI?
The reliquaries contained St. Carlo’s pericardium, a lock of his hair, a piece of the bedsheet on which he suffered and died, and a fragment of his favorite T‑shirt.
How might this outreach influence future faith initiatives within the prison system?
