Sign of the Cross
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts as we prepare for our TEC weekend. We thank You for the gift of this time to seek Your presence and to deepen our relationship with You and bring others closer to you. Pour forth Your Holy Spirit upon us, O Lord, that we may open our minds and hearts to Your divine will. Grant us the grace to listen attentively to Your word, to reflect deeply on Your love, and to respond with faithful hearts to Your call.
Bless our retreat with the light of Your guidance and the warmth of Your love. May it be a time of spiritual renewal, healing, and transformation. As we journey together, may we grow in unity and love, supporting one another in faith and in truth. We entrust this Novena and our retreat into the hands of our Blessed Mother, Mary. Through her intercession, may we be drawn closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever Amen.
Saint of the Day: St. Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) was an English‑born Italian teenager whose deep love for the Eucharist and remarkable skill with computers made him one of the most unique modern witnesses of the Catholic faith. Raised in Milan, he taught himself programming and web design, using those gifts to build a major online catalogue of Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions. Known for his kindness, simple piety, and desire to bring others to God, he served as a young catechist and inspired several conversions. Diagnosed with acute leukemia at age fifteen, he offered his suffering for the Church and the Pope before his death. The Church recognized miracles attributed to his intercession, leading to his beatification in 2020 and canonization in 2025, making him the first millennial saint. Today, he is widely honored as the patron saint of the Internet, computer programmers, and youth, often called “God’s influencer” for the way he used technology to evangelize.
Reflection
Carlo Acutis reminds us that holiness is not reserved for the extraordinary. It is found in the ordinary lived with love. He didn’t perform dramatic feats; he simply used the gifts he had, especially his passion for technology, to point others toward Jesus. His devotion to the Eucharist grounded everything he did, giving him a joy and clarity far beyond his years. Carlo challenges us to consider how we use our own talents, screens, and daily routines. Do they draw us closer to God and to others or distract us from what matters? His life invites us to embrace holiness in the digital age, to choose virtue over vanity, and to let our faith shine naturally in the spaces where we already live, work, and connect.
Prayer
Oh God, Our Father,
thank you for giving us Carlo,
a life example for the young
and a message of love for everyone.
You made him become enamoured with
Your Son Jesus, Making of the Eucharist
his “Highway to Heaven”.
You gave him Mary, as a most loving Mother,
and, with the Rosary, you made him
a poet of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us.
Above all, gaze upon the poor,
whom he loved and helped.
Grant for me too, by his intercession,
the grace that I need …
And make our joy fulfilled,
placing Carlo among the Saints
of your Church, so that his smile
may shine again for us in the glory of your name.
Amen
Intentions
Through the intercessions of the Saints, we pray for TEC 286.
- The team that they stay open to the Holy Spirit in their lives before and during the weekend- we pray.
- The Tecites attending or thinking about attending. That the spirit moves their hearts to be open to the TEC weekend. – We Pray·
- (Feel free to add any special intentions you would like prayed for) – We Pray
Heavenly Father, in Preparation for this retreat we lift our hearts in gratitude for Your boundless love and mercy. We thank You for the graces and blessings bestowed upon us during these days of prayer and reflection.
With humble hearts, we invoke the intercession of the saints who have accompanied us on this journey. Saints who have gone before us, lighting the path with their faith and devotion:
Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us
St. Joseph, Pray for us
St. Therese of Lisieux, Pray for us.
St. Padre Pio, Pray for us
Servant of God Fr. Walter Cisek, Pray for us
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Pray for us
Our Lady of Champion, Pray for us
St. Christopher, Pray for us
St. Carlo Acutis, Pray for us
Through their intercession, may we be strengthened in our faith and inspired to live lives of holiness and service.
Lord, bless our TEC retreat with Your divine presence. May it be a time of profound encounter with You, of healing, renewal, and transformation. Fill our hearts with Your love, that we may return to our daily lives as witnesses of Your grace, carrying the light of Christ to all we meet. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen
