In a joyful and faith-filled celebration, Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta consecrated the new parish dedicated to Saint Carlo Acutis, marking a significant moment for the Church in Panama. The Eucharistic celebration took place on March 14, 2026, as the archbishop formally elevated the former quasi-parish to full parish status, serving the growing Catholic community of Nuevo Tocumen.
At the beginning of the ceremony, a relic of Saint Carlo Acutis, whose remains rest in Assisi, Italy, was solemnly unveiled before a church filled with families, elderly faithful, and many young people. The liturgy then continued with the blessing and sprinkling of holy water over the faithful and the church walls, followed by the proclamation of the Word of God.
A central moment of the rite was the consecration of the altar with sacred chrism, the holy oil used in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, signifying that the altar is now dedicated to the Eucharistic sacrifice. The walls of the church were also anointed, marking the entire temple as consecrated for divine worship.
In his homily, Archbishop Ulloa declared that the parish would be “a house of prayer… and a door of mercy,” emphasizing that the Eucharist is the “highway to heaven,” echoing the words of Saint Carlo Acutis.
For the faithful, this new parish stands as a living witness that holiness is possible today—calling especially the young to encounter Christ in the Eucharist and proclaim Him to the world.