Saint Carlo Parent Network
The Saint Carlo Parent Network (SCPN) is a coalition of parents united in building community, raising awareness, and sharing insights as we navigate complex and personal decisions about devices and digital media in an effort to protect and preserve childhood.
Launched in August 2025, SCPN at SJB is one of 11 chapters in two states (and counting!). At SJB Parish and School, SCPN is excited to facilitate both informal discussions and expert speakers on responsible technology use, including but not limited to social media, smart phones, internet safety and AI.
The Saint Carlo Parent Network will:
- Invite parents and guardians to discuss their experiences with managing technology use with their children, particularly smart phones and social media;
- Support parents and guardians in navigating the challenges of an ever-evolving digital landscape;
- Share best practices and advice across age groups and grade-levels;
- Organize informal discussions concerning responsible technology use;
- Host programs such as expert speakers, book clubs, film screenings and round-table discussions;
- Promote and expand the Wait Until 8th initiative at SJB.
Our goal is to support parents with their children in navigating the challenges of an increasingly challenging technological landscape. By sharing best practices and advice across age groups and grade levels, our families, schools, communities and Church will be stronger and safer as we strive for everyday holiness.
Stay tuned for more info on SCPN throughout the year! For any questions, please contact Eileen Surprenant at emzander@gmail.com.
St. Carlo Acutis, pray for us!
Who was St. Carlo Acutis?
St. Carlo was born on May 3, 1991. He was a young Italian teenager who—in addition to his affinity for playing soccer and video games with his friends—was deeply devoted to Jesus in the Eucharist, attending Mass, serving the poor in Rome, and praying the rosary. St. Carlo used his talents in computer programming to create a website cataloguing all Eucharistic Miracles (www.miracolieucaristici.org), thereby evangelizing the world through the internet.
St. Carlo also set strict limits on his technology use because he did not want to become consumed by living online in a virtual world. Carlo died suddenly at the age of 15 from leukemia and was buried in his characteristic jeans, sweatshirt and sneakers.
St. Carlo was canonized as the Church’s first millennial saint on September 7, 2025, along with another beloved Italian youth: St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. St. Carlo’s feast day is October 12.
“To be always close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.” —St. Carlo Acutis
