A Night with St. Carlo: God’s Influencer — Celebrating Faith, Community and Mission

When Kevin Baltzer first walked into the St. Carlo Acutis Catholic Student Center at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, he was looking for a free meal. By the time he graduated, he had converted to Catholicism, sponsored students through their OCIA journey, and became a FOCUS missionary.

 “College is often the first moment someone truly makes a free decision in what’s often a very worldly environment,” he said. “If you don’t care in college and make faith your own, you’ll likely not pursue it later — though there are exceptions, of course.”

“A Night with St. Carlo: God’s Influencer,” the annual gala and largest fundraiser for the St. Carlo Center, is October 23 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in St. Joseph Hall. The evening begins with Mass at 5:30 p.m., followed by a social from 6:00–6:45 p.m. Dinner and the evening program follow, concluding around 8:30 p.m.

The evening offers a chance to hear firsthand how Christ is working in the lives of students at St. Carlo. The program will feature testimonials from current students and will be emceed by Baltzer and Fr. Mark McCormick, chaplain at the student center. Funds raised from the evening will support the center’s ministries, yearly operating expenses, and the cost of training its FOCUS missionaries.

“The St. Carlo Catholic Student Center needs local help,” Baltzer said. “It’s Rapid City’s Catholic student center — beauty that’s free for all — and we need your help. Remember, college students are poor.”

One of those students, Zach Schutte, said St. Carlo has become a community and spiritual home while at the university. “St. Carlo has given me a place where I can grow in my faith and be surrounded by people who encourage me to become closer to Christ.”

Fr. McCormick said placing Christ at the center of the chapel has transformed St. Carlo. “My wish is for our students to place Christ at the center of their lives, so they too can be transformed in faith.”

One of the evening’s sponsors said watching students grow in their faith is a reminder of why the center’s work matters. “A Night with St. Carlo is a wonderful opportunity to witness the faith, hope and promise of these young men and women.”

“Nothing will put a fire in you to take your faith seriously like seeing college students take their faith seriously. The Word of God is being proclaimed there, and the community is thriving,” Baltzer agreed. “Even among a bunch of engineering students.”

Everyone is welcome to come celebrate, meet some of the current students, and witness the wonderful things Christ is doing at St. Carlo. Tickets are $100 a piece or $175 for a couple. Table and event sponsors are still available.