On the 30th of November we embarked on a special journey. We arrived at st Patrick’s cathedral and attended a fiesta which was followed by our pilgrimage walk. This walk lasted a total of 2 hours from the cathedral to the Melbourne convention and exhibition centre, and despite the heavy rain it was still a beautiful experience, seeing thousands of people from all across Australia come together in this powerful movement of faith.
Upon arrival we had an hour to eat and then we headed straight to the plenary. The plenary was a time where everyone was in the same space taking part in various activities such as Adoration, Mass, listening to talks and testimonies, worship and ect. During our first plenary we heard from Cardinal Myoka Bychok and Archbishop Peter comensoli who both shared such words of wisdom and gave a beautiful opening to this event.
On the second day we started it off with a plenary which focused on our creation to love. This plenary featured speakers such as Bishop George kolodzjei and Sr Mary grace. Sr Mary grace especially stuck out to us as her devotion and love for this faith was felt by each one of us. After the plenary we headed to various workshops which included one from Father Mahir murad, an assistant priest from the Chaldean community. He explained the topic of walking by faith, not by sight, which many of us found direct yet extremely accurate and helpful. We continued the day attending more workshops, visiting the expo and collecting stamps for our pilgrimage passport. We ended the day with a plenary which focused on a God who draws close. We were reminded that God is always calling us and waiting for us to turn to him, this plenary touched our hearts and many tears were shared, making this experience even more beautiful. During all our plenaries we partook in worship, this was a time for singing and dancing and praising our lord Jesus Christ, we all thoroughly enjoyed this part!
On our final day we again attended the morning plenary which focused on a God who saves us. This plenary deeply touched each one of us as we were reminded of everything God does for us and everything Jesus has done for us. During this plenary we also took part in adoration and a moment of silence. This experience was truly beautiful, you could feel the Holy Spirit moving amongst us and that feeling is indescribable. We left our final plenary with our hearts full and continued our day attending more workshops, visiting the expo and building our relationships. At last we attended mass which was extremely heavenly. There was an orchestra which made the mass even more touching, and over 50 members of clergy and Bishops were in attendance. We all felt the Holy Spirit throughout this mass and it was an experience like no other. We also each received a cross which was blessed by the Archbishop during the mass.
Overall this experience was something truly special. We received so many blessings and were able to deeply strengthen our faiths, by being reminded that we are never alone and our faith is a strength rather than a weakness. The presence of God was heavily felt which encourages us to continue embarking on this journey and spreading the love of God unto those around us. This was an unforgettable experience and we thank everyone who was able to make it happen.
- Jana A, Year 10
The ACYF experience had truly granted us the greatest gift: a deeper reunion with the Holy Spirit, feeling His presence undeniably surround us in every moment. It also renewed our appreciation for the blessing of being born a Christian. Oh, what a great journey it was, and what a grace to worship and praise our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ alongside more than six thousand Australian Catholic youth. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of such an experience, where we had the chance to listen to talks by Bishops and Nuns who shared their wisdom and the life of Christ with us, as well as to hear inspiring testimonies from outstanding speakers. I want to sincerely thank everyone who gave us the opportunity to be part of this unforgettable event, which has been one of the highlights of my young life.
- Sally A, Year 11
The Australian Catholic youth festival was an experience we will always remember. we went to many different workshops, and each one taught us something new about ourselves, our faith, and the people around us. It really pushed us to open up our heart to God in ways we hadn’t before. we felt more connected to our faith than we ever thought we would, and that feeling stayed with us throughout the whole event.
It also brought us closer to our peers and the people around us. we made so many new friends and met people who shared similar beliefs and struggles. Being surrounded by others who were on the same journey made us feel supported and understood. There was a strong sense of togetherness that made the experience even more special. It was also a really good thing that we were able to meet different people from all around Australia, which helped us see how faith brings people together no matter where they come from.
Even the times we felt tired, we still pushed ourselves to keep going. Looking back, I’m so glad we did because it ended up being one of the most meaningful times for us. Having Mr Elbarbar, there with us on the trips made a big difference, as he really supported and encouraged us throughout the experience. ACYF 2025 helped us grow spiritually, socially, and personally, and it is something we will always carry with us.
- Dareen H, Year 10