By Eric Martin
Personal encounters that filled the Expo and Justice Centre at the 2019 Australian Catholic Youth Festival numbered in the thousands, as young people from all across Australia gathered to visit the stalls and find out all about the myriad organisations that call the Catholic Church home.
The stall for the Archdiocese of Perth was one of the 80 attractions on offer for the pilgrims and its success as an interactive attraction was undeniable, as streams of young people gathered to ‘tag’ the wall of the Archdiocese with a signature, post code, bible verse or message of hope for their friends.
The six by 2.4-meter banner featured the recent cover from The Record magazine, Issue 22, showing St Mary’s Cathedral in 1933, with the grounds full of Perth Catholics gathered for the opening ceremony, merged with a modern photograph taken earlier this year.
‘Best stall at Expo,’ was among the messages left by other exhibitors as they too participated in signing the wall, alongside Bishops, Archbishops, Sisters, Fathers, Friars and of course, young Australians in their thousands.
Even St Mary’s Cathedral Dean, the Rev Dr Sean Fernandez was spotted, ‘tagging’ the wall of his own cathedral.
“To help people see Jesus in everything they are and in everyone they see,” wrote Gillian from Sydney.
“To show God’s light to the world in every area of life”; “For those struggling to build their faith, that they might build the courage to evangelise,” and, “Love your neighbors and build the Church”.
One of the star attractions of the ACYF Expo experience was Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who visited the Archdiocesan stall between his many presentations, to meet those who had gathered and have his photo taken with his doppelganger, His Grace, the cardboard cut-out of the Archdiocesan display.
The interactions between the Archbishop and the Dean earned a warm laugh and a shared smile from the pilgrims, as they waited for a photo opportunity with the (human) man behind the festival.
The pilgrims were invited into an artificially grassed area, complete with couches, a coffee table and beanbags, on which to rest and recuperate from their exertions at the plenary sessions.
While taking their ease with friends, some of the pilgrims spoke to The Record about their highlights of the ACYF experience.
Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costelloe, makes his mark on the mural. Photo: Eric Martin. 
Many of the clergy came down to the Archdiocesan display to sign the mural, including Frank, the diminutive Dominican. Photo: Eric Martin.
John from Perth talked about the influence of secular thinking on the views of young Catholics and how the presentations had addressed many of these issues.
“I’ve to some really great talks at ACYF,” he said.
“We were really spoiled for choice with the topics, so yeah, it’s been good so far.”
Rory and Nile, two young friends from Brisbane, said that their highlight had definitely been the music on offer at the Plenary sessions.
“Dancing over the top with my mates at the Plenary,” Rory said. “That was so good.”
Patrick and Connor, also from Brisbane, shared that their highlight was one of the sessions given by the Bishops.
“We had a session with Bishop Columba, he was hilarious, I just loved that. He was a bit inspirational for me,” Patrick said.
As the festival wound down at the end of day three, and the exhibitors set to packing up
their stalls while the youth of Australia made their pilgrimage to the Closing Mass at Trinity College, people were still coming into the Archdiocesan stall to sign the wall and have their photo taken with the Bishops and Pope Francis (in his cardboard personification).
As Archbishop Costelloe said, “A great success.”