The inaugural Australian Catholic Youth Festival was hosted in Melbourne from December 5 to 7. It gathered 3,400 young people from around Australia to engage in a festival of the Catholic faith.
Perth had more than 150 participants attend with groups coming from schools, universities, communities and movements and parishes. Young people with special needs and our Indigenous youth were among those aged between 13 and 25 who attended from Perth.
The festival hosted keynote speakers Steve Angrisano from the USA, and Fr Rob Galea from Victoria. Australian bishops and youth led the plenary sessions. Perth youth assisted in leading prayers and also summary teachings at the plenary sessions.
The days at the festival engaged young people with a wide range of workshops, prayer opportunities, expos, games and music. These were all led by our bishops and youth ministers from around the country.
It was such a vibrant and dynamic way for young people to encounter the faith. Many of the popular mega-workshops and praise and worship sessions would be full an hour before they started.
But the opportunities were never lost and those who couldn’t attend had more than 30 other options of workshops and activities to engage in.
From cappuccinos with the Capuchins, to reconciliation, quiet spaces and a rooftop garden, there was such a variety of ‘chill-out’ zones for spiritual or physical rest too.
The festival also had a social justice focus and an opportunity for young people to engage in practical activities, bringing donations for teens to the Vinnies stall and the final Mass for the festival also collected donations for Caritas’ Philippines appeal.
In his closing homily, Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne reminded the young people, “God loves you, he has chosen you, he has a special mission for each of you in the Church”.
Archbishop Hart told the youth returning from the festival they have the challenge now to make a difference in our world today.
As young Catholics, we can challenge the secularisation of our world, grow in our own relationship with Christ and spread the Gospel message in so many aspects of our lives, he said.
The young Church of Australia gathered in Melbourne for an amazing three days of festival as an inaugural event. The Australian Catholic Youth Council, under the Australian Catholics Bishops’ Conference, envisages proposing that the festival continues as a regular event in our country.
Catholic Youth Ministry Perth also recorded a daily video blog of the festival to give those who couldn’t attend an ‘on the ground’ experience of the festival. This can be viewed on their YouTube channel ‘CYM Perth’ or on their Facebook page.