Australian Catholic Youth Festival

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival was held in the Archdiocese of Melbourne from Sunday 30 November to Tuesday 2 December, 2025. There were fifty-three pilgrims from schools and parishes across the Ballarat diocese attend the festival, with an overall attendance of around 6,000.

We are very grateful to the Diocese of Ballarat Foundation and the Catholic Development Fund for providing generous sponsorship to enable the pilgrims of the diocese to attend the festival.

The Festival began on Sunday at St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne at 2.30pm with the Official Welcome and prayer, led by the Catholic Bishops of Australia, with the World Youth Day Cross and Icon being carried out of the Cathedral to take pride of place in the pilgrim walk procession.

Our pilgrims had the opportunity to celebrate Mass with Bishop Paul during the Festival. The full program at: https://acyf.org.au/program/

See some of the highlights from the festival are available here

including:

Video Message of Pope Leo XIV to Participants in the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, 30 November 2025
Opening Address – Bishop George Kolodziej SDS
Commissioning Mass homily – Archbishop Peter Comensoli

As the largest Catholic gathering in Australia, the ACYF promotes and engages the life and voice of young Catholics, equipping them to live out their faith in the world. Australia’s premier gathering for young Catholics, the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, will conclude the Church’s celebration of the international Jubilee Year in December 2025.

ACYF is a national gathering of Catholic young people, established by the Australian Bishops more than a decade ago. The three-day event offers young people from across Australia the opportunity to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus, and be empowered to live their faith in the world. It also provides a unique chance to experience the diversity of the Church in Australia.

The Festivals welcome thousands of young Catholics, along with their leaders, bishops, clergy, religious and representatives from ecclesial groups and organisations from across Australia. Together, they gather in a vibrant, joyful celebration of faith and community.

ACYF Prayer for Pilgrims

A message from Bishop Paul