Advent Prayer

Heavenly Father, heal my heart during this season of Advent. Help me to love more fully. To forgive more generously. To wait more patiently for Christmas, embracing each day and hour knowing the joy that awaits. In Your name I pray. Amen.

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) 2025 was a three-day national gathering for young Catholics, between the ages of 16 to 25 yrs, over 6000 people attended. It was held in Melbourne from November 30 to December 2, 2025. Kildare Catholic College was represented with 14 students and 3 teachers. We travelled together with the 4 Catholic secondary schools from the diocese. It was organized by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the event focused on deepening faith, building community and exploring Catholic life in Australia. 

The event was hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and took place primarily at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC), with key events also held at St Patrick's Cathedral. The festival program was described as a "choose your own adventure" experience, allowing attendees to participate in a wide array of activities tailored to their interests and spiritual needs. 

ACYF 2025 sought to engage young people on a deeper level, affirming their place within the Church. It offered them the opportunity to connect with peers, bishops, and religious leaders, experiencing a sense of belonging and community in a world that can often be isolating. The event served as a major formation opportunity, encouraging participants to return to their home communities feeling inspired and equipped to share their faith. It was a powerful reminder that the youth are not just the "Church of the future," but a vital and active "young Church" in the present. 

Please visit https://stmichaelscathedral.org.au/ for Mass, Confession, Blessed Sacrament Exposition times.

Ondre Nejman | Leader of Faith Formation and Mission