Rheannon Bellman's Journey

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of travelling with Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) to attend the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) in Melbourne. This incredible event brought together thousands of young people from across Australia to celebrate faith, community, and the joy of being part of the Catholic Church.

We began the festival with a pilgrim walk through the streets of Melbourne, a truly moving experience where I had the honour of walking alongside our own Archbishop Timothy Costelloe. This set the tone for what would be an unforgettable few days.

Throughout the festival, we were blessed with incredible speakers who inspired and challenged us in our faith journey. Among them were Archbishop Peter Comensoli from Melbourne, Sister Mary Grace from the Sisters of Life, and Cardinal Mykola Bychok. We even received a heartfelt video message from Pope Francis, reminding us of the importance of hope and unity in our world today.

The atmosphere was incredible and welcoming. Not only with worship and singing, but also through the engaging workshops and breakout sessions. These explored themes such as living out our faith in modern society, leadership, cultural diversity, and building inclusive communities. A central message throughout the festival was the big idea of Hope, inspired by the Jubilee Year motto: Pilgrims of Hope. Every session encouraged us to carry hope into our schools, families, and communities, and to be witnesses of God’s love in a world that needs it more than ever.

The festival concluded with a final Mass celebrated by all the priests, bishops, and archbishops in attendance; a powerful and deeply spiritual moment that left a lasting impression on everyone present.

I return to St Helena’s feeling renewed and inspired, ready to share this experience with our school community. A big thank you to CEWA and St Helena's for making this journey possible. It was truly a privilege to represent our school and be part of such a vibrant celebration of faith.