THE theme of the inaugural Australian Catholic Youth Festival, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me’ (Luke 4:18), was brought to life as more than 3000 young people from around Australia gathered for the opening plenary at Festival Hall in Melbourne on December 5.
The event began the three-day celebration of what it means to be young and Catholic.
It is the largest national gathering of Catholic young people since Sydney’s World Youth Day in 2008.
Darwin Bishop Eugene Hurley welcomed participating youth, priests and bishops to the festival, before Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher, greeted the young people on behalf of Pope Francis.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra Goulburn gave a shout out to youth from each state, as well as Australia’s indigenous participants, drawing loud cheers and applause from an energetic and appreciative crowd.
Archbishop Prowse called young people to reflect on their participation in the ACYF and their individual Catholic vocation in the light of three great questions inspired by St Ignatius of Loyola: What has God done for me? What have I done for God? and What do I want to do for God in my life?
Steve Angrisano then took to the stage to lead the young crowd in prayerful song, before giving a powerful testimony of his experience of nuns witnessing to their Catholic mission by being a living reflection of God to the world.
‘We should wake up and see that there is a world we can change,” he said.
Watch the official report from Day 1 of ACYF and view the photo gallery:
Photos: Fiona Basile, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne/Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2013
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