With only a few days to go, the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival is shaping up to be the most distinctive celebration of the festival to date. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
On Sunday, more than 6000 pilgrims from around Australia will descend on St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne for the opening Mass and Festa, followed by a pilgrimage through the city streets to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, launching the festival with a vibrant and public witness of the Catholic faith.
Many pilgrims have already expressed excitement about the creative and musical forces taking the stage. Among them are Fatai Veamatahau, an artist of Tongan descent who first stunned Australia with her incredible vocals and quirky personality on The Voice in 2012; Prodigyl, a rising hip-hop artist from Houston, Texas, and a house band described as “nothing short of a talent powerhouse”.
The international guest speakers are another source of excitement: popular global speaker Katie Prejean McGrady returns to ACYF, alongside Maggie Craig, another speaker from the US whose popularity has exploded in recent years.
The festival is also blessed this year with the presence of the Sisters of Life, a religious order dedicated to the celebration, protection and advancement of the sacredness of human life. Sr Mary Grace SV, who originally hails from Sydney, will be among the Sisters of Life as a keynote speaker.
Other Australian keynotes include Fr Rob Galea and Joshua Angrisano from ICON Ministry and Jess Bond, artist and founder of Salt + Gold Collection and co-host of the Outside the Chapel podcast.
The international speakers and musical talent will form a core part of the “plenaries”, the full-pilgrim gatherings that will begin and end each day of the festival. While there will be much to entertain and inspire at the plenaries, pilgrims will be able to choose their own adventure with more than 100 workshops on offer.
In the Expo space, pilgrims will be able to connect with Catholic initiatives, organisations and services to help them find their calling.
At the heart of it all are the moments of quiet encounter, where people can experience the Lord’s presence for themselves – with prayer experiences, adoration and the sacrament of Reconciliation.
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With just days to go, ACYF promises pilgrims, praise and powerhouse talent (Melbourne Catholic)
