The Australian Catholic Youth Festival concluded yesterday, with Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli sending the 6000 young participants forth as “pilgrims of hope” and “the Spirit’s new shoots”.
Archbishop Comensoli urged the young pilgrims attending the Commissioning Mass at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to nurture the life of the Holy Spirit within, which contrasts with the lack of hope experienced by so many.
“In a world that often trades in distrust, anxiety and the fear of not fitting, the Spirit has been growing in you,” Archbishop Comensoli said.
“Mercy instead of refusal, listening instead of shouting, serving instead of influencing.”
The tone of the final day of ACYF was markedly different from the previous days.
Eucharistic adoration prefaced the busyness of activities, workshops, and “bishops’ X-Changes” – a unique feature that provided an opportunity for young people to enter into conversation with the bishops on important topics of faith and culture.
In the more contemplative atmosphere, Wagga Wagga Bishop Mark Edwards OMI guided the young pilgrims, inviting them to let the Lord into their hearts.
“Give Him your whole heart,” he said. “Let Him rearrange the furniture of your soul. That’s how the great adventure of giving your life to God begins.”
At the conclusion of Mass, Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP extended a formal invitation to all to Sydney for the 2028 Australian Catholic Youth Festival, which he said would form a “crucial strand” of the International Eucharistic Congress.
“Look around you,” he said, after thunderous applause. “There are 6000 of you here for this festival. Now multiply that in your imagination by 10 to 60,000, then multiply that by 10 more to 600,000. How’s that for a goal?”
Archbishop Fisher encouraged the young pilgrims to grow in their Eucharistic faith, to participate in the pilgrimages, processions and catechesis of their local communities, and to prepare well in advance for the 2028 combined ACYF and IEC experience.
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“Be searchers of an eternal horizon”: Archbishop Comensoli commissions youth as Festival ends (ACYF)
