Young Tasmanians to attend national youth festival in Melbourne
By Catherine Sheehan
At the end of this year young Catholics from around the country will converge on Melbourne for a three-day festival celebrating their Catholic faith, and young Tasmanians will be among them.
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) will run from 30 November to 2 December 2025 and will attract thousands of young Catholics aged 14 to 25.
In conjunction with Catholic Education Tasmania (CET), Director of Youth Evangelisation, Darcy Rogers, will be taking a group of young people from the Archdiocese to the Festival.
He hopes they will “be inspired” and “encouraged in their personal walk with Jesus” and will “return with testimonies to inspire hope and mission in our parishes”.
“ACYF is an exciting event,” he said. “There is something powerful when Aussies come together.
“There will be witnesses from religious life, clergy, and young adults who witness through talks, song, dance and festival life.
“It is very similar to World Youth Day, and a great stepping stone to our pilgrimage journey to WYD South Korea 2027.”
ACYF was established by the bishops of Australia more than 10 years ago. It aims to bring young Catholics together so they can connect with each other, deepen their relationship with Christ, experience the Catholic Church on a national level, and be empowered to joyfully give witness to their faith.
The Festival involves a wide range of activities including prayer, Mass, workshops, talks, live concerts, games, and an interactive expo.