News

“Let’s go out and together, let’s kick as many goals as we can for the Church and for Jesus.” - Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costelloe SDB.

The ACYF delegation left Mount Gambier early last Saturday to head to Perth for the 4th Australian Catholic Youth Festival. The staff and students 
attending are Laura Cesario, Rosie van Eyk, George Wimshurst, Kiah Connolly,
Emma O’Callaghan, Reuben van Eyk, Billy Dixon, Sari Mutton, Keeva Shepherd,
Skye Flint, Nicola Harradine, Adam Taylor, Michelle Coote and Chloe 
Shanahan.
They have had a busy few days in Perth so far joining over 5,500 young people from across the country to share and experience their faith in different ways. Young people have been challenged to go out and rebuild God’s Church with joy, enthusiasm and hope. 
Our students have engaged in high-energy plenary sessions with music from Fr Rob Galea, Genevieve Bryant (who visited Tenison Woods College late in Term 3), and headline acts from the USA Joe Melendrez and Steve Angrisano, key note speakers and testimonies, and various forms of prayer. They have 
dialogued with 30 bishops from across Australia about what it means to be a Christ-centred Church in preparation for the 2020 Plenary Council as well as attending various workshops on social justice issues, the saints, music, prayer and engaging with different Catholic organisations in the Expo centre. 
The group have also enjoyed meeting priests, bishops and religious people, including the two nuns from the latest season of the Amazing Race!
The group also attended a special mass for all South Australian pilgrims on Monday morning, celebrated by Bishop Greg O’Kelly. This was a great way for our students to connect with others from across our state and to celebrate the Eucharist together. A special moment was shared amongst 5,500 young people, their leaders and Church leaders on Monday evening with Adoration, stirring the hearts and emotions of many as they spent some silent time before Jesus in prayer.
Yesterday the group attended the last of the workshops and made the final 
pilgrimage of the Festival to Trinity College for the Closing Mass. This will be an experience these young people will never forget and we look forward to their continued enthusiasm upon their return to the South East.
Plenary sessions of #ACYF19 was streamed live at The Record www.therecord.com.au/live-feed 

Chloe Shanahan  |  10 12 Catholic Identity and Mission Co Ordinator