The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) returned in 2025 with extraordinary energy, bringing more than 6,000 young people together from across the Australia and Oceania region for three days of prayer, workshops, worship and the Eucharist.
Hosted by the
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and with CDF as a major sponsor, the festival transformed the city into a vibrant gathering place for young Catholics. From the opening Pilgrimage Walk to the closing Commissioning Mass, ACYF highlighted the beauty of the Catholic Church in Australia.
“242 young pilgrims have returned to the Diocese of Sale following their powerful spiritual experience at ACYF. It was delightful to see how joyful they were by the encounter with 6000 plus pilgrims celebrating the gift of Christian faith in the Catholic Church. As always, the Catholic Development Fund has been generous in their support of the mission of the Church."
Bishop Greg Bennet, Diocese of Sale
Nature's Symphony
ACYF pilgrims from the Diocese of Sale
“The financial support from the Catholic Development Fund has made the pilgrimage possible for dozens of young people… Without this support, the cost of the festival would have been a barrier for many of them.” -
Bishop Paul Bird,
Diocese of Ballarat
Nature's Symphony
Bishop Paul Bird and ACYF Pilgrims from Ballarat
“Being able to offer sponsorship to these young people says to them that they are loved, wanted, valued.”
Aaron Faure
Evangelisation Coordinator, Diocese of Bunbury
Bishop George Kolodziej, Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry delegate for youth, expressed a vibrant message to pilgrims nationwide:
“My hope is that more young people can be empowered to live as disciples of Christ. Never under-estimate the power of music, laughter and celebration to show that faith is not a burden, but joyful and life-giving.”
Nature's Symphony
Bishop George Kolodziej and Aaron Faure with the CDF Executive Team at the ACYF Bunbury Pilgrim Dinner
A Pilgrim Walk to Remember
The festival opened with a breathtaking moment of unity; the ACYF Pilgrim Walk - with CDF as the name sponsor of the walk itself.
Beginning at St Patrick’s Cathedral, pilgrims carried the World Youth Day Cross and Icon through the streets of Melbourne, journeying five kilometers in prayer, song and companionship toward the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Their steps - steady, joyful and hope-filled - were a powerful witness of a Church alive and present in the heart of the city.
The end of the walk culminated in an opening Mass where pilgrims, were welcomed with a surprise video message from Pope Leo XIV, encouraging them to be courageous witnesses in their communities and reminding them that the universal Church walks alongside them. Pligrims were encouraged to make the most of the festival ahead, with Archbishop Peter A Comensoli reminding them to "Go out to greet Him; He’s waiting to welcome you!"
Pilgrim Voices: Encounters of Faith and Friendship
From Western Australia across to regional Victoria, CDF financially supported pilgrims to make the journey to Melbourne and participate in ACYF 2025. What may not have been possible for some, soon became a reality:
“My faith gives me a positive outlook on school, home and friendships. Having CDF’s support allowed me to experience an event like no other. Even in the darkest times, hope flourishes when we look out for each other.”
Marcus, St Mary MacKillop College (Diocese of Bunbury)
“CDF didn’t just help me attend - it made the whole journey meaningful. Their support felt like God’s work in action. The plenaries were filled with love, worship and the presence of the Lord.”
Holly, Sacred Heart Parish, Pemberton (Diocese of Bunbury)
"You believed in me enough to invest in my faith. CDF turned my ‘maybe someday’ into ‘right now.’ I will never forget that.”
Mary, Holy Family Parish, Northeast Mallee (Dioceses of Ballarat)
“Faith is my rock, my light. CDF’s support meant our young people could attend without financial anxiety - that gift is immeasurable.”
Fr John, Saints Anne & Joachim Parish, Sunraysia (Dioceses of Ballarat)
The CDF Team: Serving With Joy
CDF staff who volunteered at ACYF shared their own reflections on witnessing young people encounter faith so openly and enthusiastically:
“To be amongst young people full of faith, hope and love for Jesus was a wonderous experience. I will not forget seeing and feeling the excitement as they gathered with purpose to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus and be empowered to live their faith in the world and experience the breadth of the Church in Australia.”
CDF Team Member, Kamini
“Being there reminded me why our work matters - every conversation was a reminder that when young people flourish, the whole Catholic community flourishes.”
CDF Team Member, Maxine
“It is a privilege for CDF to walk alongside our Dioceses and young people at ACYF. Their faith, questions, courage and joy are a gift to the whole Church. Through sponsorship and staff volunteering, we hope to create opportunities for young people to encounter Christ, deepen their faith and continue their formation journeys. We congratulate and thank the Australian Bishops - especially our host, Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli - for bringing this festival to life and for their steadfast commitment to the next generation of Catholic leaders.”
CDF Interim CEO, Andrew Carman
Looking Ahead With Hope
At the conclusion of the ACYF commissioning Mass, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP invited those gathered to the next festival in 2028, which will be what he called a ‘crucial strand’ of the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney.
‘What God has begun in you in these days must not fade,’ Archbishop Fisher said. ‘Carry this fire home. Share it with your families, your friends, your peers at school or university or at work, with your world. Let these days … be the start of something beautiful in you, not the end.’
While the festival may be over, pilgrims left the city with a deepening of faith and friendship. CDF is grateful to stand with them as together we continue to live the Gospel and help grow our Catholic community.
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CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
