‘Be hope and light’: Archdiocese celebrates the coming Jubilee Year and countdown to ACYF 2025

On Sunday 24 November 2024, on the solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, young people and families from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne came together in joyous celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Representatives of parishes, faith movements and migrant communities gathered to mark three significant milestones: giving thanks for the Year of Prayer that is almost over; looking with anticipation to the launch of the 2025 Jubilee Year on 29 December; and marking one year until the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) brings thousands of young people to Melbourne from across Australia.

Despite the wet weather, people came out in force, and the rain did nothing to dampen the celebratory atmosphere.

Jesus Christ won for us our salvation. His life in us does not disappoint. He has given us the reasons we need to build lives in hope.

In his opening remarks at Mass, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli reflected on Pope Francis’ papal bull inaugurating the Jubilee Year.

‘Spes non confundit—hope does not disappoint … Hope does not disappoint for hope is grounded in the promise of God who created this world of ours and us in it to have life in him,’ he said. ‘It was on a cross that God made this hope a reality, where Jesus Christ won for us our salvation. His life in us does not disappoint. He has given us the reasons we need to build lives in hope.’

‘We gather today as the Church in Melbourne, a family, God’s family. We are spread out from the Bellarine Peninsula to the goldfields of central western Victoria. We are a pilgrim people across to the Alpine regions down to the Mornington Peninsula. We are Christ’s body through the inner regions of Melbourne to the great ring of suburban life to the west and north and east. We are the local church in Melbourne who are 177 years old. Welcome all of you who have come from our parish communities to be here today. Welcome to your mother—this cathedral temple under the patronage of St Patrick.’

During the entrance procession, a number of symbols were carried forward that hold significance for the Jubilee Year: a yobel, a ram’s horn traditionally blown on the Day of Atonement, from which the word jubilee comes; a Jubilee candle, signifying the light of Christ passed onto others in hope; a stole used by priests in the sacrament of Reconciliation, signifying Christ’s mercy; the book of the gospels; and a statue of the Homeless Jesus, a reminder that corporal works of mercy are a prominent theme throughout jubilee years.

A number of representatives from parish communities were blessed by Archbishop Comensoli and given a Jubilee candle to return with to their parish and to burn throughout 2025.

People shared their hopes for the Jubilee Year. Lynda, from St Mary’s Parish in Dandenong, expressed her hope ‘that in this Jubilee, we receive the grace and blessings in our parishes and our life’, and that our faith ‘will be renewed with this great hope’.

Louisa, from St Gregory the Great Parish in Doncaster, shared her hope ‘that we continue to be teachers of the Gospel as well [as] remain hopeful and faithful … As we harness the vibrant culture of Melbourne’s city especially, I look forward to our youth being encouraged to deepen their faith as well as embrace their calling as good leaders of the community.’

Following Mass, the grounds of the Cathedral were buzzing as people young and old gathered for food and to enjoy music performed by Awaken Ministry.

There was also an opportunity to hear from three young people who attended ACYF in Perth in 2019. They spoke of their experience in 2019, describing how their time at ACYF changed their lives, and shared some advice for future ACYF participants.

You don’t need to wait until ACYF to get young people involved in your parish. The time starts now.

The highlight for all three of them was the rich experience of prayer through Adoration, praise and worship, and the variety of cultural expressions during Mass. For Vincente, a particularly profound moment came during a talk given by Fr Chris Ryan MGL. ‘The main theme of the talk was that God loves us specifically and individually in a unique way,’ he said. ‘And that was something I’d heard before, but it really stuck with me. When I heard it, I think I burst into tears on the spot. It was something that was really powerful for me and really stuck with me with all the challenges of the past few years.’

Gerry reflected on how ACYF nurtured the relationships in her parish community. ‘I think attending ACYF with my parish was really beautiful, in that the older young people, the young adults that took us, became mentors and really solid witnesses of faith … They’re family, and so I think, coming from a parish perspective, it enhanced the relationships that I had and the friendships that I had as well.’ It also motivated her, she says, to ‘step up’ and become ‘one of those friendly faces in the parish that other young people can rely on’.

When it came to practical advice for ACYF 2025, Erica said, ‘Download the app!’ Multiple panels will take place at the same time in different locations around the ACYF venue, so the upcoming ACYF app will allow participants to plan out their sessions in advance.

Vincente advised young people to be open to what the Holy Spirit is saying to them in their lives. ‘God wants to change your life in a unique way,’ he said. ‘He has a mission for you. He has a mission for each of us.’

Gerry pointed out, ‘You don’t need to wait until ACYF to get young people involved in your parish. The time starts now. Meet in small groups. Develop that trust. Think about where young people can systematically be involved and have their voice heard.’

She said that events like ACYF can sometimes be treated as a ‘one-off’ solution to youth ministry. ‘But I think it’s really about preparation, about [providing] our young leaders and our young people … with really beautiful scaffolds for the parish that is welcoming before you get to ACYF, and when you come back, to have older people that can support them.’

The Archdiocesan celebration was an opportunity for many young people who had never heard of ACYF before to hear positive stories about the festival.

Be hope amongst your friends, family and those you go to school with … And be lights for them to see. Ask Jesus that you be that light. Allow yourself to glow for others.

In his address on the Cathedral grounds, Archbishop Comensoli encouraged everyone present to be hope and light to those around them.

‘So I want to say to you: be hope amongst your friends, family and those you go to school with … And be lights for them to see. Ask Jesus that you be that light. Allow yourself to glow for others.’

Referring to his appearance on a scooter at ACYF 2019, he noted that he is now seven years older. ‘When you get to Australian Catholic Youth Festival next year, I’ll turn up,’ he said. ‘And I won’t be on a scooter. Ever again. In my entire life.’