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Register for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). It exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia.
The Archdiocese of Sydney is hosting the event from December 7th-9th 2017 on behalf of the ACBC. The Festival receives collaborative support from the agencies of the Archdiocese, and greater Sydney Dioceses of Broken Bay, Parramatta and Wollongong.
The Festival will mark the beginning of the Year of Youth in 2018 proclaimed by the Bishops of Australia to celebrate ten years since World Youth Day was hosted in Sydney.
The theme of the Festival is: ‘Open New Horizons for Spreading Joy: Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment’. This theme echoes the words of Pope Francis at World Youth Day 2016; he called young people and the Church to 'open new horizons for spreading joy'.
My friends, Jesus is the Lord or risk, he is the Lord of the eternal 'more'. Jesus is not the Lord of comfort, security and ease. Following Jesus demands a good dose of courage, a readiness to trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and to set out on a new and unchartered path. To blaze trails that open up new horizons capable of spreading joy, born of God's love and wells up in your hearts with every act of mercy.
Pope Francis, World Youth Day Vigil with Young People, 30 July 2016
The three-day Festival is a youthful and energetic celebration hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in partnership with the Archdiocese of Sydney. It will feature international and national presenters and performers.
Venue
The Festival will be held in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct using the Sydney Showground and Qudos Bank Arena venues and will culminate with a closing Mass on Saturday, 9 December at the Domain, not far from St Mary’s Cathedral and adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Organisers are expecting to draw over 15 000 young people to the event.
Who is the Festival for?
Young people from Year 9 (in 2017) to young adults, up to 30 years of age are invited to the event.
See an overview of the festival schedule here: http://www.youthfestival.catholic.org.au/program
For more information on the festival go to: http://www.youthfestival.catholic.org.au/
To view the ACBC Media Release click here.
Young Catholics will be taking a diocesan group to the festival and those interested in attending or wanting more information are encouraged to get in contact with Sarah de Byl, Diocesan Youth Coordinator on 4632 4277 or email youngcatholic@twb.catholic.org.au or Tony Worner from the Catholic Schools Office on 4637 1435 or email tony.worner@twb.catholic.edu.au
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