18 December 2025 · 2025-12 newsletter
Sr. M. Rita and Sr. M. Olivia represented the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) in Melbourne from Sunday 30th November to Tuesday 2nd December. Through the generous support and assistance of some Schoenstatt members in Melbourne, Florida Nugara and the Simon family, they were able to also participate in some pre-program events that had been planned in the days prior to the festival.
On Friday 30th November the sisters were invited to join the national Jesus Youth gathering at Holy Family Parish in Doveton entitled “The Upper Room”. The day was filled with praise and worship, talks, adoration and holy mass with approximately 140 youth from across Australia present. Sr. M. Rita was asked to give a talk about Mary as the Spouse of the Holy Spirit and Sr. M. Olivia led the time of reflection at the end of the day. It was great to interact with so many young beautiful people and have some deep and meaningful conversations.
The following day the sisters were then invited to participate in the Syro Malabar Youth pre-program. This day was held in the recently blessed St Thomas Church in Melbourne Southeast. The day began with adoration and then Qurbana which is Holy Mass in the Syro Malabar rite. This was an impressive and very beautiful liturgy. This day was also filled with great inputs, praise and worship as well as discussions. Sr. M. Olivia was able to give her vocation testimony and provide the young people with some tips for discernment. The day concluded at St Johns College with the concert “Syro-Symphonies” where the different States and groups could present their talents on the stage which ranged from song to dance and much more in between. Prodigyl, a young man from the USA who is a rising celebrity was the star of the evening.
Sunday morning the sisters along with Florida visited our dear MTA in the side chapel at St Luke’s Wantirna and attend holy Mass there as well. The parish priest welcomed the sisters very warmly and kindly allowed them to introduce themselves and say a few words about Schoenstatt which was very well received by the parishioners who were present.
Next on the itinerary was to go to Saint Kevin’s Parish in Hampton Park to attend the commissioning mass for the ACYF pilgrims and to meet the youth group there. The sisters were very grateful that they could join this parish group together with a few young people from Holy Family Parish, Doveton and travel with them on the bus to and from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre for the next few days. Including the leaders, adult accompaniment and the two priests we were about 45 people on the bus which created a beautiful atmosphere and relationship which developed over the next few blessed days.
First up on the ACYF program was the welcoming at St Partrick Cathedral. The sisters were unable to enter the cathedral as it was completely full, with 6000 young people in and around the cathedral. The procession into the Cathedral began with the World Youth Day Cross and Icon leading the way. Many bishops, clergy and religious then accompanied the young people on the amazing pilgrimage walk from the Cathedral to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. Many commented that we had experienced all four seasons during this pilgrimage walk: at times the sun was shining brightly and a short time after it poured rain and after a while it cleared up once again. The dramatic weather changes were not enough to diminish the joyful atmosphere and the great conversations that took place during this time.
The next days were filled with major plenary gatherings in the morning and evenings with many keynote speakers along with praise and worship and testimonies from various young people from throughout Australia. In addition to the plenaries, throughout the days there were so many activities on offer such as workshops and talks, many different prayer experiences, opportunities for holy Masses, adoration, forums, live concerts, engagement with bishops, games, a justice activity centre and an interactive expo. The young people could pick and choose what they would like to attend and create their own ACYF adventure.
During most of this time Sr. M. Rita and Sr. M. Olivia were often stopped and had many beautiful encounters with the young people with the most common question being: “How did you know this was God’s calling for you?” This question along with many interactions that took place during these days really gives rise to the hope that the Holy Spirit is truly at work in the hearts of young people and that many are truly seeking and desiring an encounter with God.
A couple of the highlights from ACYF Melbourne 2025:
- The pilgrimage walk to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
- The procession of the WYD cross and icon followed by the powerful and prayerful silence
- The procession of the blessed Eucharist followed by the Adoration in the arena
- Holy Mass with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and his amazing homily
- The final Mass and sending out.
The next ACYF will be in Sydney in 2028, the same year as the International Eucharistic Congress.
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