The Divine Word Missionaries played an active role in the recent Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne by sharing the SVD missionary charism with young Catholics, promoting vocations, and gaining inspiration from them, as well.

Province Vocations Director Fr Yon Wiryono SVD attended with seminarians from Dorish Maru College and for the first time, the SVD collaborated with the Indonesian Catholic Community in Melbourne, highlighting the value in lay people and Religious working together to promote vocations.

“Working with the Indonesian community promotes a spirit of collaboration with our partners in mission,” Fr Yon said. “It’s actually the core of our mission, to collaborate with others, especially with our lay people.”

Fr Yon said that participating in a big youth gathering was not about attracting vocational candidates right away but rather, it aimed to create awareness in young people of “the mission that we all participate in”.

“It’s to inspire our youth and to help them see that in discerning vocations, religious life is one of the paths that they may follow,” he said. 

About 6000 young people from around Australia and the Oceania region gathered from November 30 to December 2 for the festival, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The festival began with masses at St Patrick’s Cathedral and a pilgrim walk to the host venue, accompanied by the World Youth Day cross and icon.

The ACYF, which is an initiative of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, included talks, prayer experiences, masses, workshops, forums, live concerts, engagement with bishops, games, a justice activity centre and an interactive expo.

During the festival, Pope Leo XIV shared a video message, saying in part: “I encourage you to build networks and friendships with one another and work together to build up the Kingdom of God in your local areas.”

Fr Yon, who is also Co-Formator at Dorish Maru College, said a number of SVD seminarians took part in the youth festival, with each describing it as a powerful experience in their formation and a vibrant, multicultural window into the Church in Australia.

“It was my hope that our seminarians who attended the youth gathering would be inspired to deepen their relationship with Jesus, strengthen their vocation to be disciples of Jesus and to experience the vitality of the young Church,” he said.

Seminarian Khanh Ngoc Nguyen said he really enjoyed some of the talks he attended, especially one on how to work with youth.

“The young people brought a youthful, dynamic and creative atmosphere. It was these elements that helped me experience the way young people lived their faith. It was enthusiasm. It was dynamism. It was creativity. It was simplicity and joy. It was dedicating one’s youth to God. It was a youthfulness in the way they worshipped God. I felt like I was part of that youthfulness,” he said.

 Khanh said he had never experienced a big event like the ACYF before.

“It was powerful and inspiring,” he said. “It has inspired me to work with youth in the future.”

Arnoldus Jansen Klau Tefa said it was also a first time for him to attend a big event like this.

“Australia is a secular country, and there are very few young people in church today. However, witnessing thousands of young people getting together like this was something very encouraging,” he said.

“Attending the huge youth Mass and praise and worship songs with young people like myself was an amazing experience. I could feel the energy of the young people and feel the hunger of the young people for Jesus. I’m inspired to prepare myself in doing ministry amongst young people.”

Mengjie Li said he found the gathering very impressive, especially the Pilgrim Walk and the expo where he learnt for the first time about many religious congregations as well as other specialised ministries in the Catholic Church in Australia, many of them run by lay people.

“The Pilgrim Walk was an opportunity to witness to the world that we, Catholic youth are alive and ready to witness to Christ in the world,” he said. 

“I have never seen so many people with a passion for mission and for Christ. It’s strengthened my vocation,” he said.

For Thuc Nguyen, the ACYF was “a deeply meaningful experience”, with highlights including reconnecting with pilgrims from Townsville Diocese where he spent time on pastoral placement during his Overseas Training Program experience, as well as meeting many others from around Australia.

“Through the liturgies, music, talks, and shared conversations, I could clearly sense the Church as a living and moving community, especially alive among young people,” he said.

“I felt encouraged in my own journey and renewed in hope, realising that the Church continues to grow through these encounters of listening, welcome and shared mission.”

And Luong Tran said one of the most important lessons he took from ACYF was the need to better understand the younger generation.

“Young people today face many struggles and challenges, such as social pressures, uncertainty about the future, and rapid changes in the modern world,” he said.

“At the same time, they also bring new opportunities, fresh perspectives, and strong potential to contribute positively to the Church and society. ACYF provided a space where these realities could be shared, discussed, and reflected upon together in a supportive faith community.”

A number of SVD parishes also head young people attending the youth festival, including a contingent from the Tiwi Islands.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: Fr Yon with SVD seminarians and members of the Indonesian Catholic Community at the vocations stall during the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.

TOP LEFT: Gathered with thousands of young people outside St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Khanh takes part in the ACYF Pilgrim Walk through the city.

MIDDLE LEFT: Seminarians and members of the Indonesian Catholic Community talk with young pilgrims.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Fr Yon with some ACYF pilgrims from the Tiwi Islands, where the SVD has pastoral care of the parish.