On the 30th of November to the 2nd of December 2025, Thieu Nhi Gioan Hoan took 18 of our youths including youth leaders along to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2025 held here in Melbourne at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Across the 3 days they experienced:
- Pilgrimage walk to St Patrick’s Cathedral
- Multiple workshops
- Plenary sessions
- Testimonies (soul cafe)
Here are some recaps from our attendees across the event:
Day 1 (Opening ceremony)
“The plenary sessions during ACYF really stood out to me because they felt wholesome, genuine and authentic. Listening to the different testimonies from people with their own unique stories opened my eyes to new perspectives which helped me reflect on my own personal journey with Christ.
We also had the opportunity to hear from the Cardinal of Ukraine, Cardinal Mykola Bychok. His message deeply inspired me to think more critically about my own thoughts and even
challenged some of my own opinions.
Another moment that struck me was seeing the thousands of Catholics which were gathered together. Watching the thousands of people stand, sing and worship as one created an incredible atmosphere. It inspired me and those with me to match the same energy. It was a great reminder of the strength and joy of our community’s faith.
My favourite interaction was seeing our very own, Tr. Quynh Tran, speak and present her very own testimony. Repping the TNTT scarf, she gave us a sense of pride and confidence in our own Church community.
One thing that took me by surprise was the amount of energy everyone had. Personally when I pray and praise I am used to slow, calm and quiet prayers. This was the complete opposite. Load, chaotic and lively. All in a good way, but it took me by surprise. In the end, it turned out to be a much more exciting and uplifting way to praise.”
Tien Dinh (Youth Leader)
Day 2
Our favourite workshop was the ‘How to share your faith with your friends’ because it resonated with us.
My most favourite interaction I had was with every bishop and priest’s hand I shook, every person I dapped up and everybody I had a talk with because it was a moment where I connected with somebody else like me. 6,000 people all Catholics like me and 6,000 people who are there to encounter God.
One thing I will take away and share with my friends and family is that God loves everyone. No matter who you are or what you did. No matter if you have faith or if you don’t.
What surprised me the most about this event is how good it actually was. Originally, I didn’t plan on attending with the thought that ACYF would be a lame or boring festival but it was the opposite.
Paul Pham and Son le (Nghia Si attendee)
Day 3
“Our day started off with yet another plenary filled with songs of worship, gratitude, and of course, praise, led by Fr Rob Galea, who would later go on to hold his very own podcast episode at the festival later in the day. His workshop, despite not being a topic that many of us young people would be interested in (reading the Bible), was incredibly engaging for the audience, and it was definitely one of the most interesting workshops we attended during the festival.
Other than engaging in the activities on offer throughout day 3, our daily missions lead us to talk to a variety of different people throughout the day, from using the ‘chào’ sign to pose with several youth groups, to even giving stickers to the bishops and priests we encountered along the way. It was also really surprising to see the amount of people who had either approached or recognised us, and whilst we were initially hesitant to be wearing our “khăn’s” everywhere, it could not make us more prouder for our efforts to be acknowledged by the greater Catholic community, whether it was Tr Ha and Quynh on stage on days 1 and 2, or seeing Patrick, Ti and Vi altar serving for the commissioning mass.
After the lifetimes we had experienced through a mere 3 days at the festival, when reconvening over our last group dinner of ACYF, we realised that there wasn’t a singular interaction, a singular event, or a singular moment, that didn’t stick out to us. Each and every moment will carry precious memories in our hearts, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that I don’t regret going to ACYF. In the end, it truly was the company of our xu đoàn, that made this experience so special.”
Cathy Chen and Chelsea Tran (Youth leader, Nghia Sy attendee)
“I really enjoyed participating in the mass as an altar server, and it was an amazing experience helping the arch bishop for the first time for me as I usually do incense with Ti. I felt very supported since I don’t altar serve as much at our main church, and especially since it’s the first time we as the Gioan Hoan altar servers served for a big event such as ACYF. It was an amazing opportunity to experience this event as an altar server, I also felt very supported by the Deakins from St Patricks and I didn’t have to worry as much with the role I was given. If I had this opportunity again to altar serve in a massive event I’d love to take it with my siblings and the other altar servers as it gives us a better opportunity to learn and to participate in a once in a lifetime event.”
Vi Cao and Patrick Cao (Youth leader, Nghia Si attendee)
ACYF Coffee Mixer
Before ACYF our Thieu Nhi held a coffee meet-up with all youth leaders and young people from the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement across Australia.
We managed to raise $500 to support disadvantaged children in Vietnam by selling coffees, matchas, baked goods and sausage sizzle.
There were over 100 people in attendance – a very successful event!
Here are some moments from the event.
