Sunday 15 April 2012
On a brilliant sunny day, clear skies greeted more than 150 student leaders from the Melbourne Archdiocese as they gathered at Penola College in Broadmeadows for the annual Archbishop's Conversation with Student Leaders.
Sunday 4 March 2012
AOY director Teresa Wilson has been at the office since its inception in 2008. She spoke to Edwina Hall.
Sunday 5 February 2012
Last December, six Year 12 students from St Joseph's College and Sacred Heart College in Geelong travelled to Mannya village in Uganda for a different take on 'schoolies' celebrations.
It had all the makings of a typical 'schoolies' experience: young people wanting to celebrate the end of school by visiting some of Australia's most popular destinations.
Volume 20, Issue14
More than a year has passed since those glorious, Australian sun-filled days when the streets of Sydney overflowed with faithful pilgrims from across the world. These pilgrims arrived with hearts full of anticipation for the largest event Australia has ever hosted – World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 14
More than 200 young people gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 19 July for a special catechesis session with Fr Chris Ryan MGL.
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 13
The Archdiocesan Office for Youth (AOY) is this month celebrating the first anniversary of World Youth Day 2008. More than 400 people crowded into Sacred Heart Church in Carlton on Sunday 5 July to spend an afternoon with renowned Catholic musician Matt Maher and his band.
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 10
Youth from around the western region of Melbourne Archdiocese gathered at St Peter Chanel’s, Deer Park, on Sunday 17 May for the second session in the Catechesis Series with Bishops.
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 06
Among the many fruits that World Youth Day has brought the Church are an undeniable renewal of energy and interest in the faith among youth. WYD has set the bar high for creating faith-filled experiences that attract today’s average young person.
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 05
Eight months on from World Youth Day 2008, one official task still remains for the Church in Australia. This will take place on Palm Sunday in Rome when the WYD Cross and Icon will be officially handed over to the young people of Spain, the next WYD host city.
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 04
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” Those were the words of arguably one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Kairos: Volume 20, Issue 04 Similar to the catechesis sessions at World Youth Day, the Archdiocesan Office for Youth (AOY) has organised a series of catechetical sessions with bishops across Melbourne in several parishes around the Archdiocese.
Volume 19, Issue 21
After Sydney played host to World Youth Day in July, dioceses around the country have hurried to offer a suitable ‘follow-up’ to that unforgettable event. WYD laid an impressive groundwork — after all, very few events have single-handedly offered young people a ‘cool’ way to explore their faith.
Canadian priest Fr Tom Rosica, who played a key role in transforming the spiritual fruits of Toronto’s World Youth Day into ongoing legacies, will be the special guest at the national Youth Leaders Gathering to be held in Sydney in November.
Chatting to Matt Restall, you get the impression there is something different about him – not in a weird, ultra-alternative way, but rather there is a sense of direction and purpose. There is a drive, perhaps, a motivation. Matt’s mission is to bring the Gospel to the world and, with a youthful enthusiasm, he is doing it.
“Wow. This is amazing! It’s like being in Sydney again!”Those were the words of one of the more than 2000 young pilgrims who filled St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 5 October for the World Youth Day 2008 Reunion Mass and Festival.
Volume 19, Issue 18
On Tuesday 2 September the Academy of Mary Immaculate celebrated the unveiling of the Spirit of Mercy sculpture.
Melbourne man John Smyth, 27, has brought to life theology, friendship, food and a drink or two with Theology at the Pub, a project modelled on the successful Sydney-based Theology on Tap.
For most young pilgrims, World Youth Day 2008 was the experience of a lifetime. It was an opportunity for them to be part of a Universal Church and to be part of the festivities, celebrations, prayer, and learning that all form part of the WYD experience. But after all the mayhem and high spirits, the question now on everyone’s mind is: “where to from here?” The physical pilgrimage to Sydney may be over, but the spiritual pilgrimage of young people continues.