By Jessan Tano
In one of our Formation Sessions leading up to ACYF, Fr Adi Indra shared his experience inviting young people to the Festival. He said many were not interested because they assumed it would be another “school campy” thing. That phrase stayed with me and gave me some reservations. In a lovely conversation with Bailey Tramm, one of our young adult Sandhurst Pilgrims, we realised we shared the same concern. How grateful we both were to discover we were wrong to be concerned.
ACYF was not just for teenagers. It offered so much for adults as well. The activities, workshops, and conversations genuinely helped strengthen our faith and showed us how to live it out in our daily lives.
One of my favourites was attending the ‘Bishops X-Change Expo: God’s image and likeness: The Catholic vision of gender and sexuality’, with Archbishop Shane Mackinlay and Bishop George Kolodziej (Delegate for Youth – Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry). It was incredibly insightful, with a mix of teens and adults engaging deeply and asking thoughtful questions directly to the bishops.
A quick side story though, the Bishops X-Change Expo is always packed, so right after the plenary session, Jhunel Mendez (Sandhurst seminarian), Bailey Tramm, and I sprinted to Room 109. When we reached the door, we were told to wait while they checked if seats were still available. I said, “But that’s our Bishop. Can you please let us in?” The kind lady replied, “Oh, Sandhurst! How many of you are there?” We said we were only three, and she let us in. Thanks, Archbishop Shane!
ACYF was a beautiful experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. I have attended many youth camps and festivals in the Philippines, but this is one for the books! As someone who is technically out of youth age and still learning about Australian culture, I was moved by watching our Sandhurst young people transform from timid, quiet caterpillars on Day One into confident, faith-filled butterflies by Day Three.
In conversations with almost all of the Sandhurst Pilgrims, even those who attended ACYF 2019 in Perth, all shared how they had completely loved this year’s Festival. Six years later, they had returned with a more mature understanding and a deeper relationship with Jesus, and it showed.
Jessan Tano
Youth Ministry Officer at the Diocese of Sandhurst
