Excitement is building for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), with the arrival of two internationally recognised World Youth Day (WYD) symbols. 

The four-metre-tall wooden Pilgrim Cross and the Icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani have travelled the world uniting millions of young Catholics in prayer since they were gifted to youth by St John Paul in 1984.

The Cross and Icon will be central to the Festival’s Pilgrimage Walk on Sunday, 30 November, leading thousands of young people from St Patrick’s Cathedral to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Festival Director, Teresa Rhynehart said the moment would be deeply significant:“Welcoming the World Youth Day Cross and Icon to Melbourne is a powerful reminder that we belong to the universal Church, journeying together in faith.”

This sentiment is echoed by Claire Spinelli, Sandhurst Youth Ministry Team leader and coordinator of the Sandhurst Pilgrimage to ACYF: "Symbolism is a significant part of our Catholic Faith. The WYD Cross and Icon are tangible objects that bring the spirit of youth from around the world into our midst, and they remind us that Jesus is the reason we journey as many others have journeyed before us, and continue to intercede for us.”

Thanks to a special arrangement with WYD Seoul 2027, this will be only the second time the Cross and Icon have visited Australia, following their journey before WYD Sydney in 2008.
World Youth Day is a global event, hosted by a different country every few years. ACYF, established by the Australian Bishops, is a national event which gives Australian youth the chance to experience the same spirit of unity, prayer and mission as WYD, at home in Australia.

The Sandhurst Youth Ministry Team joins the excitement and is busy preparing for 200 Sandhurst Pilgrims to journey to Melbourne for the Festival in November.

Registrations will soon be open, and all are encouraged to apply to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime faith-building Pilgrimage of Hope. Check out our website for details.

Return to Sandpiper e-News 103 (11 July 2025)