Before the Australian Catholic Youth Festival begins, step into three days of powerful encounter and deep preparation. Come and join with hundreds of Syro-Malabar young people on this journey of HOPE that will renew your soul and ignite your mission.
Day 1: November 28
Venue: St Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Cathedral, Melbourne (53 McKellar Way Epping VIC 3076)
Check-in will begin at 10 am (the program starts at 12 pm), and participants will delve deep into the programme from noon to 9 pm.
Day 2: November 29
Venue: St Thomas Syro-Malabar Parish, Melbourne SE (525-531 Frankston – Dandenong Rd, Dandenong South VIC 3175) & St John’s Regional College (5/11 Caroline St, Dandenong VIC 3175)
Check-in will begin at 9 am at the parish (Holy Qurbana: 9.30 am), and participants will delve deep into the programme until 4 pm. The musical concert will be held at St John’s College from 6 pm onwards.
Day 3: November 30
Venue: St Mary’s Syro-Malabar Parish, Melbourne West
Check-in will begin at 9 am at the parish and after lunch, the participants will join the pilgrimage walk of ACYF.
For Pre-ACYF & ACYF, costs vary by geographical location to account for extra travel and accommodation expenses.
Inclusions: Registration fee covers lunch and dinner during Pre-ACYF, access to all program activities and materials, and eligibility to apply for host family accommodation (subject to approval and availability).
Exclusion: Registration fee does not include accommodation, breakfast, transport to/from venues, or any additional food, travel, or accommodation costs related to ACYF & Pre-ACYF.
More information about ACYF here.
Registrations will close on 30 September 2025. We recommend registering as soon as possible to avoid missing out!
Yes — your Pre-ACFY registration covers lunch and dinner during the program. Breakfast is not included, and participants are responsible for making their own arrangements for morning meals.
As for ACYF, meals are not included as part of the purchase of a Festival ticket however, meal vouchers will be available for additional purchase during the registration process – for regional and interstate pilgrims only.
All other pilgrims will have the option of bringing their own food, purchasing food onsite or dining at food courts and/or restaurants located in close proximity to the Festival venue.
You may apply for host family accommodation for both Pre-ACFY and ACFY through your registration. Please be aware that general accommodation costs for Pre-ACFY are not included unless otherwise arranged.
No, transport to and from program venues is not included with registration. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements for both events.
No, transport to and from Pre-ACFY or ACYF venues is not included in your registration. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel. To make travel easier, you may consider the following options:
Carpool with fellow pilgrims: Where possible, we will help connect pilgrims from similar areas so they can travel together.
Public transport: Melbourne’s train, tram, and bus network makes most venues accessible. We’ll provide directions and travel tips closer to the event.
Rideshare services: Apps such as Uber, DiDi, and Ola are widely available in Melbourne for convenient door-to-door travel.
If you are experiencing financial hardship or difficulty covering the registration fee, please reach out to us at assoc1.director.ya@syromalabar.org.au. We will aim to support you in the best way we can.