Engage – Ignite – Send
We aim to ENGAGE our young people in order to IGNITE in them an encounter with Christ in order to SEND them out as missionary disciples. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date.
RISEN (Year 10- Year 12) will be held Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2025 at Carcoar, finishing at the Cathedral in Bathurst on the Sunday. Commencing at 6pm on Friday and concluding after lunch on Sunday.
This weekend is designed for those in years 10-12 and will be a great chance to go a little deeper in reflecting on life and how faith is part of this. Participants also receive formation so that they can be part of the Youth Team for RISE. Register HERE.
RISE Youth Festival – 9-11 July 2025
RISE Youth Festival is for young people in Years 6 to 9 (anyone in Years 10-12 can be involved as a youth team member). The Diocesan Youth Ministers facilitate a festival full of fun, friendship, small group challenges, workshops, games, music and lots of opportunities to encounter Jesus. Register HERE.
RISE UP – 23 August 2024
Rise Up is a one-day praise and worship event aimed at students who have completed the CSYMA program an optional faith formation unit of study in their schools throughout years 9 and/or 10. CSYMI’s four-phase model is run in diocesan secondary schools. It consists of a retreat experience, religious education curriculum programs, senior youth ministry teams and connecting students to the broader Church community through the CSYMA and ACU Youth Academy. CSYMI students facilitate sacramental days and leadership days in local Catholic primary schools. RISE UP allows students to further explore their Christian faith and relationship with Jesus amongst other like-minded young people. Through music, reflection, discussion, presentations and games students will have the opportunity to connect with their peers from across the diocese whilst also participating in new and innovative ways of uniting with and worshipping God.
iRISE – 15 November 2024 in Wellington
Held each year, iRISE is a senior leaders formation day for Year 11 student leaders from secondary schools across the Diocese. iRISE provides a unique opportunity to empower Senior Student Leaders of the Diocese to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. Drawing on the gifts, talents and values of the individual, iRISE provides rich experiences of prayer and worship and other activities designed to educate and empower student leaders in our Catholic Schools to lead as Jesus did.
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) – December 2025
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people (Year 9- 30 years) established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). It exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia.
The ACYF exists to:
- Provide a high quality formative and experiential opportunity for young Catholics to encounter Jesus Christ, in the context of the Catholic Church in Australia;
- Listen to and discuss the issues and challenges in the lives of young Catholics in Australia;
- Evangelise young people and empower them to be evangelisers;
- Provide young people with local examples and connections of vocations, social action, liturgy and prayer, catholic music and catechesis.
https://youth.catholic.org.au/projects/australian-catholic-youth-festival
World Youth Day RISE – Sunday 24 November 2024
Each year across the world, dioceses and their local parishes celebrate World Youth Day on the Feast of Christ the King. This year the Diocese of Bathurst is commencing a new initiative – a local celebration of World Youth Day in every parish across the Diocese. In these celebrations, young people from our schools and parishes will be invited to help animate and facilitate a parish celebration of prayer and Mass in their local parish. This is a unique opportunity to celebrate the wonderful and great work that occurs across our Diocese in relation to youth ministry and also to remind us of the importance of youth in our church. Our Priests and parishes, as well as all of our schools, are encouraged to make contact with each other to set aside time to plan for this important celebration.
World Youth Day 2023 Pilgrimage, Lisbon Portugal – 18 July- 11 August 2023
World Youth Day (WYD) is a worldwide encounter with the Pope celebrated about every three years in a different country. The most recent international WYD was celebrated in Panama City, Panamá from 22-27 January 2019 and the next World Youth Day will be held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2023.
WYD is open to all young people who want to take part in a festive encounter centred on Jesus Christ together with their peers. This event is an opportunity to personally experience the universality of the Catholic Church, and to share with the whole world the hope of many young people who are committing their lives to Christ and his Church. WYD is a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ, through prayer and the sacraments, together with hundreds of thousands of other young people who share your interests and ambitions. You can start planning your pilgrimage by registering an expression of interest here or call 02 6334 6400.
Get involved
Youth Ministers are employed across the Diocese to assist parishes and schools to run local youth events. If you are interested in finding out about what’s happening in your area talk to your parish priest, youth minister or check out our calendar of events here.
IGNITE Rise Up Conference 2024
26-29 September
Light of Christ Centre, Waitara
IGNITE is a conference for everyone, from leaders to first-time believers. This is the Church gathered and alive on mission. This is God’s people united with one heart.
For more information about the Bathurst Diocese group contact Deacon Josh Clayton and register here.
Resources
Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) is a professional, teacher and church leader-centred organisation, networking catholic schools and youth ministries (parishes and movements) for the mission of the church. Post-school youth ministers are engaged in secondary schools in a year of mission whilst actively participating in the life of the Catholic Church. The Youth Ministers undertake training, participate in accredited formation programs through the ACU La Salle Academy, complete placements in schools and churches and have the opportunity to go on cross-cultural missions. CSYMI’s four-phase model is run in diocesan secondary schools. It consists of a retreat experience, religious education curriculum programs, senior youth ministry teams and connecting students to the broader Church community through the CSYMA and ACU Youth Academy. CSYMI students facilitate sacramental days and leadership days in local Catholic primary schools.