Young people from the Diocese of Parramatta have joined over one million young Catholics in celebrating the Jubilee of Youth.
Held in Rome from 28 July to 3 August, the Parramatta pilgrims celebrated unity in the midst of diversity with Catholics from across the globe.
Alongside concerts, workshops and youth celebrations, the pilgrims were able to walk through the Holy Doors of the four Basilicas of Rome – which will remain open until the end of the Jubilee Year.
Upon walking through the Holy Doors, pilgrim Tony El-Ghossien said: “I was filled with peace and hope – responding to God’s invitation to receive His merciful love.”
Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims entering the Holy Doors at St Peter’s Basilica. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
Another special highlight for the pilgrims was being able to pray with two upcoming saints – Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati – who will be canonised in early September.
“Being able to pray in the presence of Blessed Carlo Acutis and ask for his intercession, really brought home the fact that in our digitised modern world it is still possible to answer the call to be saints,” said pilgrim Neville Reynolds.
For pilgrimage coordinator Eleanor Bonwick, Facilitator – Youth in the Diocese’s Mission Enhancement Team (MET), leading the pilgrims to Rome felt like a “coming home,” despite many pilgrims never visiting the Vatican before.
“We became connected to the Universal Church – not just through the multiple languages we could hear and the many flags we could see,” she said.
“There was a real sense of joy throughout the city with young people sharing their love for God and for the Church.
Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims outside the Colosseum during the pilgrimage walk to the Jubilee of Youth vigil in Rome. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
“It truly felt that we were living out Pope Leo XIV’s motto, ‘In the One, we are one’.”
Following the Jubilee’s Opening Mass, the pilgrims were blessed with a surprise appearance by Pope Leo.
“A lot of our pilgrims, and those around us, became emotional when Pope Leo came out, because he is a figure of hope and truth amidst the confusion and tension in our world,” Eleanor said.
Comments from the Pope, speaking first in English, touched the Diocesan pilgrims and set the tone for the rest of their journey.
“Jesus tells us: ‘You are the salt of the earth […]. You are the light of the world.’ (Mt. 5:13-14),” Pope Leo said.
“And today your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries – which are all for Jesus Christ – will be heard to the ends of the earth.”
Pope Leo XIV is seen in the Popemobile following the Opening Mass of the Jubilee of Youth at St Peter’s Square in July 2025. Image: Vatican Media
“You have the opportunity to be a force that can bring God’s grace, a message of hope, and a light to the city of Rome, to Italy, and to the whole world.”
Before arriving in Rome, the Parramatta pilgrims journeyed in the footsteps of St Paul throughout Greece.
Strengthening friendships and their faith, the group toured several cities made famous by St Paul’s ministry, including Corith, Thessaloniki and Philippi.
Alison Ryan, MET Facilitator, was the pilgrimage’s formation leader and emphasised to the pilgrims the importance of how the stories of St Paul weave into their own faith experiences.
“Pilgrimage is where our faith meets our lives in a very physical, bodily way. Through our aches and weariness, we are encountering spaces that the work of God has been happening in the world,” she explained.
Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
“St Paul learnt how to be a follower of Jesus in the same places that we were learning to be followers of Jesus. We got to have our own moments of growing in our own faith, in the words of Paul: imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
One pilgrim explained that they were moved when visiting St Paul’s prison cell in Philippi, feeling privileged to be able to walk where St Paul ministered and encouraged by his witness to the faith.
One experience of the pilgrimage through Greece that remained with the pilgrims was celebrating Mass at the baptistry of Lydia – believed to be one of the first European converts. Celebrating by a river, the group were able to renew their baptismal promises and were blessed with splashing water from pilgrim chaplain Fr Jack Elkazzi.
Pilgrimage chaplain Fr Jack Elkazzi celebrates Mass for Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims at the Baptistery of Lydia in Philippi, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
Inspired by the Jubilee celebrations, the pilgrims were excited to bring hope back to their families, parish and school communities.
“I’m looking forward to bringing back all the blessings that God has given me throughout this trip and to share it with my students,” teacher pilgrim Mary Nguyen explained.
“I think it’s important for them to see faith in action because they might not see that often, and I’m excited to show them the love of Christ and how He’s worked in my life over the past three weeks.”
Pilgrim Lauren Maund from Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, Lawson, said: “I feel that my spiritual bucket is full and I’m ready to go back into my community and be Christ for those people.”
Monica Vave, a youth leader from Holy Family Parish, Emerton, said: “I’m grateful for the journey that we’ve been on, and I’m ready to go share the Word with our young people.”
Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims, including Monica Vave (second left) at the Byzantine Monastery of Hosios Loukas, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
Eleanor hoped that upon returning to their communities, the pilgrims would not be afraid to be salts of the earth and lights of the world.
“I hope that they bring a renewed zeal and passion for their faith and an understanding of how Jesus meets us and is always in our midst.”
“I hope they have new confidence to step into mission or service in their unique giftedness and to explore how Jesus uses us in different ways to reach the heart of people.”
Alison celebrated the work of Fr Jack in ensuring the pilgrims were grounded in their experiences and taking it back with them to their communities.
“Fr Jack, through his preaching, would frequently call us back to community – because no matter what we were seeing in these beautiful churches or amazing places, that’s not the Church, you are the Church.
“I want the pilgrims to show their communities what it is to be a pilgrim of hope, which is such a challenge in today’s world – people who bring hope with them in every place that they go.”
View images from the Diocesan youth pilgrimage as they visited Athens, Corinth, Hosios Loukas, Meteora, Thessaloniki, Philippi and Kavala and then celebrated the Jubilee of Youth in the Vatican and across Rome.
This article was originally published in the 2025 Season of Creation | Spring edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
