On the evening of Thursday, February 27, 2025, about 150 youth, young adults, families, clergy, and both new and current youth leaders from parishes across the Diocese of Parramatta gathered for the annual LIFTED Launch at West HQ in Rooty Hill.
As the doors opened, young people eagerly greeted one another, many reconnecting for the first time this year! The excitement in the room was palpable as old friends reunited, and newcomers arrived with open hearts, ready to listen to the call of the Holy Spirit for their mission and service in the local and wider Diocesan community in 2025.
LIFTED Launch marks the beginning of an exciting, faith-filled year for the Diocese, bringing together enthusiastic attendees for a night of worship, music, friendship, and a deeper sense of community.
This year’s event was especially significant, as it coincided with the announcement that 2025 would be a Jubilee Year, as declared by Pope Francis. The Jubilee Year invites young Catholics across the Diocese to discover how Christian hope can radically transform their lives, while answering the Holy Father’s call to become ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ This journey involves deepening their faith, renewing friendships, and embracing their mission as disciples throughout the year.
Participants at this year’s LIFTED Launch in February. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
To unpack the theme of being a “Pilgrim of Hope,” the night featured a panel of local leaders who shared their personal experiences of pilgrimage, both abroad and in daily life. The panel included Rachel Kama (MET Facilitator – Diocese of Parramatta), Anna Amos (Youth Ministry Leader – St Andrew the Apostle, Marayong), and Fr Sheldon Burke CRS (St Padre Pio, Glenmore Park).
Anna Amos had the audience laughing as she shared her stories from youth ministry, while Rachel Kama emphasised that “young people do not need to travel abroad to become pilgrims of hope; they can become pilgrims by extending mercy and forgiveness to their families, friends, and wider community.” Fr Sheldon Burke also shared his insight, urging everyone to view their entire lives as a pilgrimage of faith. Each panellist offered unique wisdom, helping attendees reflect on the deeper meaning of pilgrimage in their own lives.
The evening was filled with powerful moments of prayer and reflection, encouraging participants to reflect on how they could answer the call to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ within their own communities in 2025. The excitement was radiating from the audience as key initiatives for the year were announced: including the Good Friday Night Walk (April 2025), a powerful opportunity to prayerfully reflect on Christ’s passion; LIFTED Retreat (July 2025); and LIFTED Live in the Forecourt (October 2025), which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year!
(L-R) Panellists Rachael Kama, Anna Amos and Fr Sheldon Burke at this year’s LIFTED Launch in February. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
LIFTED Launch also set the stage for major events in the Catholic Youth Parramatta calendar, such as the Jubilee Year Pilgrimage—a transformative experience that will invite young people to journey together in faith, following the footsteps of Saint Paul and the Early Church, and joining the Jubilee of Youth celebrations in Rome from 19 July to 5 August, 2025.
Alongside this was the announcement of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December, 2025, which seeks to draw thousands of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 for a festival style opportunity with large-scale worship, formation, and connection with the wider Catholic Church in Australia.
Eleanor Bonwick, Interim Manager of Catholic Youth Parramatta and Tony El-Ghossein. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
The night culminated in a powerful time of prayer and worship, led by the dynamic LIFTED band. The room came alive with voices lifted in unison, joyfully singing “Jesus Christ, my living hope,” from Phil Wickham’s song Living Hope. Music, as always, played a central role in Catholic Youth Parramatta’s initiatives, serving as a vibrant force that unites young people in worship, celebration, and prayer.
LIFTED Launch perfectly encapsulates Catholic Youth Parramatta’s unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for young people to deepen and live out their faith. With the year now unfolding, the Diocese eagerly anticipates the profound impact of these initiatives on the spiritual journeys of its youth, inspiring them to embrace their roles as active participants in the mission of the local, national, and global Church.
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