Homily given by Bishop Anthony Randazzo
Bishop of Broken Bay
First Sunday of Advent
Mass for ACYF Pilgrims, Melbourne
30 November 2025
My sisters and brothers in Christ, and especially our young pilgrims gathered here for the first time on this Advent journey, what a joy it is to stand with you at the beginning of a new Church year, a new season of hope, and a new moment of grace.
Today we welcome the dawn of Advent, that season which tilts our hearts towards the coming of Jesus Christ, He who is our light, our life, and our destiny. How fitting that our gathering takes place today, for Advent is all about beginnings. It is about desire awakened, purpose renewed, and mission strengthened. And here we are, pilgrims from Broken Bay and Wilcannia-Forbes, setting out together towards the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, ready to encounter the living God in a new and life-changing way.
The Scriptures today speak directly to us and to this moment.
The prophet Isaiah calls us: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.” We go up the mountain not to escape the world, but to see it more clearly. We climb so that our hearts may be opened, our minds sharpened, and our spirits stirred. Isaiah teaches us that before we can speak of God, we must first come into God’s presence, to know God, to love God, and to allow God’s Word to reshape our lives.
My friends, your journey to this festival is your climb up the mountain. It is your deliberate choice to step into God’s presence so that you can hear afresh what He desires to say to you. And I promise you; God has something to say to each one of you.
Saint Paul in the Letter to the Romans does not mince words. He says, “The time has come… the hour has come to wake from sleep.” In other words: what are you waiting for? This is not the time to drift, to postpone, to sit back hoping someone else will take up the mission of the Church. The world needs your voice, your courage, your faith. The Church needs your energy, your imagination, and your readiness to live the Gospel with integrity and joy.
Then Jesus Himself speaks to us in the Gospel: “Stay awake… be vigilant.” Why? Because the Lord is near, always coming towards us, always inviting us to recognise Him, in prayer, in friendship, in the poor, in the Eucharist, and in the quiet stirring of your heart that says, “Follow Me.”
My young brothers and sisters, you are not the future of the Church. You are the Church. Now. Today. Baptism has already equipped you for mission. Confirmation has strengthened you with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And the Eucharist, our food for the journey, nourishes you every step of the way, making you steadfast and courageous, able to persevere when the road is rough or unclear.
The mission you are called to embrace is not someone else’s story. It is your story. Your generation has been entrusted with a mighty power to evangelise, not by shouting louder than the world, but by speaking the words of Jesus Christ with authenticity, humility, and joy. You are being asked to let Christ be known in and through your lives as twenty-first century disciples. The world is hungry for that witness. The Church is depending on it.
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival will offer you a high-quality formative and experiential opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ in the heart of His Church. But it is not a festival for a festival’s sake. It exists so that you may grow spiritually, deepen friendships of faith, discover your unique vocation, and be set on fire for mission. It exists so that when you return home, you will be more integrated into the life and mission of your dioceses, your parishes, your communities, and the world around you. God is calling you, not vaguely, not someday, but right now.
Advent trains us to listen. It sharpens our awareness. It reminds us that heaven and earth meet in Jesus Christ, and therefore heaven and earth meet in every moment where you open your heart to Him as your Lord and Saviour.
This journey you are beginning is earthly, yes, full of travel, laughter, learning, and challenge. But its destination is heavenly. Every step you take with Christ draws you closer to the fullness of life that God desires for you.
So, I invite you: to step forward with expectancy. Let hope rise in you. Listen attentively to the whisper of the Holy Spirit. Be brave enough to ask, “Lord, what are You calling me to do with my life?” And be even braver in your willingness to say, “Yes.”
May this Advent be the beginning of something extraordinary in you. May the Australian Catholic Youth Festival be a place of encounter, conversion, joy, and mission. And may you return from the mountain of the Lord ready to shine His light wherever you are sent.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come into our hearts.
Come into our Church.
Come into this generation of young disciples.
And may you, dear pilgrims, walk in His love and carry His hope into the world. Amen.