Fr La-Aung joyfully greets a pilgrim near the Columban Booth at the ACYF - Photo: Adi Mariana Waqa
One important aim of participating in the Australian Catholic Youth Festival was to share the spirit and story of the Missionary Society of St Columban with young people who may not have heard of Columban missionaries before. Thousands of young people visited the Columban booth to spin the wheel and win a prize, which included the chance to “Meet a Columban!”
During these brief encounters, young pilgrims had a chance to say hello, ask a question, or simply hear from a Columban about Columban mission! Whether seated or standing, the opportunity to have a chat with a real-life missionary was sometimes met with shy smiles and at other times with strong handshakes and laughter. There was plenty of energised exchanges between pilgrims and the three missionary priests who shared about their work in Pakistan, Fiji, and South America. Many pilgrims were amazed at the effort by Columbans to immerse themselves with the local culture, language, and evangelization of the Good News of Christ in their adopted countries. This Columban commitment of “living a life unlike their own” follows in the footsteps of their patron saint (St Columban 543 – 615AD) and in the spirit of Christ’s commission in the Gospel of Matthew (28:16-20).
A number of curious pilgrims stopped by to ask about short term mission abroad in countries where the Columbans worked, highlighting some interest from the current generation of young Catholics to participate in church mission as part of their ongoing Catholic formation. Many were seeking for ways to not only help but to learn and gain experience from the work of missionaries as part of their own faith development.
Columban Fathers Patrick McInerney, George Hogarty, and La-Aung Nbwi (Myanmar via Fiji) spent hours interacting with pilgrims over the three-day festival. At times, the Columban Fathers would alternate meeting with pilgrims and taking a break to have water, coffee, or meet with religious priests and nuns from other Catholic groups. No pilgrim was turned away and every opportunity was taken by the three Columbans to share a story, greeting, or a smile and prayer with all who stopped by to greet them.
The pilgrims themselves should be commended for their polite interactions and willingness to stop during their busy schedules and converse with the Columbans. It isn’t always easy to begin conversations between people who have just met, but the spirit of fellowship and respect was evidently in play throughout the festival.
It was great to have the Columban Fathers join the mission team at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival! Their presence, energy, and openness towards inter-generational conversations with pilgrims demonstrated a readiness to listen and a willingness to share the Columban charism for mission.
*The 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival took place from Sunday 30th of November to Tuesday 2nd of December at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Adi Mariana Waqa is the Partnership Coordinator at St Columbans, Essendon.
