For many of the nearly 190 young people who attended the Diocese of Palmerston North’s Fully Alive Youth Fest on Saturday 1 August, the day was much more than a youth event. It was an opportunity to encounter Christ, build friendships, and discover they are part of something much bigger than themselves.
Bringing together young people from across the diocese, Fully Alive created a space where faith could be shared openly and joyfully. Through keynote talks, workshops, worship, games, conversation, and prayer, participants were encouraged to explore what it means to live life fully in Christ.
One young person reflected on the sense of connection they experienced throughout the day:
“The youth fest was a really lovely event to experience and I had a lot of fun. My favourite part about it was probably the workshops I went to because it was connecting with the people around me due to us all being there for the same reason. It was lovely to socialise with other people while sharing the love of God at the same time!”
A recurring theme in participant feedback was the opportunity to meet other young Catholics and realise they were not alone in their faith journey. For many, gathering with young people from different schools, parishes, and communities was a powerful experience of belonging to the wider Church.
International speaker Braden Johnson also left a lasting impression. Through his personal testimony, honesty, humour, and willingness to spend time with participants throughout the day, he challenged young people to find their identity not in achievement or popularity, but in being loved by God.
One participant shared:
“I thought he was amazing. He was extremely inspiring and I felt he deepened my faith with Jesus to a level I didn’t even know I could go. He was an amazing speaker.”
While the talks were memorable, many young people identified prayer and Eucharistic Adoration as the most significant moments of the festival. Amid a day filled with activity and excitement, they were invited into silence and stillness before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
One young person described the experience:
“Exploring Youth Fest was one of the best experiences I have experienced so far this year… the best highlights of Youth Fest; honestly was all of them, especially adoration. I’ve always felt depth about my relationship between myself & God. In adoration God moved me from distractions in my daily life to a placement of peace and happiness in His glory.”
The festival also reminded participants that faith is lived in community. Whether through workshops, worship, shared meals, or simply meeting someone new, young people found opportunities to form friendships and encourage one another. As one attendee summed up:
“It was really good food! I enjoyed the music workshop and the speaker from America had some really good stories. I also liked that we created our own groups with people we didn’t know.”
Fully Alive demonstrated the vitality, faith, and enthusiasm of the young Church in our diocese. Young people left encouraged in their relationship with Christ, strengthened by new friendships, and inspired to continue sharing the joy of the Gospel in their schools, parishes, and communities. As the Diocese continues to invest in youth ministry, events such as Fully Alive are helping young people discover that they are loved by God, belong to His Church, and are truly called to live fully alive in Him.
Photos: Taila Burton
