Key Takeaways

  • Pope Leo XIV has confirmed he will visit Australia. The Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP met him recently where the visit was confirmed. The Pope wants to spend several days in Australia, not just attend the final Mass. He hopes to meet families, young people, First Nations people, the Eastern churches and ecumenical partners, as well as vulnerable people. He asked organisers to propose more events rather than fewer. He was especially inspired by the youth events during his recent visit to Paris.
  • Dates are set. The Congress runs the week before the final Mass on 1 October 2028; the final Mass venue hasn’t been confirmed. Up to 40 men may be ordained on the Saturday before the final Mass. The NRL grand final will be moved so it doesn’t clash.
  • A journey of the Cross begins next year. Like the World Youth Day Cross, it will visit every Australian diocese, plus New Zealand and possibly parts of Oceania. It sets out on the feast of St Mary MacKillop and ends by walking into the Congress’s opening Mass. It will be a crucifix containing a relic of the True Cross (being requested from Rome), accompanied by a First Nations welcome symbol. It will deliberately go to places the final Mass won’t reach, such as prisons, nursing homes and rural parishes.
  • A foundation text is coming. Organisers will confirm it with national delegates in Rome at the end of November. It’s a short, readable theological text (about 30 minutes) that tells Australia’s Eucharistic story and will underpin all the formation material. Anthony offered to share it with the network.
  • 2027 will be a “Year of Worship.” Expect resources on Mass, adoration, confession and Advent for parishes, schools and chaplaincies, plus an official anthem.

Watch the Presentation

The October 2026 Life Marriage Family Network meeting, hosted by Laura Cain of SmartLoving and the Marriage Resource Centre, was held on the feast of St John Paul II. It brought together representatives from dioceses and Catholic ministries across Australia, New Zealand and Mauritius. Laura opened with a reflection on St John Paul II and the Eucharistic Congress prayer, then shared upcoming events. These included the Walk with Christ Eucharistic procession in the Sydney CBD on 22 November, an online talk on Eucharistic adoration, couples’ formation webinars and retreats, Advent resources from Brisbane and Wollongong, and the travelling Eucharistic Miracles exhibition.

The guest presenter, Anthony Ndaira, newly appointed Director of Formation and Programming for Eucharist 28, gave an update on preparations for the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. His biggest news was that Pope Leo XIV has confirmed he will visit Australia for several days and hopes to meet young people, families, First Nations people and other churches. The Congress will run the week before the final Mass on 1 October 2028, with up to 40 priestly ordinations planned beforehand. Before the Congress, a crucifix containing a relic of the True Cross will travel to every Australian diocese and to New Zealand. Next year will be a Year of Worship, built around a foundation text due to be finalised in Rome in late November. Anthony described the Eucharist as an answer to modern struggles such as loneliness and anxiety, and framed Eucharist 28 as an ongoing movement of renewal rather than a single event.

In the open discussion, members shared ideas and resources for the journey towards 2028. These included recognising the vital role grandparents play in bringing young people to Mass, calling men to step up as spiritual leaders in their homes, offering confession in public spaces, celebrating Australia’s multicultural expressions of faith, and retelling stories from Australia’s early Catholic history. Worldwide Marriage Encounter and the Sydney Archdiocese shared new programs that could support the Congress, and Anthony invited all groups to share and co-create resources with a Eucharistic focus. The meeting closed with a reminder that the next gathering, on Thursday 26 November, will be a review and planning session for 2027, and members were asked to prepare a short summary of their year.

  • About the Cross: each host country creates its own symbol. Australia’s will be a crucifix, accompanied by a First Nations welcome symbol, and Australia keeps it after the Congress.
  • NRL clash: the grand final will be moved so it doesn’t coincide with the final Mass.
  • Street confessions : Reconciliation will be offered outdoors at Tumbalong Park throughout the week. A national clergy conference held at the same time will bring thousands of extra priests.
  • Grandparents: Ron and Mavis raised the challenge of young people drifting from the faith. Anthony thanked them, noting how many students only attend Mass through their grandparents.
  • Marriage Encounter: Joy announced a new parish-based day workshop, God Chose You For Me.
  • Sydney men’s and women’s Eucharistic conferences: Renin shared these plans and stressed the power of personal invitation. Anthony suggested sharing the conference format with other dioceses.
  • Men’s ministry: Michael urged the team to call men to spiritual leadership at home. Anthony fully agreed.
  • Multicultural events: Richie proposed migrant community Eucharistic nights. Anthony confirmed that migrant communities will lead Masses at the Congress.
  • Church history: Laura suggested telling stories from Australia’s early Catholic history in fresh, modern ways.

Anthony closed by inviting organisations to share and co-create resources with a Eucharistic focus.

Anthony Ndaira is the Director of Formation and Programming for Eucharist 28, the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney in 2028. In this role, he shapes and delivers the formation, catechesis and programming for Australia’s national journey of Eucharistic renewal and for the Congress itself. He works closely with church leaders, communities and networks across the country to help make Eucharist 28 a meaningful and lasting experience of encounter, renewal and mission.

Before joining the Eucharist 28 team in October 2026, Anthony was Assistant Principal at Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield, after 16 years working in schools. He brings extensive experience in Catholic education and leadership, including religious education, curriculum leadership, strategic planning and governance. He has also lectured at the University of Notre Dame Australia and completed postgraduate studies in theology.

Anthony’s commitment to the Church’s mission goes back more than 20 years in parish youth ministry, and he has been involved in many evangelisation efforts and major Catholic initiatives. He credits his grandmother, who took him to weekday Mass as a child, with nurturing his own faith.

Above all, Anthony is a husband and a father of three. One of his children is named John Paul, after the saint whose feast day fell on the day of this presentation.

View Past LMF-Net Meetings