Abbey Youth Fest Returns
April 10, 2027
What is Abbey Youth Fest?
Abbey Fest is an outdoor, day long, Catholic Youth Festival at St. Joseph Abbey near Covington, Louisiana. Throughout the day, there are speakers and Catholic influencers giving talks and testimony. It is a day where religious vocation is on full display with priests and religious, novices and seminarians present to engage and throw the ball around. Throughout the day, there is the opportunity for confession or time with the Lord either in the on-site chapel or while on tour at the Abbey Church.
Music is a big part of this festival. There is a house band offering praise and worship throughout the day and there’s always the ‘headline’ band after dinner every year that rocks the AYF field!
And finally, the liturgical rhythm of the Church is that which Abbey Youth Festival is centered—that rhythm of communal prayer that unites us a Christian body and the monastic community that hosts this event. In the afternoon, there is Holy Mass often celebrated by our local Archbishop and concelebrated by a large number of priests and other bishops from around the gulf south area. In the evening, we close Abbey Fest with a candle lit hour of benediction and adoration, marked by full orchestral and choral talent—Christ fully present, ever ancient and ever new.
The 2027 Lineup
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
Coming Soon…
Our Speaker and musical lineup will be announced soon!
The Theme 2027 - Made New
Abbey Youth Fest returns with a theme that reflects not only the heart of our faith, but also the journey of our festival. Made New – Of Water and Spirit is an invitation to experience the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Through the waters of Baptism and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, God doesn't simply improve us, He renews us. He gives us a new beginning, a new identity, and a new life in Him.
This theme carries special meaning for Abbey Youth Fest. After years of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and repeated weather events that prevented us from gathering, our return is itself a story of renewal. The same water that once represented obstacles and setbacks now points us to the living water through which Christ makes all things new.
As we gather once again on the grounds of St. Joseph Abbey, surrounded by the beauty of creation and united in worship, we celebrate more than the return of a beloved festival. We celebrate God's faithfulness. We celebrate hope restored. We celebrate lives transformed.
A Symbol of Renewal
The theme artwork reflects this journey. At its center stands the Cross, representing Jesus Christ as the source of every new beginning. Beneath it, gentle ripples spread across the water, symbolizing the grace of Baptism and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The rays surrounding the Cross remind us that God's light continues to shine through every season, even after times of waiting, difficulty, and uncertainty.
This year, we come together with grateful hearts, celebrating not only the return of Abbey Youth Fest, but the promise that through Christ we are all Made New.