Fourteen hundred Years 10, 11 and 12 students from 42 secondary schools in the Sydney Archdiocese went to St Mary's Cathedral for Mass to honour the recent feast day of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patron Saint of Australia.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has established the Mass as an annual event for students of the Archdiocese.
Last year, he celebrated the feast day Mass with primary school students.
Organised by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, this Mass is a way to remind the students that they belong to a larger faith community than just their own schools and parishes.
This is the sixth year that schools have jointly celebrated Mary Help of Christians.
Br Kelvin Canavan, Executive Director of Schools, points to Mary as a role model for today's young people.
"We remember Mary our Mother as a constant source of inspiration and help," he says.
"She is the protector, not just of this Cathedral and Archdiocese, but of all young Australians."
During the homily, Archbishop Pell encouraged the students to pray to Mary and seek her assistance and wisdom.
"The mother and child relationship is one of the closest of all human relationships," he said.