Launch of the Pope John Paul II Award in the Diocese of Kilmore
On Wednesday 26th January 2011 the John Paul II Award was launched in the Diocese of Kilmore at a ceremony in the Pastoral Centre, Cavan.
Addresses were given by the Dr Leo O’Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore and by Fr Paul Farren, one of the founders of the Pope John Paul II award. The keynote address was delivered by Mr Paul Brady, all-Ireland Champion handball player and Cavan county footballer.
In his address Fr Farren recalled that the John Paul II Award started in the Diocese of Derry in 2006. Kilmore is the 11th diocese to participate with four more dioceses hoping to do so later this year.
Fr Farren said that one feature of the award it to acknowledge and celebrate all the young people who are already involved in parish, in community and in charitable work. Another feature is to encourage more young people to be involved in parishes, communities and charitable organisations. Fr Farren mentioned that while many people regard young people as the future it has to be remembered that ‘they are the present as well’.
Bishop O’Reilly regarded the award as ‘a very concrete way of inviting young people to reflect more deeply on their faith and take part in activities which will be engaging and rewarding for themselves and at the same time be of service and benefit to others. It will enable young people to live out their faith and witness to it in their parishes and communities’. The Bishop spoke of the ‘great wealth of idealism and generosity in our young people’. Often all that is needed is ‘a little bit of encouragement the opportunity to express it. It is also greatly helped by the support of a group of peers who are similarly motivated and engaged’.
In the keynote address Paul Brady spoke of the importance of faith as a feature of an individual’s life that is ‘constantly changing and evolving’. He referred to the ‘spectrum’ of faith the people can have and that ‘in moments of doubt and confusion faith really deepens’. The elite sportsman highlighted the importance of involvement in community life and also the key role of confidence ‘when we let out light shine we allow others to shine’.
Representatives from the post-primary schools in the diocese, clergy, members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and members of the Knights of Columbanus were present at the launch. The co-ordinator of the award is Clare Coyle, a diocesan youth worker, based in the Pastoral Centre, Cavan, 049 437 5004.
