Peter Harte, the Tyrone Senior Footballer, was the guest speaker at this year’s Annual Diocesan John Paul II Awards Presentation Ceremony held in the Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan, recently. The Bishop of Kilmore, Most Reverend Leo O’Reilly, presided at the event.
A total of 75 young people from across the diocese received their awards in the four categories – 16 people received Papal Cross Awards. 53 received Gold Awards and the remaining 6received Silver and Bronze. Between them, this year’s award participants came from 15 parishes in the diocese of Kilmore and 5 parishes in in the neighbouring parishes of Clogher and Ardagh & Clonmacnois. They currently attend 11 second-level schools in Kilmore and two in the diocese of Clogher.
The Award is run in most Irish dioceses and was launched in the diocese of Kilmore in 2011 with the valued and valuable support of the Knights of St. Columbanus. Each young persontaking part in the awards programme chooses to get involved in parish life as well as participating in some social awareness activity in their locality. All award recipients complete a presentation in which they reflect upon the tasks they undertakein the light of gospel values. Finally, they reflect on how the award helps them understand and appreciate the contribution that young people can make in the Church today.
Seán Coll, Interim Diocesan Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Director of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre, welcomed all present to the ceremony especially the participants, their families, mentors, parish priests and school representatives.
After a short liturgy conducted by Fr. Andrew Tully, PP Laveyand Chaplain to St. Patrick’s College in Cavan, Bishop O’Reilly added his words of welcome to all present. He commended the young people for participating in the awards and for the witness they give in their parishes and schools. He made specific reference to the fact that many of the award participants had voluntarily agreed to act as Eucharistic Ministers during the recent Mass in the Phoenix Park celebrated by Pope Francis to mark the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families. He also thanked those who supported the young people in achieving their awards.
Peter Harte spoke eloquently and impressively of the importance of his faith in his life and especially in relation to football. He gave the young people present sound, practical advice and those present took great inspiration from what he shared with them.
The various award leaders received a special gift of a set of papal rosary beads which had been blessed by Pope Francis. A special presentation was also made to the former Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Carina McGinnell, to honour her contribution to the development of the awards in the diocese and who has taken up a new post elsewhere. The local Knights of St. Columbanus presented a cheque to Bishop O’Reilly as a sign of their continued support for the initiative
If you would like to get involved in the Pope John Paul II Award or just find out more about it contact your local Parish Priest, School Chaplain, or the Diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office at the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre on 00 353 49 4375004 (ext. 103). You can also find information on www. thepopejohnpauliiaward.com
Pope John Paul II Award Winners 2018 pictured (in front row) with Peter Harte, Tyrone Senior Gaelic Footballer; Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore; Seán Coll, Interim Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry; and Tony Brennan, National Co-ordinator of the Pope John Paul II Awards. (Photo courtesy of Adrian Donohoe, Photographer, Cavan)
