The Pope John Paul II Award

The Pope John Paul II Award encourages you to go beyond your comfort zone on a journey of self-discovery. It challenges you to give of your time, your talents, your intellect, and your social skills for the well-being of others and for the Glory of God.”

The Pope John Paul II Award enables participants to take an active part in the life of their Church - in the life of their community and society. It also enables young people become more aware of the teaching and role of the Catholic Church in the world and to engage at a deep level with Christ.

The Award is committed to helping young people enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development through participation in school, parish and community activities.

The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois warmly welcomes the involvement of young people in the life of the Church. I have no doubt about the necessity of having the young generation actively participating in the life of their parishes and contributing to the welfare of the communities of which they are a part.

The Pope John Paul II Award is designed to meet the need of the time in which we live for positive encouragement and support for the young in the following ways:

By providing ongoing development of understanding of faith appropriate to young adults
Encouraging involvement in activity which is helpful to their communities
Affording enjoyable and useful support for one another

I am delighted to recommend the Pope John Paul II Award to parishes and to all who are interested in assisting young people to make the most of their gifts. The Church is greatly in need of the energy which the young can bring to its work of building up Christ’s Kingdom. May God bless all who get involved in this good work.

+ Colm O'Reilly
Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois

There are 4 Awards - Gold, Silver, Bronze & Papal Cross

Each Award is completed over a 16 month period beginning at the start of the academic year.
Awards are earned by taking part in parish and social activities – 1 hour per week over 8, 14, 20 or 26 weeks.

Those that have completed the Gold Award have a further option of completing the Papal Cross Award.

Gold Award Silver Award Bronze Award Papal Cross Award

Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnois Award Top-Up Suggestions

Award Top-Ups are given in recognition of the extra activities that Award participants are already involved in.

Top-Ups will go towards the total number of hours an individual has to complete.

Papal Cross: 7.5 hours
Gold: 6 hours
Silver: 4.5 hours
Bronze: 3 hours

Top-Ups can be achieved in a number of ways, for example:

Pilgrimage
Many parishes organise pilgrimages, either specifically for young people, or for the wider parish community, but open to young people. Participation in this type of activity can be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

World Youth Day
World Youth Day is an international festival of Catholic Faith organised every three years. Pilgrims who travel to this wonderful event participate in a six month preparation programme.

Diocesan Youth Activities
On a number of occasions during the year, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team will organise youth activities such as participation in the diocesan pilgrimage to Knock, climbing Croagh Patrick, Youth Retreat Days, Glendalough trips, Knock Youth Festival, Youth 2000 Festival Lourdes and most recently Taize, or other pilgrimage activities. Participation in these activities can be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

Humanitarian Trips
Many third level students undertake humanitarian trips to the Third World countries during their summer break. These trips can also provide an opportunity for Top-Ups for the Pope John Paul II Awards.

There may be other activities that you are involved in that are not included here but may be relevant, if so please contact the Pope John Paul II Award Committee for approval.

Making young people visible in their church, community & society

Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnois