Archdiocese of Birmingham

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.

‘Faith is a flame that grows stronger the more it is shared and passed on, so that everyone may know, love and confess Jesus Christ.’

These words of Pope Francis to the young people of the world were given at the closing Mass for World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. They remind us how important young people are, and how valued their contribution to the life of the Church is today. As we are only too well aware, standing out and being a witness to our Catholic faith is not without its challenges, but as Pope Francis suggests, the more we share our faith with one another, the brighter the flame of faith glows within our own hearts, and in the hearts of those to whom we pass it on.

The Pope John Paul II Award was established in thanksgiving for the life of Blessed Pope John Paul II, who was such a keen supporter of and believer in young people, and of the gifts and talents that they so generously bring to their parish communities. Through this Award, I know that our young people will be encouraged to reflect on their relationship with Jesus Christ more deeply, knowing that our Lord will also enable them to participate fully in the life of the Church and the world which we are all called to serve.

I am very pleased, therefore, to commend the Pope John Paul II Award to the young people of our diocese, and I am grateful that this excellent initiative is being made available for them. I would also like to thank the Birmingham Catholic Youth Service for their help in organising this initiative, and particularly to the Knights of St Columba for their generous offer of financial support.

Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus is calling each of us to be a disciple with a mission, and he gives us three simple ideas of what the Lord is saying to us: Go, do not be afraid, and serve. I believe that the Pope John Paul II Award offers the young people of our diocese help and support in taking up the challenge of Pope Francis, and in discovering the joys that our faith so readily gives.

With my prayers and every blessing.

+ Bernard Longley
Archbishop of Birmingham

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

Archdiocese of Birmingham Award Top-Up Suggestions

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

Pilgrimage
Each year many people from the Birmingham Archdiocese travel to Lourdes at Whitsun to care for people with illness and disability. These people need special care while in Lourdes and volunteers are always needed to give them that care. It may be pushing their wheelchair or just accompanying them. Working in Lourdes with the diocesan groups can be part of this Award.

There are other Diocesan pilgrimages. These pilgrimages can also be considered as Award Top-Ups.

Humanitarian Trips
Trips lasting four days or more to work on specific projects, such as orphanages in Romania or home building in Africa.

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

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.”

A message from the Archbishop of Birmingham

The Award in the Archdiocese of Birmingham

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

Archdiocese of Birmingham Award Top-Up Suggestions

Downloads

Award Handbook

Award Resources

The Award runs in Ireland and the UK, find your diocese below.

If you are an Award participant, you can find all materials required to complete your Award on your Diocese Award page

The Award

About Us

Contact Birmingham Award Office