Diocese of Cork & Ross

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 Pope John Paul II Award has been part of the story of Diocesan life in Ireland since its introduction in Derry in 2006. Since that time has been taken on in most of the twenty six dioceses. I am delighted to be introducing the Award now into the Diocese of Cork and Ross so that the young people here may participate too.

As I said on the occasion of my episcopal ordination, young people are the best missionaries and witnesses to other young people and need to be supported and encouraged in their faith which I believe can be enhanced by their participation in this award scheme. They are as Pope Francis says, “the now of God” and we must make every effort in our parish communities to prepare them to be the Church of today and of tomorrow. As together we begin a new chapter in the diocesan story we must reach out to find new ways of witnessing to the Gospel message and this I see as one of the many new initiatives we can offer to them together.

To introduce this Award will require us to be leaders, to give commitment of time and energy but in doing so it will I know bring many blessings to our parish communities as they see our young people take a visible place in our daily life as people of faith called to be Church in our particular place. I commend those parishioners and clergy who will seek to introduce this Award to their parishes and know that it will be of great benefit not just to the young people who participate but also to you as leaders and to the whole parish family.

My hope is that by participating in such an award at Bronze, Silver, Gold or Papal Cross award level will help them to develop a lifelong habit of commitment to their faith and service to their local parish and the wider community.

Every blessing and thank you.

+ Fintan Gavin
Bishop of Cork and Ross

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 Cork & Ross Award Top-Up & Faith Development Suggestions

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

Pilgrimage
Our Diocese organises the young adults group to Lourdes (18-25) each year and also many parishes and other organisations (IHCPT, CASA, CLM, IPT, Chaplaincies, Catholic Society) organise pilgrimages, either specifically for young people, or for the wider community, but open to young people. Participation in this type of activity can be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

Diocesan Youth Activities
At certain times the Cork and Ross Pastoral Development Office organise specific activities for young people or young adults which you will be invited to participate in which can also be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

Humanitarian Trips
Trips lasting four days or more to work on specific projects – such as HOPE, SERVE or Habitat for Humanity or with one of the religious congregations or other areas to work in a voluntary capacity in schools and communities overseas can also be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

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.

Faith Development Activities
Every Award participant in the Diocese of Cork & Ross is required to engage in a recognised faith development programme/activity offered in the diocese or parish:

Alpha programme
NUA programme
Sycamore programme
YOUCAT or DOCAT programme
Youth 2000 prayer group
Catholic Society/Chaplaincy team in third level
FOCUS
SCALA faith activities
Youth prayer/faith discussion groups
Taize prayer group
Active member of the Legion of Mary
Member of Jesus Youth

You may be involved in other faith development activities which with approval from the Diocesan Award Committee will also be counted towards your Award hours.

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.”

Message from the Bishop of Cork & Ross

The Award in the Diocese of Cork & Ross

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

Diocese of Cork & Ross Award Top-Up & Faith Development 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 Cork & Ross Award Office