Archdiocese of Dublin

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 Church in the Archdiocese of Dublin needs the contribution of young people. The Church in Dublin welcomes the contribution of young people. The Church in Dublin will be enriched the more it welcomes the idealism and the generosity that are characteristic of the younger generation.

The Pope John Paul II Award offers young people the chance to learn the way of service and to develop the skills of Christian leadership. Christian service gives them the opportunity to thank beyond themselves and their own needs and to reach out to others. The way of leadership based on knowing the person and the teachings of Jesus gives them the skills to use their talents with enthusiasm and energy for the benefit of all.

This Award is dedicated to the memory of Pope John Paul II. He showed a great love of and confidence in young people. Even as he grew older, he reached out to them and presented to them the challenging message of Jesus Christ. At the many World Youth Days at which he presided, he constantly showed his belief in, and enthusiasm for young people. At the World Youth Day in Rome in the year 2000, he told over a million young people "If you are what you should be, you can set the world on fire".

I thank the Office for Evangelisation and Ecumenism for promoting the Award in the Archdiocese of Dublin and pray that many young people will be touched through it by the love of Christ.

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 Dublin 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.

Magis Experiments
Following our experience at World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Dublin Archdiocese is offering young people an opportunity to experience the power of the Ignatian spirituality through MAGIS Experiments.

MAGIS is the Latin word for 'more', for people who want to give more on their journeys of faith. Service, Creative and Pilgrimage are the three forms of Magis Experiments. Each form encourages the participants to live together simply and participate in activities that bring them closer to God.

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

Lough Derg - 3 Day Pilgrimage
Each year thousands of people leave behind the hustle and bustle of daily life and go back to basics on Lough Derg. The pilgrimage presents a welcome challenge away from our home comforts, as well as a wonderful prayerful and spiritual experience.

There may be other pilgrimages or 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 Dublin

The Award in the Archdiocese of Dublin

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

Archdiocese of Dublin 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 Dublin Award Office