On Thursday 2, March 2017 the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle held their 1st Pope John Paul II Award ceremony in the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle, England. Almost 500 people gathered to witness the Award ceremony.
120 Award recipients
Bishop Seamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle and Fr. Paul Farren, founder of the Award from the Diocese of Derry, presented Papal Cross, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to 120 young people who had worked hard over the previous 15 months to earn their place at the presentation ceremony. Bishop Seamus presented each of the medals as the award recipients went on stage, deanery by deanery, and Fr. Paul gave out the certificates. This was a memorable occasion for everyone. Bishop Seamus expressed his pride in the young people of the Diocese and his thanks to their families and to all those who work with them.
Hexham and Newcastle was delighted to welcome the team from the Diocese of Derry who began the Award in Ireland 10 years ago: Fr. Paul Farren, Director of Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre; Anne Marie Hickey, Award Administrator; Tony Brennan, National Coordinator; and Marie Lindsay, Award Committee Member. In his address Fr. Paul affirmed the young people for their witness and challenged them to encounter and serve those in need as the living Body of Christ. The occasion was also graced with the presence of Youth for Christ from the Filipino community whose musicians and singers led everyone in worship.
Celebrating over 4,400 hours of generous service by 16 to 18 year old’s of the diocese
The Award enables participants to take an active part in the life of their church and in the life of their community and society. It calls them to engage at a deep level with their faith and to put it into action. Together the young people had completed 4,400 hours of generous service in their local parish and in their community. This massive effort across the Diocese has had a notable effect on many churches as well as the impact on the individual young people. In some cases it had brought them back to church after an extended time away. One young person said ‘This was difficult for me to do at first because it was a new and different environment. I had not been in a church environment since I was in Primary school, so I was nervous.’
Each participant also completes a ‘presentation’ which reflects on their experience and relates what they have done to Gospel values and being a baptised member of the church. Many of the stories highlight friendly and welcoming parish communities who are delighted to greet young people and help them be more involved in the work of their church. For the Award to work effectively, strong links are required between parishes and the secondary schools. This practical cooperation and communication has been an additional benefit enjoyed in many deaneries.
In their own words. What the Award means to the young people involved
Photographs from the ceremony
Group photos are published below. There are also lots more photographs from the night on the Pope John Paul II Award Facebook page.
Get involved in the Award
Hexham and Newcastle are already half way through the time allocated for this year’s Award and 190 people have signed up and are working hard to clock up the required hours of parish and social awareness work. Over 100 volunteers welcome the young people into their churches and help them find things to do.
If you would like to help to welcome and encourage young people to become more active in the life of their parish, please let us know and we will add you to our list of church coordinators. Please contact the Award coordinator in Hexham and Newcastle, Tony Joy, on 01207 59224 or email jp2award@ymt.org.