Kildare & Leighin | 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 Pope John Paul II Award has been part of the story of Kildare & Leighlin Diocese for the past five years. In that time, close to one and half thousand young people from the diocese have participated in this award programme. A programme that has brought a huge blessing on parish and school life around our diocese. In the most recent awards, presented over two nights last February, it was remarked that the awardees represented 38 out of our 56 parishes, coming from 27 schools.

The energy, the enthusiasm, the exuberance of these young people on award nights is infectious. I firmly believe the contribution of the awardees to the church will be huge into the future. These young people are the church of today and tomorrow and the day after. My prayer is that by participating in such an award programme at Bronze level, at Silver level, at Gold level or at Papal Cross level will help them develop a lifelong habit of service to their local parish, their local community.

The Award was launched in Derry Diocese in 2006; Kildare & Leighlin was one of the early dioceses to take up the initiative. And why wouldn't our diocese get involved, having already a rich and proud tradition of work with our young people through Teach Bhríde in Tullow, Faith Friends, Meitheal and Parish Youth groups. I commend and thank Cathriona from the FDS Team in Carlow who coordinates the Pope John Paul II Award programme in the diocese, now in its sixth year, and I equally thank the Award Leaders in all our participating parishes. I have no doubt your work will sow the seeds of vibrant and active parish communities.

I believe that the introduction of the Pope John Paul II Award is timely. This new initiative is designed to foster and encourage the participation of young people in the life of our parishes, allowing them to express their faith and to build up the life of the Church.

I pray that the Pope John Paul II Award will help us to grow in our awareness of the faith needs of young people and of the spiritual gifts and energy that they bring.

Every blessing & thanks,

+ Denis Nulty
Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin

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 Kildare & Leighlin 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

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.

Parish 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.

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 or other pilgrimage activities. Participation in these activities can be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

Training for Ministry
During the year, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team will extend an invitation for young people to participate in training programmes. These training events 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 orphanages in Romania or home building in Africa. The Presentation Schools’ projects which bring young people to Zambia or other areas to work in a voluntary capacity in schools and communities can also be part of the Pope John Paul II Award.

Discovery Programme
Participation in a Discovery Programme at parish level 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.

Making young people visible in their church, community & society

Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin

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 Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin

The Award in the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin

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

Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin Award Top-Up Suggestions

Downloads

Award Handbook

Award Resources

News

Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Annual Award ceremony 2018

Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Annual Award ceremony 2017

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 Kildare & Leighlin Award Office