Thirty five young people from the Diocese of Meath received medals for their participation in the Pope John Paul II Awards following Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, on Saturday, 9 November 2024.
Most Reverend Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, concelebrated the Mass, and afterwards made the presentations to the young people.
Twenty nine students received gold medals and six students received the highest award, the Papal Cross, for their involvement in parish and community endeavours.
Students who received awards this year came from schools in Mullingar (St Finian’s College, Loreto College and Coláiste Mhuire), Trim (Scoil Mhuire) and Kells (St Ciarán’s CS).
The award is facilitated in the Diocese of Meath by Seán Wright, diocesan director, and offers students an opportunity to deepen and explore their faith through involvement in activities in their parishes, schools and the communities.
Students this year have been involved in liturgies in their parishes, fundraising and mentoring activities, and some also had opportunity, as part of an immersion programme, to spend time in Assumption parish in Mazabuka, Zambia, working with parish and school groups.
After the presentation of awards, Bishop Deenihan spoke to the students and their families and discussed what they had been involved in over the previous year for their awards, and how their faith had been deepened by their participation.
The photo shows Bishop Tom with students from the diocese and Br John Murphy, Supreme Knight of the Knights of St Columbanus.