Archdiocese of Tuam

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.

It is sometimes said that our young people are the Church of tomorrow and so they are. But young people are more than just the future of the Church. They are the Church of today. As such, as well as presenting us with our greatest resource, young people also provide us with our greatest challenge.

From chatting with young people from all over our diocese I am convinced that many want to be involved in our Church. We, as a Church, need to offer young people real and meaningful opportunities to play their part in the building up of God's kingdom.

Tuam Diocesan Youth Council was formed in early 2008 and it continues to imagine new ways of engaging with the young people of our diocese. The setting up of the Pope John Paul II Award is a way of honouring the vital role which many young people already play in their parish communities. It provides young people with a way of expressing their faith in practical ways and challenges them to reflect on their role in their Church.

I thank the Knights of St Columbanus for their generous sponsorship of this project and I commend the Diocesan Youth Council for its energy and vision. Finally I pray God’s blessing on all who will benefit from their involvement in the Pope John Paul II Awards.

+ Michael Neary
Archbishop of Tuam

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 Tuam 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
Each year young people from the Diocese travel to Lourdes accompanying pilgrims with disability as part of the HCPT pilgrimage. Working in Lourdes with such diocesan groups can be part of this Award.

Participation in the annual Tochar Pádraig organised by the Diocesan Youth Council is also a way to gain Award Top-Ups. This pilgrimage takes place over three stages culminating with the Annual Youth Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick held in May.

Peregrinatio Pro Christo
Each year a number of junior members of the Legion of Mary travel to Great Britain to work in parishes. During this time they visit homes and offer the Catholic faith to all whom they encounter.

Humanitarian Trips
Many third level students undertake humanitarian trips to Third World countries during their summer break. These trips can also provide an opportunity for Top-Ups for the Pope John Paul II Awards.

World Youth Day
World Youth Day is an international festival of Catholic faith organised every three years. Pilgrims who travel to this wonderful event participate in a six month preparation programme.

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

Archdiocese of Tuam

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 Tuam

The Award in the Archdiocese of Tuam

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

Archdiocese of Tuam Award Top-Up Suggestions

Downloads

Award Handbook

Award Resources

News & Activities

Archdiocese of Tuam, Annual Pope John Paul II Award ceremony 2016

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 Tuam Award Office