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March 2009

Cardinal Keith O'Brien presents the Pope John Paul II Award

Cardinal Keith O'Brien from St Andrews in Edinburgh and Bishop Seamus Hegarty Patron of the Pope John Paul II Award presented 252 young people from the Diocese of Derry and beyond with the Pope John Paul II Award on Monday and Tuesday night, 23rd & 24th February in the Millennium Forum, Derry.

This award enables young people to become actively involved in the life of their parish and local community. On completion of the award the young people receive a gold, silver or bronze award. This is the second year of the initiative and the young people who participated were from 39 parishes in the Derry Diocese, 7 parishes outside the diocese, Greenbank Presbyterian Church and Whitecastle Methodist Church.

Presenting their medals and certificates Cardinal O'Brien told the young people; "As well as congratulating you I thank also parents and teachers, priests and families for having provided a wonderful background of the faith to those entrusted to their care. It is a great inspiration to see you young people prepare so well for receipt of these awards which require not just one off immediate action but rather ongoing commitment to living and practising your Christian faith."

The cardinal continued "In being here with you today I congratulate you for all that you have already achieved through working for your John Paul II Award. You have been involved in many ways in living and working for others at parish level and at diocesan level. You have shown your care for others through activities in your parish and through your social awareness, through membership of those various wonderful organisations which help other people such as membership of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Faith & Light Movement, working in youth clubs, being faith friends, visiting residential homes and so many other activities which you undertake."

The Cardinal stressed how the young people's service to others in faith and good works was really service to Christ. He told them; "What is important is involvement with others which means involvement with Jesus Christ himself. And of course being involved with others leads us ever closer in the following of Jesus Christ - which is not always easy in the Church and in the world of today."

The Cardinal encouraged the young people to continue in their chosen tasks and ministry at parish level and in society. He told them "each of you award winners is called to follow Christ in ways which you have never followed before; to bear witness to Christ by the witness of your own lives; and to bring God's love to the men and women in history with whom you will meet day by day."

The enthusiasm and joy of the young people was obvious both nights and many have shared how this award has helped them find their true role in the Church today. Others feel the award has given them the opportunity to take time to explore an area of their life which they had ignored or neglected.

Jessica Caldwell from Glendermott Parish in the Waterside, Derry said "I have become more involved in my parish and more aware of how I can put into practice the teaching of Christ in my everyday life."

Connor Lennon from Coleraine said "By taking part in the award I have been a witness to others and shown that a teenage boy can be responsible and mature and practise his faith. This is perhaps helping to knock down the stereotypes many people have of teenagers. We young people are the future of the Church; without us who in the future will attend Church? We are the parents of the future and it will be up to us to bring up our children in the faith."

"Doing the award has helped me learn about Pope John Paul II. I know from my parents that he came to Ireland but this has given me a chance to find out more about the man himself and what a powerful and popular leader of the Church he has been. When he came to Ireland he told my parents' generation "young people of Ireland I love you"; I would like to think that if Pope Benedict comes to Ireland he would say the same to my generation!"

Fionnuala Lindsay from Co Donegal said "This award helped me realise there is more to life than materialistic things. I believe it is vital that young people play a big part in today's Church. Young people have the enthusiasm and energy to help so many who are crying out for it. Young people need to have their eyes opened to others around them and not to fall into the trap of self absorbency, I think the award is a wonderful method of implementing this. I do not think the award has changed me, but it made me explore an aspect of myself that had been somewhat neglected."

The fruits of the award are evident at all levels; in schools, parishes, local communities, charities and even in families. Testament to this is the fact that young people are keen to stay involved. This year seen the introduction of a new level of the award 'The Papal Cross'. This level is for those who have already received gold and it requires a greater level of commitment and an additional outreach project. Already 5 young people have received this award.