Mags GarganOver 1,000 young people, who are currently participating or have received the Pope John Paul II Award in the last ten years, gathered at Knock Shrine on April 5 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the award.
When the award was launched in Derry in 2006 by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazarotto, it was never imagined that the award would spread beyond the diocese. It has now been introduced into 22 dioceses in Ireland and two in Britain – the Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
In the last 10 years, over 20,000 young people have enrolled in the award. Funded by the Knights of St Columbanus, the JPII Award is believed to be the largest youth movement in the Church in Ireland today.
Experiences
The day in Knock provided young people from different dioceses with the opportunity to share their experiences of participating in the award, discuss how it impacts on their faith and recognises the special place they have in the Church.
They had time to pray together, to listen to an inspirational talk by Elma Walsh, mother of Donal Walsh (donalwalshlivelife.org) and to celebrate the Eucharist. The chief celebrant was Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, patron of the awards. He was joined by a number of priests from participating dioceses.
Music was provided by Elation Ministries, choirs from participating dioceses and there was a special performance from singer/songwriter Niamh McGlinchey, a former recipient of the award.