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Clogher Diocese Launch Pope John Paul II Award
An audience of up to 250 people including 100 young people, from across the diocese of Clogher gathered in the Iontas Centre, Catleblayney as Clogher don Óige (Clogher Diocesan Youth Commission) celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland by launching The Pope John Paul II Award.
For more information on the award or to download an application click here
The Pope John Paul II Award is a youth initiative that celebrates and acknowledges the many young people who are already involved in their Church, in their community and in charitable work. It also encourages more young people to get involved in their Church, their community and in charitable work. The Award is for young people who are in senior school or have just left school.
The special guest for the launch was local businessman and former G.A.A. president, Peter Quinn, Peter spoke of how beneficial the Award would be to communities. He said “Society, and communities within that society, have a multitude of needs, young people in modern Ireland have a multitude of talents. This programme is one way of matching those talents to those needs and creating stronger communities that are richer, more cohesive and successful.” Peter spoke positively about young people to-day saying “I see the finest generation of young Irish people our country or this world has ever seen…and that what I see there are young people of whom we should be proud, of whom the whole world should be proud. I see a generation with vision, imagination and ambition, with confidence and courage, and conviction and creativity. I see young people who are optimistic, progressive and self-reliant whilst also being sympathetic, respectful, hospitable and thoughtful, and that’s part of what you’re being trained to do on this programme.” Peter’s words are sure to motivate and inspire the young people who were present, not to mention the hope and confidence they will give to school teachers, charity workers/volunteers, local parish representatives and priests who were all represented at the launch.
Diocesan Youth Director, Matthew McFadden is set to coordinate the Award. Over the last year, Matthew has been meeting priests and has seen the real desire to meet the needs of young people through involving them in local community life. During his address, Matthew said “It is clear that the clergy highly rate young people as individuals with a variety of gifts and talents that will impact positively as they play a pro-active role in their parish.”
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The Award was officially launched by Bishop Duffy. Recently he has commented “In my series of meetings with members of our parishes last year, a recurring theme was the question of finding ways and means to adequately meet the needs of young people to be actively involved in the life of the Church at every level – personal, local and universal. I see this initiative of The Pope John Paul II Award as a practical, immediate and hand-on response to this need.”
Over the coming months the Award will be promoted to young people within schools, parishes and youth organisations. Young people who are interested in the Award can find more information by logging onto www.clogherdonoige.com. |
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