INTRODUCTION TO JOHN PAUL II AWARDS 2025
Woodstock Hotel, Ennis, Wednesday, 18th of November.
Introduction and Welcome
A very warm welcome to all the recipients of the John Paul II awards, to your families and to all who have assisted you from your school, communities and parish.
A True Celebration
This event is always a lovely occasion. Joyful. Happy. Celebratory. It celebrates your talents, your achievements, your faith, your dedication, your commitment and your desire to serve people and God.
Youth Ministry in the Diocese
I am so delighted to see the great work and energy that is going into assisting you to reach your potential as people of faith. This is being done in many ways:
- Through the work of various parishes, schools, communities and your families.
- Through the many pilgrimages organised, Taizé, Lourdes, Knock, Croagh Patrick, Holy Island, Scattery Island, the Burren.
- This is being done through projects like the Le Chéile Youth Ministry Group who meet monthly in Roslevan, the Brendan Pastoral Area Youth Group who recently organised a St. Carlo Acutis Youth Mass, Faith Friends where they still exist, You Shall be my Witness Confirmation Projects, John Paul II awards and many other creative, energetic an innovative way to help you be people of faith.
World Youth Day
During this jubilee year I had the joy and privilege of joining along with Fr. Donagh O’Meara and Ms. Deirdre Convey of Kildysert Community School to venture to Rome for World Youth Day where over one million people gathered in glorious sunshine to be together in a faith context, to enjoy each others company and to pray with our new Pope Leo XIV. It was a truly memorable occasion, a week that I will savour and remember for many years.
Lourdes
Prior to that in the Pyrenees, the South of France several young people from the diocese went on diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes to work with assisted pilgrims and it was so heartening to see how they interacted with the sick and assisted pilgrims and enter into the spirit of the many faith celebrations there.
John Paul II awards
I am so impressed with your commitment here this evening, that you have clocked up the points necessary to get your John Paul II award, whether that be Bronze, Silver, Gold or Papal Award. It demonstrates your generosity, dedication, persistence and most of all faith.
Killaloe – a welcoming Church for Young People
I want to make sure you know how welcome you are in the Church of the Diocese of Killaloe. You are so important to us as Church, because without you the wonderful message of the Good News of Jesus Christ will not be passed on to future generations. You, the youth of the present are the future face of our Church and we are very excited to see you participate in it.
Youth Survey
In your school you may have participated in a recent youth survey from the diocese. Over 500 people participated in that in the run up to the mid-term break. The results of that are just in and there is a meeting tomorrow to look at the outcome. The survey was trying to consult yourselves to try and find out what you find helpful and how we should go forward in sharing the faith with people your own age. Please God that will be helpful, as they say going forward. Well done to Mr. Brendan O’Brien who as secondary school Religious Advisor organised the survey, along with Fr. Donagh and a number of other collaborators.
Jubilee Year
As you have probably heard many times this year, 2025 is a jubilee year and the theme for that Jubilee year is Hope. Hope is one of the great God given gifts that we have and keeps us positive in lifting our eyes towards the horizon of a bright future. That bright future will please God help you to reach your full potential with all your skills and talents and in faith terms help you to get to the joys and glory of happiness in heaven, which is the point and goal of our faith, the reason we hope. To look around and see so many of you hear today is indeed a great source of hope and delight.
Congratulations and best wishes
I warmly congratulate you on your achievement, your parents and families, teachers, school, the priests and religious who accompany you. As you are aware many people involved in the organisation of these Youth Awards have done trojan work in this whole area and has been a constant source of support to you.
Well done to Fr. Ger and his great committee for their support in these awards, along with all involved at parish and school level. I would also like to pay tribute to the Knights of St. Columbanus who have been very generous in initiating and supporting the John Paul II Awards that you receive this evening. Well done all and keep up the fantastic, good work.
Mr. Tony Kelly
As you are probably aware, the outstanding Clare hurler and teacher in St. Flannan’s College, Mr. Tony Kelly had intended being with us tonight, but he sadly had to send apologies, due to training commitments. Such is the dedication of the man, and it is certainly what has made him so outstanding in his field that he never misses a training session for any reason. A lesson for many in terms of commitment and steely dedication and we wish him well in his future endeavours.
Congratulations and Best wishes
I hope you all have a great evening.
Enjoy the chat, the fun, the festivities, the celebration, the food.
Congratulations to all the award recipients, thanks and God bless to all involved.
Go dtuga Dia slán abhaile sibh agus gura fada buan sibh!