Pope John Paul II Awards ceremony held in South Mayo

Over thirty senior students from St Colman’s College were honoured on Tuesday evening last in St Colman’s Church, Claremorris, as they received their Pope John Paul II Awards from Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam.

These students completed their awards through dedicated volunteering in their school, their parishes and their own local communities over the past two years. These young men were thanked for their involvement in many voluntary activities from reading at Mass and helping with various liturgies, cleaning the churches and collecting baskets, coaching younger children in GAA and soccer clubs, visiting residents of local care homes, tutoring primary school pupils through the Peer4Peer Programme, helping with the ‘You Shall be my Witnesses’ Confirmation Programme and a whole host of other activities.

Ten students received the Papal Cross Award from Archbishop Duffy, most of whom walked part of the Camino de Santiago in Spain last summer. Many of these students also took part in the Volunteering at Knock Shrine Programme (VAKS) in the summer and during the Christmas season.

“These young men are truly inspirational, living out their faith through service, leadership and generosity, a wonderful example of faith in action and we thank them for their wonderful leadership in the College,” said Roy Hession, principal of St Colman’s College.

After the Awards ceremony everyone enjoyed refreshments in the Dalton Hotel which brought a lovely occasion to a fitting end.

Words of thanks were expressed to those who officiated at the ceremony; Tomás Kenny (Diocesan RE advisor) who organised the JP11 Awards ceremony, and to Nicola Mitchell from Knock Youth Ministry who was special guest on the evening. Fr Peter Gannon and Fr Seán Flynn were also in attendance. An enjoyable reception was held afterwards in the Dalton Inn Hotel.

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