Chai Brady
Youth at the JPII Award Pilgrimage Over 1,000 young people, who are currently participating or have received the Pope John Paul II Award, gathered on pilgrimage to Knock Shrine at the end of September.
Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown celebrated Mass, and was joined by Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan and priests from participating dioceses.
The pilgrimage to Knock provided young people in attendance with the opportunity to share their experiences of participating in the Pope John Paul II Award, discuss how it impacts on their Faith and recognises the special place they have in the Church today.
Sr Ethel Normoyle of the Little Company of Mary in Ireland and director and founder of the Missionvale Care Centre in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and Alan Kerins – Irish sportsman, humanitarian, social entrepreneur and philanthropist – spoke to the crowd during the pilgrimage.
End poverty
Alan has raised close to €5 million to end poverty and suffering of tens of thousands of people in rural Southern Africa.
The award was launched in Derry in 2006 and is now running in 23 dioceses in Ireland and 2 in Britain. In the last twelve years, over 24,000 young people have enrolled. The Pope John Paul II Award is the largest youth movement in the Church in Ireland today.
Music was provided by Elation Ministries, choirs from participating dioceses and a soloist from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.