November 13th, St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford. It is Sunday afternoon and a happy gathering of young people, their mentors and their families have congregated for the John Paul II Awards presentation ceremony.Three successful candidates from Our Lady’s Bower completed the process and were presented with Gold awards on the day.
Rachel Barrington, Amy Hackett and Isabel Hamilton had been involved with the Friary Pray and Play activities for younger church goers and Sacristan duties in Our Lady Queen of Peace in Coosan. Isabel was chosen as one of two participants from the whole of diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois to give her testimony about how she had been affected by her experiences during the award process.The awards are sponsored by the Knights of St. Columbanus and are proving to be a successful way for young people to maintain an active and meaningful role within their Parish communities.