JP2 Award by KenelmYouthTrust

AWARD HANDBOOK

Message from the Archbishop

“To love like Jesus: that is what makes us shine, makes us do works of love. Friends, I am telling you the truth: whenever you do works of love, you become light.”

These words of Pope Francis to the young people of the world were given at the closing mass for World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon. They remind us how important young people are, and how valued their contribution to the life of the Church is today. As we are only too well aware, standing out and being a witness to our Catholic faith is not without its challenges, but as Pope Francis suggests, the more we share our faith with one another, the brighter the light of faith shines within our own hearts, and in the hearts of those to whom we pass it on.

The Pope John Paul II Award was established in thanksgiving for the life of Pope Saint John Paul II, who was such a keen supporter of and believer in young people, and of the gifts and talents that they so generously bring to their parish communities. Through this Award, I know that our young people will be encouraged to reflect on their relationship with Jesus Christ more deeply, knowing that our Lord will also enable them to participate fully in the life of the Church and the world which we are called to serve.

I am very pleased, therefore, to commend the Pope John Paul II Award to the young people of our diocese, and I am grateful that this excellent initiative is being made available for them. I would also like to thank the Kenelm Youth Trust for their help in organising this initiative, and particularly to the Knights of St Columba for their generous offer of financial support.

Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus is calling each of us to be a disciple with a mission, and he gives us three simple ideas of what the Lord is saying to us: Go, do not be afraid, and serve. I believe that the Pope John Paul II Award offers the young people of our diocese help and support in taking up the challenge of Pope Francis, and in discovering the joys that our faith so readily gives.

With my prayers and every blessing.

+ Bernard Longley Archbishop of Birmingham

Pope John Paul II Award

The Award was created to commemorate the late Pope Saint John Paul II, who was extremely passionate and committed to young people, harbouring profound belief and confidence in them.

He discovered his charism for relating to youth early in his priesthood. He earned the confidence of youth because he took them seriously. They sensed that he understood their concerns and in turn he challenged them to give their lives to Christ. He appealed to their high ideals, inviting them to be the leaders of the new Evangelisation.

On his first visit to the United States in October 1979, tens of thousands of young people flocked to Madison Square Garden in New York City. School Bands were blaring popular music as he rode the ‘popemobile’ up and down the aisles. At one point the youth began to chant “John Paul II, we love you!”, to which the pope responded with “woo-hoo-woo, John Paul II, he loves you”. He won their affection because they could feel his love for them.

Through the Pope John Paul II Award, young people in the Archdiocese of Birmingham will be enabled to take an active part in the life of the Church. Through active participation in the life of their community and wider society, they will become more aware of the teachings and role of the Catholic Church in the world.

Becoming active participants of the Body of Christ will present each individual with the opportunity to nurture and nourish their personal relationship with Christ, building an understanding of faith as gift as opposed to a list of rules and regulations.

Who is this Award for?

Who is the Award for?

Students in full-time education who have completed their GCSE’s.

Anyone between the ages of 16 and 18, not in post-secondary education.

The Award is non-competitive, flexible and voluntary and requires ongoing commitment.

Who is involved?

Award Patron - The Archdiocese of Birmingham.

Award Making Body - Pope John Paul II committee.

Award Leaders - Teachers, Parish Youth Representatives and Clergy.

Facilitators - Those persons who will facilitate the Award to fulfil individual tasks/ activities.

Administrative Centre - Birmingham Catholic Youth Service, Main Office, Don Bosco House, Coleshill, Birmingham.

How many Awards are there?

There are four Awards: The Papal Cross, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

What is

the

completion time?

16 months beginning in September.

How do I earn an Award?

You earn your Award by active participation and inv intentional pursuits in the area of Social Awarenes Award, you will be expected to prepare a presentati only begins after completing the Gold Award, the pr

ThePapal CrossAwardGold Award

Parish Involvement: 1hr per week for 26

Social Awareness: 1 hr per week for 26

Parish Involvement: 1hr per week for 14 weeks

Social Awareness: 1 hr per week for 14

How does the Award work?

How do I enrol in the Award?

Visit www.thepopejohnpauliiaward.com to dowload the application form and parental consent form. Alternatively you can visit the Kenelm Youth Trust’s website at www.kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk. You should then return the completed forms with the enrolment fee to your Award leader in your school/parish.

Is there an enrolment fee?

Yes, to enrol in the Award it costs £10, which will be collected by the Award Leader. A cheque will then be sent to the Kenelm Youth Trust and made payable to the Pope John Paul II Award.

What happens next?

When your enrolment is processed you will recieve your Record Card from your Award Leader. You will decide with your Award Leader what activity or activities you intend to carry our under the sections ‘Parish Involvement’ and ‘Social Awareness’. Please be sure that the named facilitator signs your Record Card upon the completion of each activity. The presentation is to be completed at the end of the tasks.

How do I claim my Award?

On completion of the hours and the presentation, you should return your Record Card and presentation to the Award Leader. There are ratified by the appropriate person(s) e.g. Parish Youth Representative, School Head Teacher, and forwarded to the Pope John Paul II Award Committee at the Kenelm Youth Trust.

Parish Involvement

Encouraging Parish Involvement

When we are baptised we become members of the Body of Christ. This means that we are called to be part of and partake in the good works of Christ, each of us in our own ways, just like the different organ systems of the body. We live out this belonging to the community of the Church in our parish. For the Body of Christ to be made fully alive, everybody needs to be actively involved. There are many different ways to get involved within our parish communities.

Examples of parish activities that contribute towards the Award are:

Reading at Mass

Altar Serving

Eucharistic Ministering

Participation in the offertory procession

Choir/music group membership

Children’s Liturgy of the Word

Church Decoration, flower arranging, cleaning

Helping with the collection

Composing prayers of the faithful

Preparing articles for the parish bulletin or updating the newsletter

Helping with the parish live stream, website or social media

Welcomer at Mass

Helping with preparation for the sacraments

There may be other activities that you are involved in that are not included here but may be relevant, if so please contact the Pope John Paul II Award Committee for approval.

Social Awareness

Encouraging Social Awareness

As members of the Body of Christ, through baptism, we make Christ present by the way we treat others. Our faith is lived out most fully in our actions, that is why it is important to be aware of the needs of others and to minister to their needs. That is why ‘Social Awareness’ is such an important aspect of this Award.

Examples of the activities in the are of Social Awareness that you could do for your Award are:

Charity fundraisers, such as parish cake sales, sponsored events, Irish nights, race nights, bingo and afternoon tea in the parish hall

Volunteering in a charity shop

Helping as a Junior Leader at a youth group.

Supporting a social action project with KYT, such as ‘Love Christmas’

Active member of the chaplaincy team in school

Reading/playing games/chatting with children or the elderly at a hospital

Running a fair-trade stall

Raising awareness of the impact of climate change

Encouraging your school/parish to attain or support the Live Simply Award

Supporting a residential retreat for young people

Supporting the parish/school work with the SVP (St. Vincent de Paul Society)

Create or help maintain a peace garden in the school/parish

Support with car-parking at a parish/school event

Volunteer to help the homeless or struggling families e.g. at a Food Bank

Raise awareness of the needs of others through a campaign for charities, such as CAFOD, SMILE, YOUNG MINDS

Become a Mental Health Champion (www.kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk)

There may be other activities that you are involved in that are not included here but may be relevant, if so please contact the Pope John Paul II Award Committee for approval.

Presentation

Preparing the Presentation

When the participant completes the Parish Involvement and the Social Awareness sections of the Award, they are required to prepare a presentation. This presentation may be written (approx 1500 words). On request it can take the form of an oral presentation which will be recorded and then transcribed.

The Presentation is to include:

ivity carried out for the activity(e.g. visiting a on to the care of the of the Church in relation a baptised member

Through the Presentation, the participant will show a knowledge and understanding of what they did within the context of the church. Their role within the Church will become more apparent.

Top-Ups:

Award Top-Ups

Award Top-Ups are given in recognition of the extra activities that young people are already involved in.

Top-Ups will go towards the total number of hours an individual has to complete. They can be achieved in a number of ways - see below:

Pilgrimage

In the May half term each year, many people from the Birmingham Archdiocese travel to Lourdes to work in the Accueil or Hotels with Assisted Pilgrims. This group need special care whilst in Lourdes and volunteers are always needed to give them that care. Your role might involve pushing a wheelchair, cleaning and making hospital beds or accompanying pilgrims for a coffee or to buy souvenirs. Volunteering in Lourdes can be part of this Award. There are other pilgrimages such as Rome, Walsingham and World Youth Day.

Mission Trips

There are other opportunities to achieve Top-Ups for your Award. Trips lasting 4 days or more to work on specific projects such as Summer Camps or Mission Trips (Brazil/Malawi) can also be part of this Award. For more info see www.kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk. If you are unsure whether your trip can be included as a Top-Up, please speak to your JPII Award Administrative Centre at the Kenelm Youth Trust.