Students of Killinarden Community School along with Mr. Pierce Cuthbert, school chaplain, and Fr. Alan
Fourteen young people from the Community School in Killinarden received the Bronze John Paul II Award last Friday week. Starting in January last year Emma Jane Hearst, Kevin McCabe, Ciara Walker, Samantha Byrne, Shannon Corcoran, Shauna Holt, Jodie Curtis, Amy Ford, Shelly Buttner, Aaron McDonagh, Sarah Kilbride, Nathan Bracken, Keith Comerford and Carlee Chambers committed themselves to working for their community and helping out in their parish.
Parents and parishioners were especially grateful for the young people's work in welcoming children
They undertook a variety of fantastic social activities, such as after school clubs, mentoring primary school children and coaching GAA and football teams. Their work in the parish made a read difference. They took responsibility for the Children’s Liturgy during the Sunday morning Masses. When they began we had an average of six children regularly attending. However by the time they finished this had increased to over thirty. Each week a different team would bring the children into the side chapel of the church, read a simple Bible story and helped them with a creative activity. They made paper windmills, yo-yos, keyrings, jumbo flowers, treasure boxes, crowns and much more. Parents and other parishioners were especially grateful for all their work in welcoming children to the Church and making Mass something they looked forward to each week.