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Pope John Paul II Awards in the Diocese of Cloyne

Supreme Council

15 October 2026

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More than a hundred secondary school students in uniform, each holding an Award certificate, in rows before a red stage curtain, with Bishop William Crean and guests seated at the centre of the front row.

The 2026 Award recipients with Bishop William Crean in Mallow. Photograph: Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services.

On the evening of Thursday 15 October 2026, 109 young people from nine secondary schools in the Diocese of Cloyne received their Pope John Paul II Award at a ceremony in Mallow, Co. Cork. Bishop William Crean, Bishop of Cloyne, was with them, and the Supreme Knight, Brother PJ Finn, was there for the Order and spoke on the night.

The Supreme Knight, Brother PJ Finn, a man with grey hair and glasses in a blue suit, speaking into a microphone at a wooden lectern.
The Supreme Knight, Brother PJ Finn, speaking at the ceremony

How the Award is earned

Each of the 109 earned the Award through a year of Parish Involvement and Social Awareness, and by preparing a Presentation on what they had done. Award Leaders in every school gave their time to guide and encourage them, and the evening's programme thanked them for bringing the Award to their schools.

Those who received the Gold Award can now go on to the Papal Cross Award, which asks for 26 hours in each of Parish Involvement and Social Awareness. One young person received the Papal Cross this year.

The schools

St Mary's Secondary School, Mallow; the Patrician Academy, Mallow; Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant; CBS Charleville; St Mary's Secondary School, Charleville; Millstreet Community School; Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Blarney; Nagle Rice, Doneraile; and Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk.

A sports hall filled with families, friends and teachers seated in rows, with blue and silver balloons by the walls.
Families, friends and teachers at the ceremony in Mallow

Bishop William Crean in a black cassock with purple sash and pectoral cross, standing in a sports hall with the Supreme Knight and four other men.
Bishop William Crean with the Supreme Knight and Brothers of the Order

Our thanks

Congratulations to every one of the 109, and to the families and Award Leaders behind them. Our thanks to Mallow Parish Youth Ministry and Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services, who ran the evening and sent on the photographs.

Photographs: Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services.

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