Ennistymon pupils receive Pope John Paul II awards

NINE fifth-year pupils at Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon, received Pope John Paul II Awards recently.

Galway hurler David Collins presented Sarah Flynn, Aisling Flynn, Eimear McNamara, Alanna Gleeson, Kate Healy, Kelly Hynes, Sinéad O’Brien and Siobháin Nestor with medals, certificates and letters from President Michael D Higgins.

To receive the award, the girls had to take an active part in the life of their church, in the life of their community and society and increase their awareness of the teaching and role of the Catholic Church in the world.

Aisling, Sarah, Eimear, Alanna, Kate, Kelly, Sinéad and Siobháin all took part in 20 hours of parish work and 20 hours of community work in the past year to receive their gold, silver and bronze awards.

The girls had a busy year of fundraising, raising awareness and spending time with people in their own parishes. They read at mass, helped prepare the altar at school, visited Ennistymon Hospital and Daycare Centre and volunteered with local and national charities.

“Within our school community, the students also produced a PowerPoint outlining the Year of Faith 2012-2013, which was launched by Pope Benedict XVI in October. The PowerPoint has been shown in our school to inform our community about the year of faith and to encourage everyone to take part,” explained religion teacher Philomena Hooban, who facilitated the students’ participation in the awards this year.

This is the third year of the awards and Scoil Mhuire has taken part for the last two years.