2016-05-19 12:44:00

Scottish Young People to receive Benedict XVI Caritas Award


(Vatican Radio) More than 1000 young people in Scotland will soon receive the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award 2016 at an awards ceremony in Glasgow.

Listen: 

The award encourages and promotes the ongoing faith journey of young people. Pupils in their final year of secondary school are able to enroll, and members of parish communities can nominate young people in areas where Catholic schools do not exist.

The participants are asked to use their faith learning as a starting point for further faith reflection, which should lead to actions that show their faith witness. They are supported in deciding how best to develop their God-given talents in a way that witnesses to God’s love.

While many of the participants in the past have been active members of their schools, parishes and dioceses before enrolling, many more have responded to God’s call to ‘love thy neighbor’ precisely because they have signed up for the scheme. Michael McGrath is the Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES). He spoke to Vatican Radio about the idea behind the award scheme. He explained that many of the materials provided by SCES use Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s encyclical, Deus caritas est, as a central point for learning and reflection. However, participants are required to explore aspects of Scripture and Church teaching as well.

The award scheme was launched in 2011, as part of a legacy of Pope Benedict XVI’s UK visit in September 2010. It intends to support and celebrate the faith witness of young people within their communities around Scotland.  In the five years since it was launched, 5000 young people have received the award. Mr McGrath spoke about what the future holds for many of these recipients.  Many participants have come to understand that “they can – and need to be – parts of the Church in an ongoing way.”

Promoted by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES), which was established by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, the BXVI Caritas Award is available to secondary school pupils around the country.

Following the success of the award scheme, the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland also launched the Pope Francis Faith Award, which is open to all pupils in their final years of primary school. Participants are encouraged to learn more about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and to apply these gifts in their daily lives by showing “signs of love” in their homes, schools and parishes, as encouraged by Pope Francis. More than 2000 primary school children will receive the award this year.

The 2016 awards ceremony will take place in the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow on Monday 6th June.








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.