Diocesan News08 Feb 12

Cardinal Visits St Columb’s Cathedral During Visit to Celebrate Youth Volunteering

Cardinal Cormac Murphy, the retired archbishop of Westminster, yesterday visited St Columb’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Derry/Londonderry. The Cardinal is visiting the city to present special awards to over 300 young people who volunteered by participating in the Pope John–Paul II Award scheme. The Cardinal was welcomed to the Cathedral by the Dean, Very Rev Dr William Morton and Bishop Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe.

The Pope John Paul II Award is designed to encourage 16 to 18 year olds to become involved in the life of the local community as an expression of their faith. Those young people who have taken part in the project have taken part in a wide variety of volunteering and acts of service in their community. It encourages young people to find “fulfilment that comes from serving others, especially those in great need” The Pope John Paul II Award is dedicated to the memory of the late Pope John Paul II. The Award was launched and was launched by the Papal Nuncioin 2006 in the Diocese of Derry, Ireland

In welcoming the Cardinal to the Cathedral Dean Morton said “I am very pleased to welcome Cardinal Murphy O’Connor to our beautiful and historic Cathedral. This Cathedral has played a key part in the life of this city over centuries and continues to do so. Visits such as today’s symbolize the peace and growing good relationships in our community”.

Bishop Ken Good spoke of the strategy of his own diocese, Transforming Community Radiating Christ, in which every parish is encouraged to take initiatives that serve need in their local community. He said “I warmly welcome the Cardinal to our city. I am particularly delighted that he is here to recognize the volunteering of so many young people” He continued “There is a growing appetite amongst churches across our community to find ways to serve need.” Bishop Good recently spoke at Be the Change You Want, a widely attended event to encourage volunteering in the local community.

Cardinal Murphy O’Connor has a link with Derry/Londonderry in that he and Bishop Edward Daly were in the same year whilst training in Rome.