Get your pens, pencils, and festive imaginations ready – our Christmas Card Competition 2025 is now open!

We’re inviting young artists aged 5 to 18 across the Diocese of Clogher to design a Christmas card - the winner in each age category will have their design printed for a series of Clogher don Óige Christmas Cards that will be available to purchase for Christmas 2026!

The theme this year is “The Baby of Bethlehem”, and we can’t wait to see how you capture the true meaning of the season in your artwork. Wrapped in a manger, surrounded by animals, with the star shining bright above in the sky – we want to see your creativity in depicting the birth of Jesus, that we celebrate at Christmas.

The lucky winner in each category will each receive a prize – and of course, will see their design featured on our official cards in 2026.

Who can enter?
​We have three age categories this year:

• 5-9 years old
• 10-13 years old
• 14-18 years old

Important dates

• Competition opens: Sunday 30th November 2025 - 1st Sunday of Advent
• Final day for entries: Wednesday 17th December 2025
• Winners announced: Monday 22nd December 2025 on our social media channels

The prize
Each category winner will receive a prize and have their design featured on the official Clogher don Óige Christmas cards that will be available for Christmas 2026. Proceeds from the sale of Christmas Cards will support the work of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Clogher.

How to create your card

• Entries must be hand-drawn
• Designs should fit on A4 paper (portrait or landscape)

How to enter
Entries can be submitted by email or post:
By email:
Send a clear scan/photo of the drawing to
[email protected]
Subject line: Christmas Card Competition
By post: (to either)
Clogher don Óige
Diocesan Office
Bishop's House
Dublin Road
Monaghan
H18 PN35

Clogher don Óige
Ros Erne House
8 Darling Street
Enniskillen
BT74 7EW

Don’t forget!
Please include the following details with your entry:

• Full name of entrant 

• Date of birth 

• Category entered (Age 5–9, Age 10–13, Age 14-18)

• Home address (including postcode) 
• Your Parish
• Your School

• Parent contact phone number 

• Parent email address 

• Name of parent/guardian giving permission 

By entering, you’re confirming that parental or guardian consent has been given.

Proceeds from the sale of Christmas Cards will support the work of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Clogher.

Earlier this month, 90 members of the Clogher don Óige community embarked on a profound pilgrimage to Lourdes, a place renowned for its deep spiritual significance and miraculous healing. Nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees, Lourdes is where the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, offering messages of hope, faith, and conversion.

Our pilgrims, young in age but rich in spirit, ventured to Lourdes with hearts open to the transformative encounters that awaited them. Each step of the journey was woven with prayer, reflection, and a profound sense of solidarity, as they joined together in the universal Church's mission of faith.

many of the young pilgrims commented that one of the most moving experiences was the candlelight procession, where the glow of thousands of candles lit up the night sky, symbolising the light of Christ shining in the hearts of His people. In these moments, our pilgrims united their prayers with those of countless faithful from around the world, offering their petitions and thanksgiving to Our Lady of Lourdes.

As they return home, the pilgrims carry with them strengthened faith, lasting friendships, and a renewed commitment to live out the Gospel values in their everyday lives. Lourdes reminds us of the power of faith and the community that nurtures it, inspiring us all to continue our journey with trust in God's providential care.

We invite you to explore the photographs and share in the beauty of this pilgrimage experience.

Are you involved, or keen to become involved in Church Music in your Parish, School, University etc.? 

In the prayerful setting of Lough Derg, this day will provide space for the power of music to nourish our spirit and allow us to give praise to God through the beauty of sound, song, and silence. There will be various inputs as well as time to pray, connect with others and explore this Sacred place. The day will conclude with the Celebration of the Eucharist at 5pm (open to the public).
​
This day is open to young people aged 18-35 and is free to attend (supported by the Knights of St Columbanus). 

Registration is essential via https://bit.ly/SingforJoy
For further information please contact [email protected]
 +447759496677

The Life and Mission of Saint John Bosco

Born on August 16, 1815, in Italy, John Bosco faced numerous challenges in his early life, including the death of his father when he was just two years old. Despite these hardships, Don Bosco nurtured a deep faith and believed in the potential of every young person he encountered. After his ordination as a priest in 1841, he devoted himself to the education and spiritual guidance of the impoverished youth of Turin.

Don Bosco established a unique educational approach that combined reason, religion, and loving-kindness—a method still influential in Catholic education today. His founding of schools, workshops, and oratories provided safe havens for at-risk youth, fostering both academic and spiritual growth.

Themes of Saint John Bosco’s Legacy

1. Empowerment through Education: Don Bosco believed in the power of education to transform lives. He saw learning as a pathway to freedom and self-fulfillment. As young people today, we are called to seek knowledge and use it to uplift ourselves and our communities.

2. Community and Belonging: Central to Don Bosco’s mission was creating a sense of belonging. He fostered community among young people. Let us build inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcomed and valued, just as he did.

3. Joy in Service: Don Bosco’s motto was “Give me souls, take away the rest.” He found joy in serving others. We can honour his legacy by engaging in acts of service, helping those in need, and spreading joy through our actions.

As we celebrate the feast of Saint John Bosco, let us take inspiration from his unwavering dedication to youth and education. His legacy calls us to be compassionate leaders and advocates for those around us. May we remember his example as we strive to embody faith, service, and joy in our own lives, making a positive impact in our communities. Happy Feast Day to all – let us honor Saint John Bosco through our actions and by living out his mission every day!

World Youth Sunday, marked by the Catholic Church on the Feast of Christ the King, serves as a celebration of faith, unity, and the active participation of young people in the Church's mission. This event emphasises the role of youth as integral members of the Catholic community, inspiring them to embody the values of Christ's kingdom—justice, peace, and love. Celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, World Youth Sunday on the Feast of Christ the King invites young Catholics to engage more deeply with their faith and to reflect on Christ's sovereignty not only in religious life but also in society. 

It is an opportunity to thank our young people for their presence and the energy they bring to our parish communities, but also a chance to ask ourselves ‘Is there more that our parish can do to make young people feel welcomed and valued members of the Church?’

During a Mass over the weekend of Christ the King we ask parishes that run the Pope John Paul II Award to re-present medals and certificates to the young people who volunteered in the parish over the last 12 months, also to commission the new JPII participants for the year ahead.

Please find below a resource for this Mass: including an introduction; short commissioning service and prayers of the faithful.

The Diocese of Clogher proudly hosted the Pope John Paul II Award ceremony at Saint Joseph’s Church in Monaghan on Friday, November 8, 2024. The event honours young people who have made significant contributions to their parishes and communities through service, leadership, and faith.
​
The ceremony was attended by over 300 guests, including award recipients, their families, clergy, and local dignitaries. The event celebrated the achievements of 90 young people from across the diocese who demonstrated commitment to Christian values and community engagement.

Photos from the Diocese of Clogher Lourdes Pilgrimage
​5th -10th(11th!) July 2024

The Youth Ministry team at Knock Shrine, are recruiting for young people to join their summer volunteer programme. It's a great opportunity to spend some time in this wonderful and holy place, meet new people, make new friends and offer some of your holiday time for the benefit of others!
*The VAKS programme can count towards your Pope John Paul II Award*

2024 Volunteering Weekends
July 5th – 7th               
July 12th – 14th
July 19th – 21st
July 26th – 28th
August 9th – 11th
August 13th – 15th (over 18’s – past VAKS only)
August 20th – 22nd
​
More information at: https://www.knockshrine.ie/vaks-volunteer-at-knock-shrine/