AUCKLAND Outstanding work for young people has been recognised with awards to three people from Wellington, Gore and Auckland. Kitty McKinley from Wellington, Susie Jorgensen from Gore and Br John Paul Wilson from Auckland have each received a Delargey Award.
The Delargey Awards the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award Scheme is sponsored by the National Council for Young Catholics. The awards are named in honour of the late Cardinal Reginald Delargey and are given every second year for outstanding service to young people.
Ms McKinley received her award in the category of justice and service, Mrs Jorgensen for pastoral service, and Br John Paul for evangelisation.
In Ms McKinleys case, award nominations came from five people, who all wrote letters of support.
Ms McKinley has been in Catholic youth ministry for 38 years. Her nominators said she stands with the poor and oppressed, empowers young people to put their tragic past behind them, and provides food, clothes, homes, education, and opportunities to participate to people of all ages.
Ms McKinley began her ministry as a volunteer with Catholic Social Services. Then, at the Cathedral Parish Youth House, she gave young people safety, guidance, fun and companionship.
She was a social worker for Catholic Social Services and was also connected to the work scheme programme for young men released from prison. Since then the crowning contribution has been the founding and ongoing development of Challenge 2000, a professional, innovative, passionate youth development, community and family work agency.
Mrs Jorgensen, in six years in Gore parish, organised and led weekly youth evenings, talks, games, devotions, fortnightly vigil parish youth Masses, weekly music practices and five Antioch camps.
She also supported many young people by opening her home and family to them and dealing with youth issues one on one.
Over the six years, her family grew from one child to five, and she had the support and encouragement of her husband, Neil.
Br John Paul was a teacher, then a principal, in Marist Brothers schools.
Later he was a key person in setting up the Marist Retreat Team. He worked with the team for 10 years, forming young leaders in faith and leadership skills, as well as helping Catholic school students learn about Gods love for them.
After 10 years he retired from the team. For the past 18 years he has been involved in leadership development through the Marist Remar movement a programme for young people.
