At St. Mary’s, children in Primary 6 and Primary 7 are invited to take part in the Pope Francis Faith Award, run by the Scottish Catholic Education Service. This award encourages young people to grow in faith, explore the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and put these gifts into action in their homes, school, parish, and wider community.

Throughout the programme, pupils are supported to:

• Learn about and reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

• Take part in acts of service, kindness, and leadership.

• Share their faith with others through prayer, action, and example.

• Work in partnership with their teachers, families, and parish community.

Their commitment is recognised at a special ceremony, where they receive the Pope Francis Faith Award pin, celebrating their journey of faith and service.

The award reflects Pope Francis’ encouragement to all young people:

“Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!” – Pope Francis

By taking part, our pupils discover that faith is lived not just in words, but in acts of kindness, compassion, and hope, bringing the joy of the Gospel to those around them.