* POIGNANT: Pope John Paul II in Dublin in 1979
A MAss of Celebration to mark the canonisations of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be especially poignant for Derry men Eugene Dunn and Richard Moore.
Both were privileged to take part in the famous Youth Mass at Ballybrit Race Course in Galway during John Paul II's visit to Ireland in 1979. The two men will be among those taking part in the Mass in st Eugene's Cathedral in Derry next sunday April 27.
On the same day, Pope Francis is due to declare his predecessors John Paul II and John XXIII as saints. "It was a huge privilege and honour to be chosen to represent the youth of Ireland at that Mass," Mr Dunn says. "There was something very special about Pope John Paul II, I felt even then he was saintly. "He had a profound impact on me and everyone present and that impact continued throughout his papacy, when you look at his example around forgiveness and choosing to meet the man who shot him you see what kind of man he was. "For me he was a Pope for all people and I think it is brilliant he will be canonised a saint." Mr Moore went on to found the international charity Children in Crossfire. "I was 18 years old when I went to Galway," he says. "It was amazing to be part of the group from the Derry Diocese, but to be chosen as a victim of the Troubles - as a person with a disability and as a young person - to actually go up meet Pope John Paul II was just unbelievable. "I remember walking up to the top of the altar, hearing the cheer from the Derry crowd in the distance and Pope John Paul II giving me a hug. "The stillness of that moment was surreal and that experience has sustained me throughout my life."
Mr Dunn and Mr Moore presented gifts to Pope John Paul II at that Galway Youth Mass and they will be gift bearers once more at next week's diocesan Mass.
A key link between the former Pope and the diocese is the Pope John Paul II youth awards, which originated in Derry in 2006.
To date more than 10,000 young people - including 2,000 from the Derry diocese - have got involved in their local parish and the Church as a result of this faith-based award.
Young people taking part in the Pope John Paul II Award from the 51 parishes in the Derry diocese will play a significant part in the ceremony next sunday.
* A Mass of Celebration to mark the canonisations of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be said in St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry at 3pm on sunday April 27.
For more information, contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 028 7126 4087 or by emailing ddcc@derrydiocese.org