The Archdiocese of Liverpool is delighted to announce George McGowan, a Year 3 pupil from St Austin’s Catholic Primary School in Garston as the winner of the Jack Traynor prayer card competition.
The competition was launched earlier this year to honour the legacy of Jack Traynor, a Liverpool man whose healing at Lourdes in 1923 was officially recognised as the 71st miracle of Lourdes in December 2024. Jack’s story remains a source of great inspiration for the archdiocese, and the competition invited primary school children to reflect on his life and faith through artwork and prayer.
Over 200 entries were received from primary schools across the archdiocese, each telling the remarkable story of Jack Traynor in a creative and prayerful way. The difficult task of choosing the winning design was given to Archbishop John Sherrington, who was installed as the tenth Archbishop of Liverpool in May.
In a special message to the children, Archbishop Sherrington said: “It was a very hard choice as we received so many wonderful pieces of art showing the story of Jack Traynor. I chose George’s entry because we can see Our Lady, who through Jesus asked for him to be healed; the cross that Jack carried throughout his sickness for so many years, and the healing waters of Lourdes. Then we see him well, pushing his own wheelchair, and all the colours celebrating the life he now had, healed from his sickness.”
The Archbishop added that he hoped George’s prayer card would help others pray to Our Lady, “because she’s our mother – and as our mother, we can always ask her for help.”
In an amazing coincidence, it was later discovered that Jack Traynor’s own grandchildren once attended St Austin’s, making this year’s winner all the more meaningful.
Officers from the archdiocese central office visited St Austin’s for a special school assembly, where they presented George with a voucher, and a donation to a charity of his choice, as well as giving every pupil one of George’s winning prayer cards. George picked Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as his chosen charity, further reflecting the spirit of compassion inspired by Jack Traynor’s story.
Colette Hickey, Headteacher of St Austin’s Catholic Primary School, said: “We are incredibly proud of George and thrilled that his artwork has been chosen. Our children really engaged with Jack Traynor’s story and reflected deeply on its meaning. It’s wonderful for our school community to be part of this celebration and we’re all very proud of George’s beautiful design.”
Archbishop John will be leading the 102nd Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in July, where Jack Traynor’s story continues to be told and honoured. He encouraged the children:
“I hope one day you will go to Lourdes, you will work with the sick, you’ll love the sick, and perhaps Our Lady will call you into whatever your vocation will be.”
Congratulations once again to George, and thank you to every school and pupil who took part in this very special competition.
