Dementia Prayer Week 2020
The Pastoral Care Project invites you to join them in the annual Dementia Prayer Week, 12-19 March 2020.
The Week is an initiative from the Pastoral Care Project charity to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the spiritual needs of people living with dementia. It’s also the charity’s annual appeal and a great way to support their vital work.
Everyone is invited to take part in this national event, which is now in its twelfth year. Find resources to get involved and support the annual appeal at: https://www.pastoralcareproject.org.uk/dementia-prayer-week.html.
Project Manager, Frances Molloy, said, “This resourceful event is central to our mission. For some it may be their first awareness of the charity or a first experience of prayer with and for those affected by dementia. It is good to see many more organisations nationally are taking initiatives providing social opportunities leading to greater awareness and understanding. However, there is still much more to do, with regards to responding to spiritual needs.”
Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, David McGough, who is the charity’s lead bishop, offered encouraging and inspiring words. Asking people to use the coming week to pray with and for the person with dementia, he said:
“Let this Prayer Week 12-19 March 2020 become your link to the many families struggling with dementia. Prayer is a very powerful way of connecting with all concerned. Let us pray for, and with, those whose lives have been touched by dementia. In this way we become one with them, and with the Lord.”
Rt. Rev. David McGough, who will be offering his own Mass on 12 March.
Resources for Dementia Prayer Week
The Pastoral Care Project’s website contains a range of resources to help you take part.
Bishop David’s ‘Dementia Family Prayer’ and Archbishop Bernard Longley’s ‘Anointing of the Holy Spirit’ prayer can be found in the Dementia Family Ministry Prayer card. The beautiful prayer card can be used every day in any setting and is sold through Redemptorist Publications.
Frances said, “The Prayer Cards are ideal way to join us, help spread the Word and touch hearts and minds. Perhaps create a Prayer Intentions box as well as opportunities to reflect and join in collective worship. We also provide HeARTs and Minds lesson plans for schools, and online videos.”
The resources also feature two new videos talk about spiritual loneliness and the need for greater support. ‘Dementia – New Creation’ and ‘Our Father’ are video talks by Mgr Paul Watson STL MA (Ed) Birmingham. These may be of great assistance for personal reflection, training or for pastoral visiting teams. Father Paul, as he liked to be known, went to the Lord in October 2018. We remain thankful to him for his teachings.
Dementia is a serious illness and it is hoped this Week of Prayer will inspire greater understanding by looking more deeply at the spiritual life of those affected by it.
Support the Pastoral Care Project
Dementia Prayer Week is also the Pastoral Care Project’s annual appeal. Please consider adopting it as one of your Lent charities. You could hold a collection or organise an event. There are many ideas in the official resource pack, which is free to download. Suggestions include Yellow Day, Bake and Share, and Collective Worship to help Spread the Word, touch hearts and minds and support their vital charitable work.
Frances says, “For those who support each year we thank you for being part of this national event. Please do copy the official logo or the link to our diocesan page www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/Event/dementia-prayer-week-march-2020.
Please send your link or details of your event to us through twitter @dementiaaprayer, by email [email protected].
To support the annual appeal, you can donate via their Total Giving page. Alternatively, you can send a cheque – please make payable to Pastoral Care Project sent to Frances Molloy, Project Manager, Pastoral Care Project, St George’s House, Gerard’s Way Coleshill, Birmingham B46 3FG.
The Pastoral Care Project is a member of the Caritas network in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Find out more about membership.