First-ever prayer & activity book for children in hospital

My Hospital Prayer and Activity Book - the first-ever hospital prayer and activity book for children was launched at a reception in Vaughan House last week in the presence of Archbishop Vincent Nichols. Written by Fr Peter-Michael Scott, Westminster Diocese's Advisor on Healthcare Chaplaincy, who has many years experience working as a hospital chaplain in London, with illustrations by Jane Morgan, the book is a lively mix of stories from the Bible and lives of Saints, games, Sacramental preparation, prayers, games, puzzles and activities.

Archbishop Vincent praised the work of the chaplains, saying: "Your presence makes such a difference to children and their families and staff." Thanking Fr Peter for the book, he said: "I will keep this for the day I have to go into hospital. I suspect it will appeal to the child in all of us."

Fr Peter said he had devised the book as a "religious treat" for children, designed to appeal to all three ages groups. He demonstrated one section which tells the story of Jesus calming the storm, from Mark 4:35-42. After the reading, there is an imagination exercise, a space to draw a picture, and on the next page a more complicated activity that might need help from someone else - instructions on how to make a boat in which the disciples are getting more and more worried while Jesus is asleep. A game follows in which the boat gets struck by lightening - but Jesus wakes up and the boat turns into a life-jacket.

Fr Peter said: "The book has stories to engage a sense of fun, but also the reality that children that children sometimes have to go into hospital. They believe a lot in God because we do."

During the reception Sr Catherine Gilligan, Roman Catholic Chaplain to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital spoke about her work, (see link below) and author Denis McBride read a story about a child who meets Jesus, from his new book: Impressions of Jesus.

For more information on My Hospital Prayer and Activities Book, see: www.rpbooks.co.uk/products/1541/my-hospital-prayer-activities-book

See also: My work as a children's hospital chaplain: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23732