The Diocese of Wrexham’s Marriage and Family Life Commission has collaborated in the development of a new resource which offers families and carers simple ways to sustain the spiritual lives of their loved ones through the creation of a personal spiritual memory box.

In 2014 the Commission was approached by Occupational Therapist, Clare Steele, who suggested developing a resource to facilitate spiritual reminiscence, an area sometimes neglected in older people particularly those living with dementia. With the support of Bishop Peter Brignall and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Penmaenmawr, Margaret Hinton, the Diocese’s Marriage and Family Life Coordinator, spent 18 months working with Clare to develop and trial the Spiritual Reminiscence Box resource. The resource offers advice and practical suggestions for engaging an individual in their spiritual life and uses a multi-sensory approach to maximise the opportunity for triggering memory and improving cognitive function.

The pack contains a series of cards with ideas and prompts to help stimulate each of the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) and a CD of popular hymns (including Abide With Me, All Things Bright And Beautiful & Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind) which were recorded in the Diocese by the parishioners of Our Lady of The Rosary Parish, Buckley.

With the support of FAMILIAS, the Marriage and Family Life Commission are now able to offer the resource more widely and it is available to buy from the Diocese of Wrexham for £10+P&P. Please click on the following link to Visit the Spiritual Reminiscence Box Webpage or download the order form below.

Download the Resource Order Form

Completed forms can be sent by post to: SPIRITUAL REMINISCENCE BOX, Diocese of Wrexham, Bishops House, Sontley Road, Wrexham. LL13 7EW, or emailed to [email protected]

Dementia Prayer Week takes place from 12th-19th March 2016 and is an initiative of the Pastoral Care Project.