Author(s): Lynne Muir

Religion

The new prayerbook written by the children of Australia and in conjunction with the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart has just been published and will be available across Australia in time for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop.The Mary MacKillop Prayerbook for Children celebrates some of the many admirable qualities of Australia's first saint: her courage, thankfulness, care for others, trust in God, her belief in goodness, ability to forgive, resilience when facing challenge and her welcome for all people. These qualities have provided the inspiration for 80 prayers written by Australian children - the result of a country-wide search by John Garratt Publishing and the Sisters of St Joseph. The final selection includes contributions from every state by children aged 5 to 12 and has resulted in a book which is a treasure in all respects.The prayers are written from the heart, displaying both innocence and wisdom, deep faith and a quirky humour as only children can. The pages are brought to life with original paintings of Australian flora and fauna by award winning artist and calligrapher Lynne Muir.This publication would make a delightful gift for sacramental celebrations, graduation, birthdays or a memento of the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross who is so dear to the hearts of all Australians.