“Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life.” –
Pope Francis
From Novalis: “Novalis are dedicated to the support of teachers and parents. Thank you for your dedicated service to the vital task of educating our children. Without you, all those faith formation and religious education programs would never be at the level of quality they are. Because of you, many children and their parents are led to deeper faith. Please enjoy this selection of great resources for teachers and parents:“
Ted Laxton, A Catholic Teacher’s Guide to Answering Questions about Science and Faith
This book is intended for teachers of science who desire to remain faithful to the canons of both science and religion, while responding to the theological questions that emerge from students’ innate desire to form an integrated worldview. Truly a Catholic science teacher’s companion, chapters follow a similar structure of ‘Questions’; ‘Quotes’; ‘Teacher’s Notes’ and ‘For the Teacher’s Further Contemplation’ when discussing questions of how both scientists and religious followers ‘know’ the world about us, quantum physics, cosmology, and evolution
The Bible should come with a warning label on the cover – Caution: Misreading this text can cause confusion, intolerance, ignorance, and even violence. If we are to avoid this danger, there are a number of ways we should NOT read the Bible. Acclaimed biblical scholar Scott Lewis, SJ wants to help Christians approach the Bible with (renewed) confidence so they can explore for themselves the richness of Scripture and grow in faith. Too often, the Old and New Testament are interpreted literally or taken out of context. Lewis guides us on ways to read the Bible in a world where overly simplified and glib answers and approaches abound. At the same time, he helps us see why reading the Bible is more important than ever.
Praying as a Family is a book of prayers for various times: from waking up in the morning to feeling angry or sad, sharing meals together, and much more. When you pray as a family, you and your children will find that prayer becomes a key moment in your daily lives. In this book you will find step-by-step guidance for prayer times , activity ideas, insights to help parents grow in faith , age-appropriate illustrations.
From alphabets of courtesy to gratitude trees, here are hundreds of activities, conversation starters, and suggested Scripture passages that encourage caring. Organized by 25 virtues—compassion, empathy, justice, and more—this essential resource also includes brief reflections and prayers for each virtue. The ideas and approaches can be used at home, in classrooms, or in small or large groups to help children of all ages grow into the compassionate and caring people God created them to be.
Do you struggle to know when or if it’s appropriate to step in to help a teen who seems stressed, anxious, or depressed? Do you know the signs to look for to determine whether a teen is in distress? In Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Roy Petitfils—a Catholic author, speaker, and psychotherapist—offers his personal experience, advice, and faith to give parents, pastors, and youth leaders the knowledge, courage, and tools they need to step in, make a difference, and be the presence of Christ for teens in crisis. Roy Petitfils knows what it’s like to be an addicted, depressed teenager, filled with self-loathing and desperate for help. He describes himself at high school graduation as by far the largest person in his hometown and yet feeling as though he were “stuck in Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak.” Weighing more than 500 pounds, he was addicted to food and hated himself. Now a leading Catholic voice in youth advocacy and creator of the popular podcast Today’s Teenager, Petitfils entered adulthood a very different person than he is today. His life was radically changed by a handful of people in college who reached out in friendship and helped him set a new course. Using personal life lessons and expertise gleaned from more than twenty-five years in youth ministry and private practice as a licensed counselor, Petitfils teaches parents, pastors, and youth leaders what they need to know about mental health issues among America’s youth. Whether teens need help coping with healthy levels of stress or face persistent, more serious problems with anxiety and depression, Petitfils will help the adults in their lives get comfortable with stepping in. Petitfils offers information and advice on: the major causes of stress and anxiety in teens today differentiating healthy stress from toxic stress simple steps to take after identifying a hurting kid, beginning with how to assess whether and how to step in the art of listening He explores the support and comfort available through the sacraments, Catholic devotions, different forms of prayer, and reading the Bible. Ultimately, Petitfils identifies how to gently, yet persuasively guide hurting young people to deeper trust in the tender mercies of God.
Browse Novalis’ collection of school resources for the elementary and secondary levels. You can obtain these books and the books listed above at novalis.ca
As well, enjoy our free resources: Tools for Schools, downloadable activities you can do with students and families.