Product Description

The Light of His Face: Spirituality for Teachers is an invaluable book for teachers and those entering the profession. The first part of the book offers a series of reflections on the ways in which the vocation of teaching has clear spiritual overtones. In it, passages from scripture are considered from a classroom perspective in the hope that teachers might find they have much in common with the experiences of Jesus and his disciples. In the second part of the book, a practical tool-kit of materials is offered to assist students and teachers in developing their own faith formation programme.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #447290 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 190 pages

Review
Catholic teachers working in Catholic education today face significant challenges. There is the demand to deliver high quality teaching and lead the children in the search for truth. Fr Bollan leads the reader to the deep insights of the Christian faith and the Catholic tradition. He uses scripture passages and the liturgy to develop awareness in the reader of their vocation as teacher and leader of children into the mysteries of love and life. He does this in clear, simple language that communicates his own enthusiasm for the task. Part II is a tool-kit of resources to be used throughout the school year to help the teacher and their students develop a sense of who they are as growing Christians and leaders. he has two lovely chapters on the Rosary. The book is a tonic. --Review appeared in Catholic Ireland.net 2007

Bollan is director of spiritual and pastoral formation at the Religious Education Department of the University of Glasgow. This book is intended as a Catholic inspired guide for teachers. It is not meant to be a book of religious instruction or for teachers of religion but rather seeks to provide inspiration and guidance to those involved in teaching, whatever their subject. Topics covered include the rosary, the sacraments and monthly reflections. --Review appeared in Books Ireland, April 2007

In a passage in his new book John Bollan writes 'It is a good thing, even if it is also a difficult thing, to speak words such as vocation and love in an educational context with conviction and sincerity.' The book itself shows just such qualities. The author is convinced that Christian/Catholic education should spring from the Word of God. He would like all teachers (and I would include parents) to have the courage to look for God's fingerprints even in the brief, random encounters of everyday life. True discipleship comes at a cost and today it can seem to be more politically correct to keep one's faith to oneself, to brush God under the carpet because of the attitudes of scorn and dismissal religion can evoke in some people, including some nominally Christian teachers. John Bollan recognises the situation as it is. But he argues that communicating Christi is part of the basic calling of the Catholic teacher. It can be done within the context of the teacher s caring way of being and the apt use of Gospel stories and teachings. The other gives rich suggestions for such teaching with exactly the same spontaneous enthusiasm with which he hopes to inspire his reader. At the heart of what we do is our ability to connect with others he writes and goes on to illustrate how such connecting is best achieved. The teacher's vocation is like that of the disciples who followed the Rabbi not knowing what they were facing. One is aware that the wisdom of this author could, and does, go on and on beyond the covers of one book. He is brimful of suggestions and reflections taking to heart the often unmet needs of children and encouraging (giving heart to) those who teach them (including parents). He comes across as utterly convinced when he writes 'Catholic Education is a spiritual process which is life-affirming and value-based, no matter what subject is being taught.' I hope many will benefit from this very accessible book as I have done. --Review appeared in the Irish Catholic, May 2007

About the Author
John Bollan is Director of Spiritual and Pastoral Formation in the Religious Education Department at the University of Glasgow.

Customer Reviews

Reflecting the Light of Jesus
In this relatively short book Jhn Bollan has addressed maters which are of concern and interest to all those who work, or who intend to work, within a Catholic (Christian) school. A key fact is that the whole content of the book issecurely grounded in Scripture. In the first section John gets to the core of what it means to be a teacher in this context, both on the personal level and as one person who is art of a community. In the second section he provides an 'example' programme,a possible route to be built upon; along with some useful resources to assist those for whom such an approach is new or being re-visited. In total he provides an answer to the question, 'What can bring us happiness?'