Advent is a season of waiting, but it is also a season of awareness through caring. At the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB), we believe faith, mental health and well-being are deeply connected. Both call us to slow down, listen, and care for one another with kindness and hope. The process of our November Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa (CEFO) campaign exemplifies our care for others within our OCSB community.
This December, our focus is on one question:
How Can I Let My Faith Guide The Way I Speak, Act, And Care For Others This Advent Season?
Mental Health professionals remind us that faith comes alive in small moments of connection. The way we speak to our children, the patience we show others, and the care we give to ourselves all reflect our faith in action.
Speak With Hope
Our words matter. They can encourage, comfort, and strengthen relationships.
When we speak with kindness and compassion, we create safety and trust.
Faith reminds us that our words should build people up, not break them down.
When children hear caring words, they learn to express their feelings safely. Saying “I understand,” “I hear you,” or “I care about how you feel” shows empathy and helps them feel valued.
Try This:
- Ask, “How are you, really?” and take time to really listen.
- Begin or end the day with a moment of gratitude or prayer.
- Use words that validate feelings and create calm.
Speaking with hope helps children see that caring for one another begins with how we communicate.
Act With Care
The Advent season is filled with joy, excitement, and at times, stress. Schedules can get busy, and emotions can run high. Acting with care means finding balance and creating gentle structure at home and school.
Faith invites us to show care through steady, loving actions. It might mean slowing down, keeping routines simple, or sharing quiet moments together. These actions protect our mental health and help everyone feel more grounded.
Try This:
- Begin or end the day with a short Advent reflection or prayer.
- Keep expectations realistic and celebrate small victories.
- Add a simple ritual, like lighting a candle or sharing what you are thankful for.
Acting with care reminds children that love is steady, not rushed.
Care With Presence
To care with presence means showing up fully. It is about being available, listening deeply, and offering calm. Real care is not about fixing every problem. It is about walking beside someone when life feels heavy.
Faith guides us to offer patience and understanding. It teaches us that our presence can be the greatest gift of all.
Try This:
- Sit quietly with someone who is struggling. Your calm presence can bring comfort.
- Ask, “What would help right now?” and listen to the answer.
- Share what helps you relax or recharge, so children learn that coping is part of life.
Caring with presence allows others to feel seen and supported, strengthening both faith and well-being.
Faith And Mental Health
Faith and mental health share the same foundation: connection. When children and families feel supported, they are more resilient and hopeful.
Every OCSB school has access to trained mental health professionals who work with educators and families to support prevention, early intervention, and well-being. If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, reach out to your school Principal. You are not alone.
An Advent Invitation
This Advent, try one small act each week to let your faith guide your care:
- Speak words that bring comfort and hope.
- Create moments of calm and gratitude.
- Offer kindness to someone who needs it.
- Care for yourself as thoughtfully as you care for others.
Small acts of faith-filled care can make a lasting difference in our homes, schools, and hearts.
Community Resources
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or kidshelpphone.ca
- YSB Crisis Line: 613-260-2360 or chat.ysb.ca
- Distress Centre of Ottawa: 613-238-3311 or at dcottawa.on.ca
- Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 or hopeforwellness.ca
- 1Call1Click: Access to child and youth mental health supports at 1Call1Click.ca
- Counselling Connect: Free phone or video sessions for children, youth, and families at walincounselling.com
- Ottawa Public Health: Information on mental and family health at ottawapublichealth.ca
The OCSB Way
Advent is a season of preparation and reflection. In our homes and schools, we prepare room for one another by speaking, acting, and caring.
When faith guides our words and actions, we nurture hope, strengthen our mental health, and bring kindness to life.
That is faith in action.
That is the OCSB way.
