New book explores link between science and faith to champion change for the world’s most vulnerable children

Imagine a conversation between a psychologist and priest that investigates how science and faith can converge in ways that help some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Neil Boothby and Fr. Lou DelFra, C.S.C., have that conversation in their new book, Invest in Our Youth.

Boothby, the founding director of the University of Notre Dame’s Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC), and DelFra, the director of pastoral life for the Alliance for Catholic Education, explore the synergies between early childhood development science and Catholic Social Tradition. Developed for those championing change for children in the most vulnerable parts of our world, the authors present the science and theology behind investing in early childhood development and illustrate how Catholic Social Tradition paints a directive to address the needs of those at the margins of society, while science, in turn, shows us how to do so.

The book highlights themes of human connection and belonging, details the integral roles of parents and caregivers in the lives of children, and challenges the duality of science and theology to unify the two in one common goal: to aid in the lifelong success of vulnerable children through a whole child lens. 

“We do not presume to have all of the answers, and we learn more every day from both the communities we serve and each other,” Boothby said. “However, we hope this book provides a guide for how the Catholic faith and application science can work together to create a lasting impact in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children.”

Invest in our Youth is available in both English and French and can be purchased in e-book and print versions on Amazon.