Everyday prayers written by and for educators, plus a few penned by current and former Catholic school students, are complied in a new book edited by Jesuit Father Michael Caruso, assistant professor of education at Loyola Marymount University.

"Stay With Us, Lord: Prayers and Reflections for Educators" opens with words of wisdom from St. John Baptist de La Salle and closes with a "Prayer at the Death of a Pet" from retired Kansas City Catholic educator Carol Lynn. In-between are prayers written by clergy, religious and lay people for challenges encountered in the classroom and beyond.

Local contributors to the 112-page book include six first-year teacher-graduates of LMU's Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education (PLACE CORPS) as well as ten other educators, Catholic school alumni and a well-known celebrity --- George Wendt who played "Norm" on the long-running TV show, "Cheers."

"This book is fabulous," said contributor Kristen Croley, 23. A second grade teacher at St. Columbkille School in Los Angeles, she has already used prayers from the book at faculty meetings. "I love how it addresses different groups and situations like troubled families and the death of a pet. It's definitely a resource that I'll keep for a long time," said Croley."

"All of these prayers touch something important in life," said Father Caruso. Though soliciting prayers from people in the teaching trenches rather than writing them all himself extended the book's production by a couple of years, Father Caruso feels the spiral-bound collection of prayers was worth the effort.

"I'm glad I waited. It's a much better book," said Father Caruso, who serves as director of LMU's Catholic school administration program.

One of the more poignant sections of the book, according to early reader reaction since the book was published last December, is the third chapter offering "Prayers at the Mystery of Death." Prayers are included for those who have experienced a miscarriage, the death of a parent, or the death of a child through violence, among others.

"I wanted to try to break open the topic for people to talk about," said Father Caruso. "It's really a beautiful part of Catholic education to think about the meaning of life."

Catholic schoolchildren attending parish schools are familiar with funerals, since they see them conducted at churches during the week, noted the Jesuit. Students serving as altar servers, lectors, ushers or choir members for funerals are acting as "ministers of consolation" even though they might not realize it, explained Father Caruso.

Other popular prayer entries include a prayer by Father Caruso's great nephew, Dylan John Lewis, author of "A Prayer for My School," and "When You Thought I Wasn't Looking," by Page Zyromski, a catechist and contributing editor for Catechist magazine.

Father Caruso will be discussing prayers from the book at the spring conference of the National Catholic Educational Association, the book's publisher. Ordering information is available at www.ncea.org/departments/elementary/carusobook.pdf. The book is priced at $18 for NCEA members; $27 non-members.