Novalis
Novalis is a Canadian Catholic publishing and e-commerce retailer, operating as a division of Bayard Canada. It sells books, eBooks, liturgical and theological magazine subscriptions, faith formation curricula, and religious items through bilingual Shopify storefronts to individual Catholics, parishes, and Catholic schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Novalis does
Novalis is a Canadian Catholic publishing and e-commerce retailer operating as a division of Bayard Canada, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The company distributes books, eBooks, liturgical and theological magazine subscriptions, faith formation curricula, and physical religious items (candles, vestments, jewellery, sacramental gifts) through bilingual (English and French) Shopify storefronts at en.novalis.ca and fr.novalis.ca. Its catalog spans over 4,000 titles developed or curated over more than a century of operation, with the Bertrand Foucher Bélanger sub-brand handling physical devotional goods and church supplies since 1910.
The business is organized around four primary revenue streams: one-time book and merchandise sales, recurring subscriptions (Living with Christ from $44.95 CAD/year, Living with Christ Plus from $49.95 CAD/year, Critical Theology), digital products (eBooks, newsletters, webinars), and ancillary services (manuscript evaluation, pilgrimages, parish and school programs). Pricing is in Canadian dollars. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the e-commerce storefront, with email newsletters, social media (Facebook, YouTube), and seasonal catalogs supporting top-of-funnel activity. Customer segments are split between individual Catholic consumers, Catholic parishes, and Catholic schools (K-8), with faith formation programs such as Finding God and On Our Way with Jesus serving the institutional market.
The company has no disclosed proprietary technology platform, no mobile app, no public API, and no AI/ML capability layer. It is a private subsidiary of Bayard Canada, which is itself part of a broader Bayard media group that includes Bayard Canada Livres and Owlkids Books.
Novalis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Novalis
- Legal name
- Novalis Publishing (operating as Bayard Canada)
- Website
- https://en.novalis.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Novalis is a Canadian Catholic publishing and e-commerce retailer, operating as a division of Bayard Canada. It sells books, eBooks, liturgical and theological magazine subscriptions, faith formation curricula, and religious items through bilingual Shopify storefronts to individual Catholics, parishes, and Catholic schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Novalis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals) (MPAJAHAE), Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides) (MPAJAHAB), Spiritual, Metaphysical & Inspirational Gifts Retail (CRALAJAJ), Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA)
Keywords
Where Novalis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Novalis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales: One-time sales of physical books, eBooks, and religious items through the e-commerce storefront. Includes both Novalis-published titles and distributed titles from partner publishers.
- Subscriptions: Recurring subscription products including Living with Christ (liturgical magazine companion), Living with Christ Plus, and Critical Theology. Offered at annual billing cadence with automatic renewal options.
- Digital Products: eBook sales through digital collection, online newsletters, and webinars accessible to customers.
- Services: Manuscript evaluation services, pilgrimages, and parish/school-specific offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Living with Christ subscription - Canada's companion to praying and living the Eucharist |
| Subscription | Annual | Living with Christ Plus subscription - enhanced version with additional content |
| Subscription | Annual | Critical Theology subscription - academic theological publication |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual book sales - various titles across categories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | eBooks - digital format versions of select titles |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Novalis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Novalis is a Canadian Catholic publishing house and religious goods retailer that creates, curates, and sells Catholic books, magazine subscriptions, faith formation and sacramental preparation programs, eBooks, and physical religious items (candles, rosaries, vestments, church furnishings) under its own brand and the Bertrand Foucher Bélanger brand. The company operates a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront serving individual Catholics, parishes, and Catholic schools across Canada.
Product overview
Novalis is a Catholic publishing and retail company offering a diverse portfolio of religious products and services. The core offerings include physical and digital books across multiple categories (Bibles, theology, spirituality, biographies, children's books), magazine subscriptions (Living with Christ, Living with Christ Plus, Critical Theology), and religious items under the Bertrand Foucher Bélanger brand (candles, crosses, jewellery, rosaries, statues, vestments, church furnishings). Educational programs include the Finding God faith formation program for K-8 students and On Our Way with Jesus sacramental preparation. Digital services encompass eBooks, newsletters, and webinars. The company serves parishes, schools, and individuals seeking Catholic resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bertrand Foucher Bélanger: Brand specializing in religious items, candles, jewellery, rosaries, crosses, vestments, church furniture, and gifts for sacraments including baptism, first communion, confirmation, reconciliation, wedding, and anointing of the sick
Products and services
- Living with Christ Monthly spiritual and liturgical magazine subscription positioned as Canada's companion to praying and living the Eucharist, distributed annually to individual subscribers and parishes.
- Living with Christ Plus Enhanced annual subscription tier of Living with Christ offering additional content and features for subscribers seeking deeper liturgical engagement.
- Critical Theology Annual subscription to a theological magazine providing academic and scholarly perspectives on Catholic theology, aimed at clergy, scholars, and informed lay readers.
- Finding God K-8 faith formation program rooted in Scripture, Catholic doctrine, and Catholic social teaching, marketed as Canada's most popular Christian initiation program and found in conformity with the Catechism; sold to Catholic schools for classroom religious education.
- On Our Way with Jesus Sacramental preparation program branded as Canada's most popular Christian initiation program, designed for parishes to prepare children and families for sacraments including baptism, first communion, and reconciliation.
- Catholic and Christian Books Extensive catalog of physical Catholic and Christian books spanning Bibles, biographies and saints, children's books, faith formation, grief and healing, liturgy, ministry resources, personal growth, Pope, religion and society, sacramental resources and RCIA, spirituality, and theology and philosophy; includes both Novalis-published titles and titles distributed from partner publishers.
- eBooks Digital versions of select Catholic and Christian titles covering theology, spirituality, prayer, and religious education, sold as standalone units for electronic reading.
- Bertrand Foucher Bélanger Religious Items Canadian-made line of religious items including candles, crosses, jewelry, rosaries, statues, vestments, communion items, church furnishings, and gifts for sacraments (baptism, communion, confirmation, wedding, reconciliation, anointing of the sick); sold to individuals, parishes, and churches.
- Manuscript Evaluation Professional editorial assessment and evaluation service for manuscript submissions of religious and spiritual content, offered to prospective authors seeking publication with Novalis.
- Pilgrimages Organized pilgrimage services arranging spiritual journeys for individual Catholics and parish groups seeking guided faith-based travel experiences.
Companies that use Novalis
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Novalis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Novalis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Novalis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pauline Books & Media: Catholic publisher and retailer operated by the Daughters of St. Paul, selling books, media, and religious articles through stores and online. Highly comparable to Novalis in product mix (Catholic books + religious items) and parish/individual customer focus.
- Ignatius Press: Large Catholic publisher covering theology, scripture, devotionals, and faith formation, with a strong online retail operation. Directly comparable in scope of Catholic book publishing and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Our Sunday Visitor: Catholic publisher producing parish resources, catechetical curricula, and periodicals for dioceses and individuals. Comparable to Novalis in serving parishes and schools with catechetical and liturgical content.
- Ave Maria Press: Catholic publisher specializing in parish ministry, faith formation, and spirituality books. Comparable to Novalis in targeting parishes, schools, and individuals with Catholic publishing programs.
- Liturgical Press: Catholic publisher known for the Workbook for Lectors and other liturgical/worship resources used by parishes. Directly comparable in worship and liturgy publishing, similar target buyer.
- Saint Mary's Press: Catholic publisher focused on adolescent faith formation curricula and youth ministry resources. Comparable to Novalis's Finding God program in K-12 Catholic education publishing.
- Catholic Book Publishing Corp: Publisher of Catholic Bibles, missals, prayer books, and liturgical texts. Comparable to Novalis in sacred texts and liturgical resource publishing for parishes and individual Catholics.
Regional players
- Catholic Truth Society: UK-based Catholic publisher producing prayer books, missals, catechetical leaflets, and devotionals. Similar product mix and audience to Novalis but serves primarily the UK and Commonwealth Catholic market.
Broad incumbents
- Bayard Presse: Parent group of Bayard Canada (and therefore of Novalis). Operates a broad portfolio of Catholic and family-oriented publications across multiple countries. Comparable as a large incumbent Catholic publisher with multi-segment reach.
Emerging players
- Sophia Institute Press: Catholic publisher of devotionals, theology, and Catholic culture titles, with growing online direct-to-consumer presence. Comparable to Novalis in devotional and theology publishing targeting individual Catholics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Novalis social profiles
Digital presenceNovalis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Novalis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Novalis subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Novalis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Novalis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Novalis
What does Novalis do?
Novalis is a Canadian Catholic publishing house and religious goods retailer that creates, curates, and sells Catholic books, magazine subscriptions, faith formation and sacramental preparation programs, eBooks, and physical religious items (candles, rosaries, vestments, church furnishings) under its own brand and the Bertrand Foucher Bélanger brand. The company operates a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront serving individual Catholics, parishes, and Catholic schools across Canada.
Is Novalis a public or private company?
Novalis is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Novalis founded?
Novalis was founded in 1936. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Novalis based?
Novalis is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Novalis make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscriptions, digital Products and services.
Who are Novalis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pauline Books & Media, Ignatius Press, Our Sunday Visitor, Ave Maria Press, Liturgical Press, Saint Mary's Press and Catholic Book Publishing Corp. Catholic Truth Society is listed as a regional player. Bayard Presse is listed as a broad incumbent. Sophia Institute Press is listed as an emerging player.
Does Novalis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Novalis.
What industry is Novalis in?
Novalis's product category is Religious Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAC, Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides), with a secondary code of MPAJAHAE, Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals). Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2731.