The Priest Game Makes Catechism Fun!
By Caroline B. Mooney
LAFAYETTE - When Michelle Newcomb looked for a way to teach her 3-year-old son his colors through the vestments a priest wears, she never envisioned that it would become "The Priest Game," her new board
game which teaches young children about the Catholic Church.
"The whole project has just kind of evolved," said Newcomb, mother of six children and one foster baby and parishioner of St. Boniface Church here. "God kept inspiring me - he really molded and shaped this game.
Time and time again, he kept giving me what I needed."
Newcomb's 3-year-old, J.J., told his family he wants to be a priest. So, it seemed natural that Newcomb incorporate items from churches in her quest to teach him colors.
"My pastor, Father Timothy Alkire, agreed to let me take his picture and items in the sacristy," Newcomb said. "My original intent was to have something only showing him and a few other items. The focus would
be the colors of the chasubles, not the Mass. It would be something simple, homemade and only for our family.
"As it evolved, I was thinking of asking Father (Ambrose) Ziegler if I could take his picture for a green board," she said. "He was very helpful and gave me a 1957 version of My Catholic Faith which explained a lot of things I needed help with."
"With all of our technology today, we really need to get back to basic board games," Father Ziegler said. "The timing of this game is great - as summer starts, the kids will have it to play instead of watching reruns.We need more devices like this to get young people talking about religion."
"I think it's wonderful," said Kim Overmyer, principal of St. Mary Cathedral School in Lafayette. She helped proofread the game during its production. "It's great catechesis for the whole family. Younger children
can play with the pieces, and as they grow older they can learn more with the DVD. It would also be a great tool for someone coming into the Church.
"It is a good opportunity for families to spend quality time together, and talk about the faith," she said. "Hopefully, it will cause people to pray more and encourage vocations. It's fun, too, for children to see our bishop and priests that they know in the game. There's something for everyone."
The game, which is for up to six players, has 96 pieces with photos from inside St. Boniface and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, and six, two-sided game boards. There are many ways to use the game. Players can spin a dial and match their spin with a game piece that is then placed on their board. Upon finding each match, they tell other players which piece they are putting down. For instance, a chalice is on one piece, and its definition is printed on the back.
Along with the matching pieces, the game includes "Did you know?" points that are interesting facts about the Catholic Church.
"The Priest Game" sells for $25
LAFAYETTE - When Michelle Newcomb looked for a way to teach her 3-year-old son his colors through the vestments a priest wears, she never envisioned that it would become "The Priest Game," her new board
game which teaches young children about the Catholic Church.
"The whole project has just kind of evolved," said Newcomb, mother of six children and one foster baby and parishioner of St. Boniface Church here. "God kept inspiring me - he really molded and shaped this game.
Time and time again, he kept giving me what I needed."
Newcomb's 3-year-old, J.J., told his family he wants to be a priest. So, it seemed natural that Newcomb incorporate items from churches in her quest to teach him colors.
"My pastor, Father Timothy Alkire, agreed to let me take his picture and items in the sacristy," Newcomb said. "My original intent was to have something only showing him and a few other items. The focus would
be the colors of the chasubles, not the Mass. It would be something simple, homemade and only for our family.
"As it evolved, I was thinking of asking Father (Ambrose) Ziegler if I could take his picture for a green board," she said. "He was very helpful and gave me a 1957 version of My Catholic Faith which explained a lot of things I needed help with."
"With all of our technology today, we really need to get back to basic board games," Father Ziegler said. "The timing of this game is great - as summer starts, the kids will have it to play instead of watching reruns.We need more devices like this to get young people talking about religion."
"I think it's wonderful," said Kim Overmyer, principal of St. Mary Cathedral School in Lafayette. She helped proofread the game during its production. "It's great catechesis for the whole family. Younger childrencan play with the pieces, and as they grow older they can learn more with the DVD. It would also be a great tool for someone coming into the Church.
"It is a good opportunity for families to spend quality time together, and talk about the faith," she said. "Hopefully, it will cause people to pray more and encourage vocations. It's fun, too, for children to see our bishop and priests that they know in the game. There's something for everyone."
The game, which is for up to six players, has 96 pieces with photos from inside St. Boniface and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, and six, two-sided game boards. There are many ways to use the game. Players can spin a dial and match their spin with a game piece that is then placed on their board. Upon finding each match, they tell other players which piece they are putting down. For instance, a chalice is on one piece, and its definition is printed on the back.
Along with the matching pieces, the game includes "Did you know?" points that are interesting facts about the Catholic Church.
"This has been totally Michelle's idea," Ken Newcomb said. "She tries to come up with ways to teach our kids. We would love for our son to be a priest, but there was no way to nurse that on his level. We couldn't find any Catholic games to help teach traditional Catholic teaching. We saw a hole and this fits quite nicely."
"The Priest Game" sells for $25
For more information, go to http://www.catholickidsgames.com/
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