Board game created by nun becomes a hit in Spain

Rome, Italy, May 13, 2013 / 15:03 pm

A new faith-based board game created by a Spanish nun has become one of the most popular First Communion gifts in Spain this year.

Sister Maria Granados Molina created the new game, "The Joy of the Faith," which tests players' knowledge of Catholicism. The game's publisher said 2,000 copies have been made since the game went on sale a few months ago, and there are hopes to market it in the United States and Latin America.

Thirty-five year-old Sr. Molina was born in Granada and belongs to a Carmelite order in the city of Cuenca. She works as a catechist for the Diocese of Cuenca.

In an interview with CNA, Sr. Molina said she never imagined the game would become so popular. She made the first version of the game at home with her own printer and the help "of the sisters from my congregation in Cuenca."

"The Joy of the Faith" is intended to help players learn about Jesus and the experience of being a Christian. Players roll dice and answer questions about the Catholic faith to move along the spaces on the board. The game incorporates drawings, gestures and prayers.
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Sr. Molina debuted the game in Madrid last year during a conference on catechesis. It was picked up by a national distributor and made available later throughout the country.

"The game is the fruit of a desire, a concern and a prayer…and I think it has received a surprising reception. Nobody thought that with the way Spain is right now that a game like this would be a success," she said.

The game is based on the children's catechetical book "Jesus is Lord," which was approved by the Bishops' Conference of Spain. It is intended for children ages 7 and up, and it can be played by groups of young people, families, schools and catechists.

"I wanted people to draw closer to the experience of Jesus," Sr. Molina said.