ST. JOAN OF ARC ACADEMY’S
First Holy Communion Prep Game
Learning the CatechismThrough Play
directions Game pieces needed to play:
1 game board 1 set of questions 1 dice
(1-4) game pieces (button, dime, etc.)
Parent (or other sibling/player) will read question to the child. If the child gets the question correct, he/she will roll the dice and move the appropriate amount of spaces. If the child gets the question wrong, he/she says where he/she is on the game board until the next turn.
If the child lands on the red, blue, or green star, they must answer a question like normal play. If they get the answer right, they will receive a game token matching the space they are on (e.g. red star token for red star space on board).
Once all three game tokens are collected (red, blue, and green), the child “wins.” If the child does not land directly on the space, he/she may roll and go backward/forward until landing on the star space to answer the question. Once the
question has been answered and the child has received the matching game token, he/she will then answer another question (and roll if answered correctly) to continue on with game play.
How your child answers the question is up to you and what your priest is expecting the child to know in order to receive his/her First Holy Communion. It is highly suggested that the child memorize the answers word-for-word as this will help them later on with learning the catechism.
All questions and answers come directly from The New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism.
It is highly suggested to laminate the board game and questions to make them extra sturdy for continuous or repetitive
play.
Q: Who made you?
A: “God made me.”
Q: Name the Seven Sacraments.
A: “Baptism, Confession, Holy
Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Extreme Unction.”
Q: How many Sacraments are there?
A: “Seven”
Q: How many Commandments are there?
A: “Ten”
Q: Who was conceived without original sin?
A: “The Blessed Virgin Mary”
Q: Who committed the very first sin?
A: “The bad angels”
Q: Who committed the very first sin on earth?
A: “Adam and Eve”
Q: What is “sin?”
A: “Sin is disobedience to God’s laws.”
Q: Did God make all things?
A: “Yes.”
Q: Why did God make you?
A: “God made me to love him, know him, and serve him in this world and to be happy with him in the next.”
Q: When was Jesus born?
A: “On the very first Christmas Day over 2,000 years ago.”
Q: Say the “Act of Contrition.”
A: “Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all of my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all of my love. I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to confess my sins, do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.”
Q: What is a Sacrament?
A: “A Sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, by which we receive grace.”
Q: Say the “Hail Mary” prayer.
A: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
Q: How many Persons are there in God?
A: “Three.”
Q: What are the Three Persons in God known as?
A: “The Holy Trinity.”
Q: Who is the first Person in the Holy Trinity?
A: “God the Father.”
Q: Who is the second Person in the Holy Trinity?
A: “God the Son."
Q: Why did God make you?
A: “God made me because he loves me.”
Q: Say the “Sign of the Cross” prayer.
A: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
(Child should cross him/herself starting t the forehead, then the chest, then the left shoulder, and then the right shoulder.)
Q: Who is the Third Person in the Holy Trinity?
A: “God the Holy Ghost.”
Q: Who made all things?
A: “God.”
Q: Who were the first man and woman?
A: “Adam and Eve.”
Q: Why did God make you?
A: “God made me to show His
goodness and to make me happy with Him in Heaven.”
Q: What must you do to be happy with God in Heaven?
A: “To be happy with God in Heaven, I must know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world.”
Q: Why do you belong to God?
A: “I belong to God because He made me.”
Q: What is God’s home called?
A: “Heaven.”
Q: Will God always be?
A: “Yes. God will always be.”
Q: Can God ever die?
A: “No, God can never die.”
Q: How long will God live?
A: “God will live forever.”
Q: Is there only one God?
A: “Yes. There is only one God.”
Q: Are all three Persons in the Holy Trinity equal?
A: “Yes. All three Persons in the Holy Trinity are equal.”
Q: How do we know there are three Persons in one God?
A: “We know that there are three Persons in one God because we have God’s word for it.”
Q: Why can’t you see God?
A: “We can’t see God because He is a Spirit, and we can’t see spirits.”
Q: Is the sin of Adam and Even passed on to us?
A: “Yes, this sin is passed on to us from Adam ad Eve.”
Q: What is the sin passed down from Adam and Eve called?
A: “This sin is called ‘original sin.’”
Q: Since we are born with original sin, how do we get rid of it?
A: “Baptism.”
Q: What do we call the act of the Virgin Mary being conceived without original sin?
A: “The Immaculate Conception”
Q: Since we are born with original sin, how do we get rid of it?
A: “Baptism.”
Q: What does a sinner say to God?
A: “No.”
Q: What did Adam and Eve say to God?
A: “No.”
Q: What did Mary say to God?
A: “Yes.”
Q: Is original sin the only kind of sin?
A: “No, there is another kind of sin called ‘actual sin.’”
Q: What is actual sin?
A: “Actual sin is any sin which we choose to commit.”
Q: Are we born with actual sin?
A: “No. We are not born with actual sin. We commit the sin ourselves.”
Q: How many kinds of actual sin are there?
A: “There are two kinds of actual sin:
mortal and venial sin.”
Q: What is mortal sin?
A: “Mortal sin is a deadly sin. It kills our soul.”
Q: What does mortal sin do to us?
A: “Mortal sin makes us enemies of God and robs our souls of His grace.”
Q: What happens to those who die in mortal sin?
A: Those who die in mortal sin are punished forever in the fires of hell.
Q: What is a venial sin?
A: “Venial sin is a lesser sin, but it does not kill our soul.”
Q: Does venial sin make us enemies of God or rob our souls of His grace?
A: “No.”
Q: Does venial sin displease God?
A: “Yes.”
Q: What sin do we commit ourselves?
A: “Actual sin.”
Q: What is the name of the Son of God made man?
A: “The name of the Son of God made man is Jesus Christ.”
Q: What should we do when we hear the name of Jesus?
A: We should bow our heads.
Q: Why should we bow our heads when we hear the name of Jesus?
A: We should bow our heads when we hear the name of Jesus because it is a holy name.
Q: Say the “Glory Be” prayer.
A: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end.”
Q: Who is the Mother of Jesus?
A: “The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of Jesus.”
Q: Who was St. Joseph?
A: “St. Joseph was the foster father of Jesus on earth.”
Q: Is Jesus Christ both God and man?
A: “Yes.”
Q: Where was Jesus Christ born?
A: “Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem”
Q: Why did God the Son become man?
A: God the Son became man to satisfy for the sins of all men and to help everyone gain Heaven.
Q: Jesus said, “I am the ______, the ______, and the ________.” No one comes to the Father but through me.
A: “Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Q: How did Jesus satisfy for the sins of all men?
A: Jesus satisfied for the sins of all men by His sufferings and death on the Cross.
Q: How does Jesus help all men to gain Heaven?
A: “Jesus helps all men to gain
Heaven through the Catholic Church.”
Q: What kept the gates of Heaven closed?
A: “The sin of Adam and Eve had closed the gates of Heaven.”
Q: Who died to pay for our sins?
A: “Jesus died to pay for our sins.
Q: Where did Jesus go after He rose from the dead?
A: “Jesus went to Heaven.”
Q: How does the Catholic Church help us to gain Heaven?
A: “The Catholic Church helps us to gain Heaven through the Seven Sacraments.”
Q: Say the “Our Father” prayer.
A: “Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Q: What does grace do to our soul?
A: “Grace makes the soul holy and pleasing to God.”
Q: What Sacrament have you already received?
A: “I have received the Sacrament of Baptism.”
Q: What did the Sacrament of Baptism do for you?
A: “The Sacrament of Baptism
washed away original sin from my soul and made it rich in the grace of God.”
Q: Are you preparing to receive other Sacraments?
A: “I am preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation.”
Q: What will the Sacrament of Confirmation do for you?
A: “The Sacrament of Confirmation, through the coming of the Holy Ghost, will make me a soldier of Jesus Christ.”
Q: Who is hidden in every Sacrament?
A: “Jesus Christ is hidden in every Sacrament.”
Q: What is grace?
A: “Grace is the life of Christ in our soul.”
Q: When does God become our Father?
A: “God becomes our Father when we are baptized.”
Q: What is the Sacrament of Penance?
A: “Penance is the Sacrament by which sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.”
Q: What must one do to receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily?
A: “ 1.) Find out my sins 2.) Be sorry for my sins.
3.) Make up my mind not to sin again.
4.) Tell my sins to the priest.
5.) Do the penance the priest gives me.”
Q: What Sacrament heals our sick souls?
A: “The Sacrament of Penance heals our sick souls.”
Q: What medicine does the
Sacrament of Penance use to heal our sick souls?
A: “Christ’s Most Precious Blood.”
Q: If we ever have big sins, will Our Lord forgive us?
A: “Yes.”
Q: “Is he angry with us?”
A: “No.”
Q: What is the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?
A: “The Sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist is the Body and Blood of our Lord.”
Q: When does Jesus Christ become present in the Holy Eucharist?
A: “Jesus Christ becomes present in the Holy Eucharist during the Sacrifice of the Mass.”
Q: Do you receive Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?
A: “Yes.”
Q: Do you see Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist?
A: “No, I do not see Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist because He is hidden under the appearances of bread and wine.”
Q: The Holy Eucharist may LOOK like bread, but it is really _________.
A: “Jesus’ body.”
Q: The Holy Eucharist may LOOK like wine, but it is really __________.
A: “Jesus’ blood.”
Q: What must you do to receive Holy Communion?
A: “1.) Have my soul free from mortal sin.
2.) Not eat or drink anything (except for water) for one hour before Holy
Communion.”
Q: Can you go up to Holy Communion if you have a mortal sin on your soul?
A: “No.”
Q: Why should we not go up to receive Holy Communion if we have a mortal sin on our soul?
A: “Out of respect for our Lord.”
Q: What should you do before you receive Holy Communion?
A: “1.) Think of Jesus.
2.) Say the prayers I have learned.
3.) Ask Jesus to come to me.”
Q: What should you do after Holy Communion?
A: “1.) Thank Jesus for coming to me.
2.) Tell Him how much I love Him.
3.) Ask Him to help me.
4.) Pray for others.”
Q: Who offers the Mass for us?
A: “The priest offers the Mass for us.”
Q: “What is the most reverent way to receive our Lord at Holy
Communion?”
A: “We should kneel down and receive our Lord on our tongue.”
Q: How do we pray before meals?
A: “Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, and through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Q:What are the two biggest feasts of the liturgical year?
A: “Easter and Pentecost.”
Q: “What happened on Easter Sunday? What happened on Pentecost?
A: “Christ rose from the dead on Easter. The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost, and it is the birthday of the Church.”