We find that every Christmas season, games become a part of our family’s time together! This past Thanksgiving, card games and board games were pulled out by kids of all ages.
Family games are a great way to bring siblings closer, to open up conversation informally, and to listen to what is on peoples’ minds–while also bonding everyone together with shared experiences and laughter.
If your family is like ours, you are probably always looking for a few new games to add to your collection this Christmas!
Here are FOUR games that will immerse your whole family in our Catholic culture while also being FUN and COMPETITIVE!
See which of the below can help you elevate your Family Game Night with games that teach aspects of the Catholic faith!
#1– Holy Heroes Playing Cards
We decided to challenge ourselves to create a deck of Catholic cards
We wanted to produce high-quality playing cards that are durable, attractive, familiar to use, and just plain “feel good” to hold.
We also wanted our deck designs to subtly express a love for God while paying tribute to the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
And we found our design inspiration in the Holy Rosary!
HEARTS: The Joyful Mysteries focus our attention on events in the Childhood of Jesus. The hearts face card designs emphasize His conception, His birth, and the hidden life and virtues of the Holy Family.
CLUBS: The Luminous Mysteries focus our attention on the public life and preaching of Jesus. Our clubs face card designs emphasize His institution of the Eucharist, and the virtues of adoration and evangelization.
SPADES: The Sorrowful Mysteries focus our attention on the Passion and Death of Jesus. Our spades face card designs emphasize the redemptive suffering of Christ and the sharing of His Cross and mission with others.
DIAMONDS: The Glorious Mysteries focus our attention on the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. Our diamonds face card designs emphasize His Ascension and Universal Kingship, the Crowning of Mary, and the virtues of justice, faithfulness, and obedience.
#2–Works of Mercy Card Game
Get ready for hours of fun with this card game that can be played four different ways!
The Holy Heroes Adventure Guides even made a video about this game that you can check out below (it explains all 4-games-in-1):
With four ways to play, this is hours of fun and kids don’t even realize how much they learn while playing! The deck of 59 cards includes:
- 7 pairs of Jesus and the Corporal Works of Mercy
- 7 pairs of Jesus and the Spiritual Works of Mercy
- 7 pairs of modern family Corporal Works of Mercy
- 7 pairs of modern family Spiritual Works of Mercy
- 3 unique cards for special games to reinforce the Works!
#3– Road to Bethlehem board game
Looking for more of a board game? The Road to Bethlehem, a strategic, scenario-based board game that was a European bestseller and is now available here with Holy Heroes as the exclusive distributor!
This game was so good that the Holy Heroes Mom even wrote a review!
This game is a big hit with our family–they played it twice in the past 3 days–once with the siblings, once with some friends who came over for an afternoon!
Caroline was very excited to meet the creator of the game at a conference a few years ago! She especially liked sharing that since this game changes every time (don’t worry–there is a book to guide you through the ever-changing scenarios!), one time she lost the entire game within 20 minutes! But don’t worry–it was fun enough that she immediately started it again!
#4– Catholic Name-It! Game
Be warned, Mom & Dad: it’s the young ones that often can quickly spy the match–and blurt the NAME out first!
“As an Early Childhood teacher, Catechist and Grandma who loves and loves to play I Spy games, scavenger hunts and the like with all children, I was thrilled to see Name It! This game teaches so many skills while having lots of fun and learning names for objects”
And as always, this Holy Heroes card game can be played in multiple different ways!
Check out this video that Therese made about all the different ways you can play the Catholic Name-It! Game:
“My 2nd grader is preparing for his First Holy Communion. Part of his education is learning the items used during Mass. This game is PERFECT for him because he is a visual, fast-paced learner. He quickly moved from calling them by their descriptive names (cup, robe, cross), to their actual names (chalice, alb, monstrance).”
You can read dozens of reviews from other Catholic parents and educators here.
BONUS: FeastDay! The Liturgical Year Board Game
When the Holy Heroes Adventure Guides played this–it was close, but Caroline won on the last roll and question. Dad demanded a rematch…but we will not reveal the outcome…
Feast Day! is totally-Catholic new board game for two or more players or teams that introduces players to colors, symbols, saints, holy days, feast days, and more!
You can find these and more Catholic games HERE plus lots of other fun Catholic toys that you can include under your Christmas Tree!
