THE NATIONAL Catechetical Study group of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education of the University of Santo Tomas has recently piloted the use of a child-friendly catechetical gaming mobile app.

Named “God’s Park”, the mobile app was developed by Ichthys Digital Initiatives LLC for young Catholics preparing to receive their first Holy Communion.

“The app, which is downloadable on both the App Store and Google Play Store, had its pilot run in the Dioceses of Balanga, Cabanatuan, Cubao, Daet, Dumaguete, Novaliches, and Archdiocese of Davao,” UST said.

“It aimed to fill the gap in catechetical instruction caused by movement and gathering restrictions as a result of the pandemic,” it added.

In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, UST-RCSSED collaborated with the Digital Evangelization Network PH to create the mobile app.

The app focuses on preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It recruits children who are not enrolled in schools but are preparing to receive their first Holy Communion.

“A catechist was designated to guide the students, who after using the app meet the catechist virtually to understand better what the app presented,” UST said.

The NCS has been a project of the UST-RCSSED with its lead researcher Professor Clarence Batan for several years.

It is conducted in partnership with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.