Godly Play is a programme for exploring the mystery of God’s presence. This tool is based on the telling of a biblical story, acted out with wooden toys. It introduces biblical stories in an innovative and creative way. Beata Sorial, a member of the Chemin Neuf community, trained in education and shares with us how this tool has touched her.
“I wonder if you are happy teaching catechism? Like you, perhaps, I would like there to be more silence and active participation to develop spirituality, so that everyone can come closer to Jesus and it bears fruit… But most of the time this is not the case. Over time, I have grown tired and weary of teaching catechism, often feeling like giving it all up.
My experience with Godly Play began in March 2024 in Nantes in a Protestant church. Since then, everything has changed. I am amazed and fascinated by this teaching method, which is suitable for all ages, children and adults alike. I absolutely love it.
In Godly Play, there are several stages: individual welcome, storytelling, wonder, response time (creativity space), feast, prayer and blessing. The Holy Spirit is present throughout.
After welcoming and preparing the participants, it is time for the storytelling. Everyone sits in a circle on cushions, as if around a fire. From the beginning, silence settles in and accompanies the participants throughout the story.
We tell stories from the Bible, discuss the liturgical seasons, the sacraments, the lives of the saints… it is an ecumenical approach, respectful of every Christian denomination and perfectly suited to non-believers.
The moment of wonder opens up reflection based on questions.
For example: ‘I wonder what you like most about this story?’ This is an opportunity to share everyone’s thoughts, to listen to and learn from the different testimonies.
Together, we discover the impact of God’s word in our lives. It’s very Ignatian… and it’s my favourite moment. The answers are often very varied and very rich. A real inner work takes place. We all feel a little like ‘theologians’.
During the next stage, children are invited to choose an activity: drawing the story they have heard or another story, having fun retelling the story while handling the materials, doing a craft project, etc. This is a very rich moment of free expression, where children discover all the ideas and creativity that the story can inspire.
Godly Play is also a school of spontaneous prayer. We learn to express our prayers aloud or through a simple gesture, such as silently placing a small object near the candle.
This proposal is based on Maria Montessori’s teaching methods. It encourages adults to let go and question traditional catechism. The idea is to realise that each person is not a vessel to be filled with information, but rather a flower that needs to be watered to help it grow on its own. Children have an innate knowledge of God. The catechist is no longer the teacher who imparts knowledge, but the one who accompanies spiritual awakening. They grow and learn with the other person. They withdraw like the sea receding so that the other person can grow and gradually awaken their inner spirituality.
This method offers the most exciting aspect of religious education: a collective and personal invitation to walk with God through the Scriptures.