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The parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi in Mocksville are tapping-into the escape room concept for a unique fundraiser and social event.

St. Francis will host The Great Catholic Escape Room Challenge on Friday, Oct. 18 in its parish hall.

Escape rooms are popular entertainment venues seen in cities around the diocese.

Participants work with a series of puzzles, mysteries, and hidden clues to “escape” the game before the clock runs-out. Nobody is ever locked-in. It’s just a game.

“I’m excited,” says the Rev. Fr. Eric Kowalski. “Being a faith community is more than just showing-up for mass on Sunday. You need come together outside of church to grow and have fun as a family. We’re looking forward to doing that with the escape room.”

A great escape room needs a great story. The game is set in the mythical catacombs of the St. Francis of Assisi Convent in Orvieto, Italy. The faithful are trapped inside acer a careless young nun loses the key.

Participants race against the clock to find not only the key, but also Mother DeLuca’s famous pasta recipe to feed the bishop just in time.

“I enjoy creating events that give people something different,” says parishioner Chris Hoke, who originally designed the game with friends for Charlotte young adult groups. “The escape room gives people an out-of-the-box way to do something that’s fun and faith-focused. We went to great-lengths to ensure the game was hands-on, engaging, and challenging.”

The Great Catholic Escape Room Challenge uses audio, video, and interactive props to create an immersive experience.

Fr. Kowalski appears in the introductory and timeclock video as the host to instruct players and provide humorous commentary throughout the game. Participants will be split into groups that compete in their own spaces to see who can escape first.

It starts at 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18 with an overflow at 7:30 if necessary. St. Francis is at 862 Yadkinville Rd., Mocksville.

Adult tickets are $20. Students under age 18 are $10 and must be accompanied by an adult. Pizza and drinks are included with admission. Registration is required at SFAMOX.org.