gift for a priestgreenspun.com : LUSENET : Catholic : One Thread |
I am new to this forum but have been reading the q & a's quite a bit, I am being baptized and confirmed at Easter Vigil I am 30 years old and my husband is Catholic. My question is I would like to purchase a small gift for the priest at our parish. If It wasn't for him and my husband's grandmother I would have never inquired more about the Catholic Faith. What do you buy a priest? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
-- j green (jdgnash@yahoo.com), March 27, 2002Answers
Welcome to the Catholic Church! If you've ever heard him mention a saint he likes, maybe a small, framed picture of that saint. God bless you.
-- Chris B (chris48B@hotmail.com), March 27, 2002.Take him a bottle of fine Sherry. Maybe fine Port.These are expenses most priests can't afford; and they need something like this for their cupboard in case a bishop or fellow priest comes to visit.
Especially now that Easter is coming. Sherry is a man's beverage. Never forget a priest is also a man. There's nothing wrong with offering a man wine. Saint Paul recommended it, with moderation.
-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), March 27, 2002.Food is always a good gift, or a gift certificate to a bookstore. If you do give food it would be nice to give at some other time than at the holidays--I imagine their fridges are full to bursting....
-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 27, 2002.Put a couple dollars in an Thank you card. Everyone likes to get a few dollars, and a thanks. God bless you, and welcome to the holy Catholic Church. Welcome to our Catholic forum J Green. David S
-- David S (David@excite.com), March 27, 2002.There has been some recent discussion about the isolation that a priest may be faced with.
What better gift than your company? You might explore ways to be more in his life if isolation were a problem for him.
Great question.
Love, Chris
-- Chris Coose (ccoose@maine.rr.com), March 27, 2002.Hi, Chris C.That is a great idea! But, I think, she wants to give him something as a gift, on Saturday. It, would proabably be hard to find a Priest, that would be able to give time to, during holy week!
I also understand that a lot of people feel funny about giving cash, but I never minded receiving it. LOL.:)
God bless you.
David S
-- David (David@excite.com), March 27, 2002.Thanks everyone for the great tips! You guys are great, I don't know how I came across this forum but I will definitely visit it often!J. Green
-- J Green (jdgnash@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.You're welcome! Thanks for caring for your priest. They need encouragement.
-- Chris B (chris48B@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.Personally, I think along the lines of a nice thank you note with $50 to $100 check as a proper way to say thanks. Or better yet, an invitation to take him out to a nice restaurant or even a home-cooked meal with you and you husband.David
-- non- Catholic Christian (dlbowerman@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.Offering a real friendship and a listening ear along with homecooked meals would never I am sure be refused. Priests suffer the pang of lonliness so often.
-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), March 30, 2002.As a Catholic (who until just recently worked for her parish), I can say the best gift is one of tithing. The Church exist solely upon the gifts of Her faithful...and operating the Church in these economically challenged times is daunting...that's why I lost my job. Lowered parishioner attendace = lowered thithing = lowered means to aid those in need, and tighter budgets with which to provide continued worship facilities (Mass and ministry outreaches).I think a good gift for a priest would be a donation toward operation expenditures...to assist the parish at large. But put a note to the effect that reflects your expectations that the gift is for parish continuation.
-- Melissa (holy_rhodes@earthlink.net), March 31, 2002.
-- The Thread Restorer (Thread@Restoration.com), November 16, 2003
-- (Thread@Restoration.com), November 16, 2003.
You don't have to worry about the gifts to give to the priest. Whatever it is you are going to give, I am sure that you have already given him the greatest gift you could give him. The joy of a priest lies in seeing a person getting closer and faithful to God, just like a doctor feels great happiness when his patient is relieved of pain and cured.
-- Abraham T (Lijothengil@yahoo.com), November 16, 2003.
Nice old thread. Anyway, while I wouldn't tell someone they shouldn't offer gifts, many priests do not receive gifts on principle. This is because, as someone put it to me, it is entirely possible for the priesthood to become a "gravy train" when you have thousands of families, maybe hundreds of which are very appreciative. :) It's a question of ethics.Coose's suggestion of "company" seems best--the traditional invitation to dinner is a wholesome way to show appreciation, IMO.
-- Skoobouy (skoobouy@hotmail.com), November 16, 2003.
Thanks to all for their opinions. I decided to give him a kitten as I think he will be less alone with it. This is such a great forum! I'm so glad I found it it will provide a spiritual banquet for many months to come for me. Thank you all!
-- j green (jdgnash@yahoo.com), November 17, 2003.
Skoobouy,I just read an article about the holy Father warning priests about this.
Article is at: www.spiritdaily.com(Pope warns priests on lure of wealth).
God bless you.
-- - (David@excite.com), November 19, 2003.