Father's day Gift for a Priest?

[StAlph]

I am a recent convert had a question about the appropriateness of giving my parish priest a gift for father’s day. He has been so supportive of my jouney into the Church and I am always so appreciative of his hard work and ministry.

Would it be alright for me to send him a Father’s day card wishing him well as our parochial father with a gift card enclosed so he could buy some personal essentials? It wouldn’t be a large gift, perhaps $50.

I just feel such a burden to pray for him and his difficult work and schedule and want him to really feel appreciation. I wondered if he might feel some sadness about father’s day without biological children, but I think we are all his children as he pastors us.

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Kevin42]

I think it is great idea. He is your spiritual father in a way, so I would say go for it. It’s important that we don’t just tell our priests thank you, but every now and then to go out of our way and do something nice that shows them how much they are appreciated.

 

[chrysostom15]

That is not unusal and is a good idea. If the priest likes to read, a gift certificat to Amazon.com is one good idea.

 

[domineutvideam]

gift certificate for amazon or any other book store is always a good idea. . . priests always have books they’d love to buy. . .

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

we gave our priest a Father’s day card this yr—a week early coz we will be out of town next week end to inlaws. Our priest is also the police chaplain so my husand gave him a gold chain with a golden St. Michael medal on it after he asked him first if he had one already (he didn’t! he must have blessed hundreds and didn’t have one himself!) Found a perfect card—it was for ‘a man who walks with God’ from American Greetings (at CVS).
But I think the book gift cert is also a fantastic idea! Or a gift cert to his favorite restaurant.
Ravyn

 

[lizaanne]

What a lovely idea! We call them “Father” for a reason!

~Liza

 

[StAlph]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It sounds like my idea wasn’t so strange, afterall!

 

[vince2paul]

I was thinking about it today!
Well, I won’t give it to my parish priest though…

 

[under_the_dome]

Thats a great idea!

I would agree with those who suggested giftcards for Amazon.com… compared to regular bookstores, it is always cheaper, you can buy books used if you so choose, and there are no taxes!

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It sounds like my idea wasn’t so strange, afterall!

Oh it is not strange at all - it is a terrific idea. They have given up so much and in this post-Christian culture they are frequently under appreciated, over-worked and (sadly) suffer from a lot of the damage done by a very FEW bad apples (we know what I am talking about here…) It is only right and natural to consider a small token of appreciation.