First Communion Card Etiquette

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mrsjmwhts1

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Hello all,

I am a new member to the forum and look forward to learning many things from you all. I am also a new member to RCIA so I really anticipate this will be a great tool for me during my journey.

The daugther of a woman I work with just took her first communion on Saturday. She is 7. I bought a card to mail her but am wondering if it appropriate to put money in the card.

Any thoughts you offer would be appreciated,
 
Etiquette really isn’t my forte, but I’ll give it a shot…

I can’t think of anything morally or theologically wrong with given money for a child’s first communion, but there’s something inside me that says “money? Wasn’t the Real Presence of Jesus enough?” But if that were the case, then there wouldn’t be any First Communion gifts, so I think my inside is wrong on that point.

Still, I think a gift for an occasion like this should reflect the religious nature of the event. How about a Holy Medal or a Rosary instead of cash? Your local Catholic store should have some. I really like the medal idea…

Oh! Welcome to the forums!
 
Usually a religious gift is appropriate, but a secular gift would not be. A gift-certificat at a local religious store is better than money.
 
Our extended family has always given money for First Communion. (We are Italian, so many it’s a cultural thing?) Twenty years ago I received $500 for mine. ??!! Thinking back, as I type that, that was ALOT for back then! yikes!
 
boppaid said:
Oh that’s what I mean! It’s a lot of money today. Imagine how much it was back then?? Oye!!
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$500.00? I can’t wait until my daughters 1st communion next year! We’ll get a free month’s mortgage payment! Yee Ha!😃
 
mrsjmwhts1 said:
The daugther of a woman I work with just took her first communion on Saturday. She is 7. I bought a card to mail her but am wondering if it appropriate to put money in the card.
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I wouldn’t put money in the card. First communions are not appropriate occasions to give money. I would give a card, a few holy cards, and a rosary.
 
It depends on how close you are to this woman and her daughter.

If you are just co-workers and haven’t even met the first communicant, just send the card.

If you are an old family friend as well as co-worker, then you’re “family” and $5, maybe $10 is not a bad thing.

If you are somewhere in between, well, think of something in between. Miss Manner suggests a doll that will not be rejected from any church except as a bad example.😉 Really, the card should be fine unless you’ve known this little girl all her life.

In the “olden days” we got religious articles and money in cards. Of course, back then, the money in the card was $2, maybe $5 from somebody who could afford it.

But the best gift of First Communion is receiving Jesus(Catholics “receive” Communion).
 
we have a huge extended family and have to severely limit gift giving. CArds for non-relatives, set dollar amount for relatives, token amount for all except grandchildren. You are not obligated to give any gift at all, a card is a very nice gesture.
 
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to me today. I greatly appreciate the thought and ideas! You’ve all helped tremendously…
 
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