Gift for a Priest (Spiritual Director)

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VA1993

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Hi everyone,

So for the past few months or so, I have been receiving spiritual direction from the pastor of my parish. He has listened to my spiritual struggles, challenged me, and become someone I look to as a mentor. He has also become a a great guide and counselor for some friends of mine who are considering converting to Catholicism. He’s truly been a spiritual father. I’m graduating and leaving the parish in a few months, and I’d like to give him a gift for all he has done for myself and my friends, but I don’t know what would be considered appropriate from a college student to a priest. What would you all suggest? There’s a figurine that I’ve seen of Jesus carrying a lamb on his shoulders, and I was thinking something like that may be nice, since this priest has truly been an “earthly shepherd” for me.

Thank you for any ideas you may have!
 
It is so kind of you to want to show your gratitude to your priest. The fact that you may have evangelized your friends about the Church is a gift in itself. Our priest is one of the most sincere Christians I’ve ever met. He probably would appreciate it if I let him know I will continue praying for him and all who serve the Church (and do it). He’d also probably enjoy a gift certificate to a grocer (he likes to cook and/or he may choose to save it for someone who is struggling financially). Maybe your priest has a similar interest.

God bless you as you head off to school! Perhaps you will find a Catholic campus ministry that continues to support your journey.
 
I think the figurine gift is one that will always be a treasured rememberance from someone’s whose life was touched by this Priest.
 
Why don’t you ask the parish secretary for ideas? I know people like to think that a priest wants to receive religious statues, rosaries, etc. etc. But imagine that a priest is getting all these religious things from people as gifts and there’s only so many places to put it all. In my experience, unless you know the priest very well and know what he likes, it is better to just give him something like a gift certificate to a nice restaurant.
 
How about you and your friends presenting him with a “spiritual bouquet”? That is a nicely written card or paper that details what each of you will be spiritually offering for his intentions. Rosary, Holy Hour, fasting, almsgiving, daily Mass, volunteer work, etc.
 
I think a lot of priest receive wine or other alcohol as gifts, and if they are drinkers it is usually appreciated, since they will not have the sorts of funds to buy nice drinks for themselves. Such gifts can be useful for entertaining too. (some priests I’ve met have the most remarkable collections of Scotch I have ever seen).

But the figurine sounds like a lovely idea.
 
I like the idea of calling the church secretary to find out if he has a certain restaurant he likes – or a hobby like movies and such – and get him a gift card to that. Then I would buy a card and write a personal note to him about how much he’s helped you in your faith journey.
 
Aggie414 said:
I like the idea of calling the church secretary to find out if he has a certain restaurant he likes – or a hobby like movies and such – and get him a gift card to that. Then I would buy a card and write a personal note to him about how much he’s helped you in your faith journey.
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