Gift for priest

[Jamesdunn72]

Hi everyone,
Am new to this forum here and new to the US. We bought a house recently and are moving on the 20th. Before moving our stuff to the new house we’ve asked the local priest to come bless the house. What do we give him when he leaves? If our house was set up we’d have treated him to lunch. But are thinking of giving him some money (not sure If that’s appropriate) or donate to the church? How much do you think is appropriate?

Thanks,
James

 

[Rainaldo]

Hi everyone,
Am new to this forum here and new to the US. We bought a house recently and are moving on the 20th. Before moving our stuff to the new house we’ve asked the local priest to come bless the house. What do we give him when he leaves? If our house was set up we’d have treated him to lunch. But are thinking of giving him some money (not sure If that’s appropriate) or donate to the church? How much do you think is appropriate?

Thanks,
James

I suggest shoving a $50 bottle of ***fiiiiine ***Kentucky Bourbon into the crook of his arm. But a gift should be of equal value to giver & receiver, and y’all ain’t from here, so instead, as you show him to the door casually ask him, “What does the church (small c) need?” He’ll say something in between “July’s electric bill” and “a bookcase for the rectory”. Take it from there.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Hi everyone,
Am new to this forum here and new to the US. We bought a house recently and are moving on the 20th. Before moving our stuff to the new house we’ve asked the local priest to come bless the house. What do we give him when he leaves? If our house was set up we’d have treated him to lunch. But are thinking of giving him some money (not sure If that’s appropriate) or donate to the church? How much do you think is appropriate?

Thanks,
James

Money is all right.
Priests need money for themselves and for charity. Let him decide.
I do not know what you should give.
My old granny always said that it was a day’s worth or one’s salary.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Hi everyone,
Am new to this forum here and new to the US. We bought a house recently and are moving on the 20th. Before moving our stuff to the new house we’ve asked the local priest to come bless the house. What do we give him when he leaves? If our house was set up we’d have treated him to lunch. But are thinking of giving him some money (not sure If that’s appropriate) or donate to the church? How much do you think is appropriate?

Thanks,
James

Give him two passes to a movie, a bookstore or restaurant gift card. Just what you can afford. Money is actually commonly given, discretely, in an envelope.

Or, invite him to lunch, and take him out.

 

[cradlecatholic5]

**Give him two passes to a movie, a bookstore or restaurant gift card. Just what you can afford. Money is actually commonly given, discretely, in an envelope. **

I also applaud you for continuing this practice.

 

[Neofight]

Hi everyone,
Am new to this forum here and new to the US. We bought a house recently and are moving on the 20th. Before moving our stuff to the new house we’ve asked the local priest to come bless the house. What do we give him when he leaves? If our house was set up we’d have treated him to lunch. But are thinking of giving him some money (not sure If that’s appropriate) or donate to the church? How much do you think is appropriate?

Thanks,
James

It might depend on what order he belongs to. Our pastor was reassigned a couple of weeks ago. He is a Franciscan. Any gifts to a Franciscan (even his salary if he works for a church of a diocese) goes to the Guardian, and is distributed to the brothers as needed.

I gave a donation in his name to the OFM’s St. Anthony’s Bread, which provides for those answering the call of vocation in the order.

 

[meo696]

great thread… my wife and i were discussing what an appropriate gift would be just this week.

 

[Jamesdunn72]

I think I’ll give him some money in an envelop. It’s just that I’m not sure of the protocol here and wouldn’t want to offend him! Thanks to everyone who replied!

 

[BettyBoop416]

One of our priests recently performed a house blessing for us. (“Us” being me and my non-Catholic, non-believing, yet mass-attending husband.) Strangely enough, my husband and this priest have really hit it off. They play tennis together at least once a week and often more. Anyway, after the blessing I slipped Father an envelope with $50.00 in it. My husband gave him a case of tennis balls. He politely thanked me for the cash, but I could tell that he was thrilled with the tennis balls from his atheist tennis buddy.

Go figure.

 

[ahollars]

Invite him to return for a home-cooked meal from time to time. Everyone appreciates that.

 

[jazzy0710]

Invite him to return for a home-cooked meal from time to time. Everyone appreciates that.

That’s an excellent idea. A donation to the church is good. Maybe a bottle of red wine? When it was my priest’s birthday I gave him a bottle of red wine. He took it to his sister’s house for Easter Supper. They loved it.