Question Re: Gifts for a Traditional Priest

[368ofk]

Over breakfast with several fellow parishioners this morning, the subject of purchasing a Christmas gift for our priest came up.

Our priest essentially offers the TLM as a “guest” in a diocesan NO parish, and has been doing so for over a decade. The resources he has available to purchase items for use in the Mass are very limited.

Apparently, he has commented in the past that his chalice and/or ciborium are difficult for him to hold, and one member of the group this morning suggested that we collect money to purchase him a new set.

I have done some preliminary searching on the internet this afternoon for sites offering altar items (including the warehouse outside Atlanta that sells items stripped from renovated and closed Catholic churches ).

These things ain’t cheap!

I’d be interested to know if anyone recommends (in favor or against) any places where items like these might be purchased.

Since it’s unlikely (but not necessarily impossible) that we’ll be able to raise well over $1000 from our small group of parishoners to purchase a nice chalice/ciborium set, I was considering instead buying the “travel size” 1962 Missale Romanum offered by St. John Cantius. Unfortunately, though, they’ve been out of stock for at least two months.

So, in addition to store recommendations, if anyone has alternative suggestions for a gift for a traditional priest, I’ll mention those to the group next week.

Thanks!

 

[Angel_Bradford]

Be careful, the “travel size” will be small and not large enough depending on the size of the congregation.

Give him the money you would have spent on his gift, then he can buy what he needs. Either way, I know it will be most appreciated.

 

[368ofk]

He already has a “full size” missal. Since he frequently goes out of town during the week, I was thinking that a smaller version might be useful during those occasions.

It seems to be a moot point, though, since they don’t appear to be available anywhere right now.

The money would be a safe bet, I suppose. From the perspective of the giver, it always seems to be more satisfying to give an item of some sort, rather than a check.

Then again, satisfying the giver isn’t the point, I suppose.

 

[BeeSweet]

Just work on getting the money together, and pray! You’ll probably end up with more than you think you can get. Would you be able to put together something like a parish dinner or pancake breakfast and have all the proceeds go towards this special intention? My parish is selling Christmas ornaments to fund buying more figurines for our courtyard nativity set. There are all sorts of fund raisers you could do! Speak with your local Catholic bookstore, they may be able to help get you a discount. If you really work hard at it, you’ll be surprised at how much you can raise even from a very small parish. May God bless your efforts! I hope you find the perfect gift!

 

[Pious_Mat]

There are dozens of items that a priest needs to say the EF, and dozens more that help deepen the feeling of holiness and catholicity (sorry if this is neologism). Altar cloths (need three), candles, altar rail clothes, vestments for priest and servers (amice, alb, cincture, maniple, stole, chasuble, biretta, surplice, cassocks, cope, humeral vale, etc., etc.), in order to properly say the tridentine Mass throughout the year, a couple thousand dollars worth of “equipment”.

Therefore, rest assured that your priest will be very appreciative of the money you give him, and be sure to tell him to look on Ebay! Your parish and priest are in all our prayers.