Thank you, Father! How do you thank your priests?

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Talitha712

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You can skip ahead to answering or read my little rambling - whatever you like šŸ™‚

I owe a big thank you to two priests. The first is my ā€œunofficialā€ spiritual director. He volunteered himself as my helper during a time of need. Heā€™s always there for me, and treats me with all the interested care an older brother might have for his little sister (he treats everyone like theyā€™re his family, itā€™s a beautiful thing to see). He recently went well above and beyond the call of duty for me and I want to thank him.

I also want to thank a second priest, my actual spiritual director. To be honest, Iā€™m thinking of just going to the first for spiritual direction because I connect with him better, but this one deserves to be thanked too for all the time he gave me. Heā€™s a wonderful priest; kind, wise, and very patient. I donā€™t want him to think for a second that his generosity has gone unnoticed.

Neither one seems to go for verbal thanks. They look embarrassed if I say anything more than ā€œthank you,ā€ but maybe they wouldnā€™t mind it so much in a noteā€¦maybe. I do know they appreciate prayers, maybe Iā€™ll have a Mass said for them.

Iā€™m looking for ideas. How do you thank your priests? And if you want to share why you thank them feel free - Iā€™m interested!
 
I have done things like bring them a meal, a bottle of wine, or baked goods. A lovely note is always well received. A friend once wrote a letter of thanks to a priest and ccā€™d the Archbishop. A gift given freely is always a beautiful thing. God Bless you and these fine priests!
 
This title made me laugh. I have a priest in my life who I love dearly because he is such a good person (gentle, calm, kind, wise and so many other good things). He has helped me so much in my life, because he started Perpetual Adoration at his Parish, and that (along with him always being available for Confession, and his amazing homilies) have honestly changed my life.

However, I tend to be very shy, especially around people that I admire, and so the most I have ever interacted with this priest, is to smile, say: ā€œThank you, Father!ā€ and then run off. Whether thatā€™s a ā€œthank you, Fatherā€ for confession, or a ā€œthank you, Fatherā€ after Mass, that is literally all I have ever said to him šŸ˜

I wish I could know him better and talk to him more. And perhaps thank him better too. He is such a beautiful person. I do try and pray for him though. Iā€™ve heard people say that priests have very hard and often lonely lives, so they need our prayers, as well as our thanks and our conversations (and the things that ColorMomma suggested would be lovely as well!)

I hope you find a way to thank the beautiful priests in your life!
 
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Well pray for them is the best thing. Then ask God what you can do for them, if anything else. Believe me heā€™ll provide something for you to do if itā€™s wanted/needed.
My previous parish priest was also like that in my life so helpful and he was moved from our parish and I felt called to give him a gift of no real value, just a little painting Iā€™d done of Mary (apt because his next appointment was to go and teach priests and Mary being the patron of priests) . I didnā€™t realise how much he treasured it until a friend told me heā€™d named the painting and mentioned that he said he felt she looked into his heart in a special way. There is no way I could have known a little gift could have had such an impact without Godā€™s intervention. It was no great work of art, just a simple small painting.
 
Bluebright said:
My previous parish priest was also like that in my life so helpful and he was moved from our parish and I felt called to give him a gift of no real value, just a little painting Iā€™d done of Mary (apt because his next appointment was to go and teach priests and Mary being the patron of priests) . I didnā€™t realise how much he treasured it until a friend told me heā€™d named the painting and mentioned that he said he felt she looked into his heart in a special way. There is no way I could have known a little gift could have had such an impact without Godā€™s intervention. It was no great work of art, just a simple small painting.
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What a beautiful story, thank you!
 
There was a thread once about priests missing home cooked meals because they live alone and not all know how to cook. So besides the note maybe bring them home cooked meal. But also beware of the fasting rules likeā€¦donā€™t bring them meat or sausages on Fridayā€¦ They could reheat it on Saturday but I find it silly from a believer to give a priest meat on Friday.
 
Mary888 said:
There was a thread once about priests missing home cooked meals because they live alone and not all know how to cook. So besides the note maybe bring them home cooked meal.
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This is a good suggestion. In my particular case I would have to ask first because theyā€™re both foreigners and I donā€™t know what would be to their taste, but itā€™s a great idea.
Mary888 said:
They could reheat it on Saturday but I find it silly from a believer to give a priest meat on Friday.
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Oh yeah, that would be silly!
 
Give them foodā€¦ or alcohol. My pastor is quite partial to Makers Mark.
 
Our priest accepts no stipends nor meals. The best thing is to pray for him. THAT gets a huge smile from him. Even better, have a Mass said for him at a Monastery. If you must get something in your hand, gasoline cards are great for the glove box, They put zillions of miles on their cars.
 
Wowā€¦good for him! I couldnt turn down free food hahaā€¦
 
Well, people want to load him up with sweets and he doesnā€™t like them, plus they invariably bring way too much food, and he hates throwing it out when there are so many hungry people
 
I gave our priest a nice gift set of Makers Mark and Makers 46 for Christmas. šŸ„ƒ
 
My pastor is, unfortunately, not well liked. At first glance, itā€™s not difficult to see why. He is one of the the most irascible souls Iā€™ve ever met. Nevertheless, he is our priest.

I thank him by saying yes to whatever he asks, helping out however I can. When the gas technician came to read the meter at the rectory while Father was on spiritual retreat, he asked me to let the guy in. It was my day off. I said yes. We have seen each other in the middle of the night for emergencies (the flooded rectory kitchen comes to mind). He needed a new head sacristan. Though I had no prior experience with this sort of duty, I said yes. When he was hospitalized and needed some things brought to him, I said yesā€¦despite having had major open knee surgery two months earlier and being on crutches at the time. Yes yes yes yes yes. Father has enough worries for ten people. If I can lighten his load even just a little bit, Iā€™m happy to do so.
 
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Buy this :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
 
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