Choosing a First Communion Gift

Whether you choose a First Communion gift that is specific to the Sacrament of Communion or simply what you feel the child would like, every gift can be memorable and special. We want to choose a gift to help a child not only remember their special day but also to further their prayer life and draw them closer each day to Jesus. How can we help?

Every day we are asked by parents and grandparents and friends and neighbors, aunts and uncles and godparents, WHAT is a good present for First Communion?

We highly recommend that parents and grandparents give the more traditionally "personal" gifts, such as, a rosary, a prayer book, a bible or a crucifix. Godparents may want to go with a piece of jewelry such as a cross or a bracelet with a chalice (we offer great masculine bracelets). Aunts and uncles may like to give a rosary box or pouch or a communion frame. Friends and neighbors can choose from many, many books about First Communion or the Mass. We suggest if anyone chooses to give a book, whether specific or general, that they personalize the inside with the date and a message for the child's special day. Other choices, in general, include medals, figurines and books of saints, bookmarks, crosses with communion symbols or a special message, and music boxes.
First Communion Day is a very special time for our children and we are aware that you want to keep the momentum of that day going forever. Let us help you choose something special.

Help! I Was Asked to be a Godparent...What's a Good Gift?

First and foremost, let me just say, what an honor! You've been asked to stand up and witness to someone's Baptism and to support the parents in raising their child in the faith. You may want to mark the day on your calendar, just like some people mark birthdays, and encourage your godchild by sending a little note each year just to say you're continuing to pray for them on their journey.

One really nice suggestion for a Baptism gift is to start your godchild with a nativity set. We carry the Fontanini collection which can be bought piece by piece and is a nice way to eventually own a beautiful nativity if you decide to add to the set each Baptismal remembrance day or each Christmas. The pieces are made of PVC (nonbreakable) so they are safe for all ages.

Also, along the idea of keepsakes, a sterling silver or gold medal of the child's patron Saint or the Guardian Angel with the date of their Baptism engraved on the back makes a nice gift. A rosary is a beautiful, personal gift. A cross or crucifix for their room can also have a plate put on the back with the date of Baptism engraved on it. A nightlight, a music box, a holy water font or anything with the Guardian Angel or a Lamb or Noah's Ark makes a nice gift. You may even want to give a statue of Mary or St. Joseph or the Holy Family. There are many wonderful ideas for Baptism at the store and we're always happy to gift wrap. Oh, and remember a Baptism card!

Whatever you decide on for a gift, ask the priest or deacon at the ceremony to bless it.

Metal Artwork from Haiti

This angel is a great example of the use of drum barrels to create fabulous artwork we carry in the bookstore. It is easy to see that the head and near the bottom of the skirt are the large and small spouts in the top of the barrels. Crosses, nativity plaques, St. Francis plaques, angels and scripture verse plaques are included in the beautiful display of artwork from Haiti. "In the 1950s, DeWitt Peters, a patron of Haitian arts, was intrigued by the iron crosses marking many of the above-ground tombs. Peters discovered the blacksmith who had fashioned the crosses, soon to be renowned Haitian artist Georges Liautaud…and so began Haitian metal art. The original raw material was iron, but with many goods shipped to Haiti in 55-gallon steel oil drums, there was a ready supply of discarded drums for the artisans.

Over the years the number of Haitian metal artists has multiplied via families and mentor / students embracing the craft. The center of Haitian metal arts is the village of Croix-des-Bouquets, where the clang-clang of metal on metal, the hammers banging out the sculptures, provides constant music. The artisans start with designs inspired by nature and culture. From cardboard patterns, they trace their design with chalk on the flattened metal from torn-down oil drums. With chisels and hammers, they carefully cut and decorate the metal by hand. Each piece is shaped and smoothed, then the artists boldly and proudly chisel their name on to the metal sculpture." Thank you to "Beyond Borders" for the info. for this article.

Touching Hearts - Gifts with Meaning

 I just love this display put together with Studio pieces as well as the artwork of Kelly Rae Roberts. Crosses, Angel figurines for special occasions, canvases with Scripture, plaques, medals and mini journals make fantastic gift suggestions for Confirmation, Graduation, Birthdays or Occasions of Sympathy.  As you can see from the close up of the canvas, many pieces shown are two-dimensional, bringing out a richness in quality and yet still reasonably priced. 

We just love the work of many of the artists we display around the bookstore, intermingled with great book selections, movies and music. We find it more difficult and yet even more important to stay on top of trends in the marketplace. We love to shop with our customers in mind and certainly appreciate the positive feedback as they browse through the store. 

 

We may not have the manpower to put everything on our website but we do spend many hours hand picking just the right items that we believe will not only enhance homes but also touch hearts. We believe in gifts that brings us closer to Christ and we hope that the bookstore continues to have the atmosphere that touches the soul, warms the heart and passes on the love we all should have for one another, the love of Christ.

God bless us all as we continue together through the Lenten Season. May joy fill our hearts so that we may pass His love to all we meet along the way. Let's work to change the world. One Heart at a time.