Father's Day Gift Guide

 Thoughtful Gifts for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18^th this year.  On Father’s Day we honor the fathers, grandfathers, Godfathers, and other father-figures in our lives.  It is the perfect opportunity to show them gratitude for their love, guidance, and support.  We have the perfect Father’s Day gifts for all of the father figures in your life:

Books

The Way of the Wilderness Warrior by Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Riveting and accessible, this novelized account of the spiritual life is a hero's journey for our times. It tells the story of the conversion of a young man named Austin through the ministrations of a tough inner-city priest, Father Lawrence, who challenges nine college students to take a leap of faith on the path to holiness. As his friends set out for England, Ireland, and New York City, Austin heads for a remote monastery where he meets Fr. Aelred, a Benedictine hermit who guides him on the spiritual quest. Through a fictional dialogue, author Fr. Dwight Longenecker unveils a twelve-part plan for union with God that parallels the classic purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of the spiritual life.

 

Holy Grit: ASaintly Guide to Becoming a Man of Virtue by Paul George

Discover what it means to become a man of faith through the lives of ten male saints and their experiences pursuing holiness. In Holy Grit, you’ll join Catholic life coach Paul George to consider some of the tough issues facing men today—struggles in marriage, parenting, suffering, and finding purpose—to determine areas for growth and take steps toward living the life for which God created you…Each chapter introduces a saint, offers practical takeaways for modern men, and includes reflection questions, an action plan, and a prayer.

 

Manual for Men by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted

Manual for Men is for men who are in the arena, warriors for Christ and His Church. It is for those men who battle daily for their souls and for their family. It is often a struggle to shed the sins and vices the world offers men, but it’s a battle we must fight and win…Manual for Men serves as a field guide and instruction manual for those husbands, fathers, sons and brothers who would become real men of God— men who protect, physically and spiritually, those entrusted to them; men who sacrifice, pray, fight, love, and live by the example of Christ. 

 

Puzzles

“Be Strong and Courageous”500 Piece Puzzle

These encouraging sentiments of the puzzles, along with their smooth interlocking pieces, will make for hours long frustration-free relaxation. The puzzle is made from recycled material and eco-friendly ink and makes an excellent gift for an environmentally conscious friend.  Perfect for any dad, grandad, uncle, or other father-figure looking for a fun, relaxing activity.

“The Lord is My Strength”500 Piece Puzzle

 

Journals

These rugged, handsome journals with great quotes make great gifts for all of the men in your life.  Whether for work notes, spiritual reflection, or just jotting down thoughts, these journals are thoughtful, beautiful gifts for Father’s Day.

 

Prayer Books

The “St. Joseph PrayerBook,” “Daily Companion for Men,” “St. Joseph Gems,” and other great Men’s prayer books are perfect Father’s Day gifts.  These prayer books provide just the right amount of encouragement and challenge to guide and inspire men of every age and way of life.  Help the men in your life enrich their prayer life with these wonderful prayer books.

Saint Socks

Saint socks are a fun way to have your patron saint or St. Joseph, patron of fathers, with you throughout the day.  Whether it is a saint you have a connect with such as St. Benedict or St. Michael or the saint of fatherhood, St. Joseph, there are a variety of saint socks which make fun gifts for all of the men in your life this Father’s Day.

Find these and more gifts for Father's Day at St. Mary's Bookstore and www.StMarysBookstore.com.  Wishing all of the fathers and father-figures a blessed Father's Day.

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.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2018

We all know Jesus is the REAL reason for the season. So...while we are picking out toys for children or clothes for adults, why not give a religious gift that reminds us why we celebrate Christmas? Here are some of our gift and stocking stuffer suggestions for every age group!

Mom/Grandmother

Pearl Rosaries $25-50
Bible in a Year: Your Daily Encounter with God $29.95
Daily Companion for Women $8.95
SS Miraculous Medals $35-60

Dad/Grandfather

4-5 Way SS Medals $35-60
Daily Companion for Men $8.95
Bible in a Year: Your Daily Encounter with God $29.95
Wood Rosaries $12-40

Child/Godchild

Saint Bracelets $7-14
Tiny Saints $5.50
Fontanini - My First Nativity Set (6pc) $115


More gifts can be found on our website (www.stmarysbookstore.com) or in our store (1909 West End Ave, Nashville, TN)

Pre-Christmas Sale

Most years we go to market with the expectation of finding exciting new products to offer our customers. This year was no different and we are thrilled for you to see our beautiful new lines. While separating products and preparing to display at Christmas Village, we have found some great gifts from last year that will not match our new themes. Consequently, we have a wonderful opportunity for you! 

Come shop our pre-Christmas sale! Items marked down drastically for you to get in front of your gift buying. Along with Christmas items, we have other sale merchandise displayed in St. Luke's Loft. The Loft will remain a space to share a taste of Mystic Monk coffee, enjoy a good visit, or look through old books, and now shop our closeouts. 

Please come visit and while enjoying your local Christian Bookstore and Gift Shop, maybe even get some good deals!

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.

Graduation Gift Ideas

Graduation season is upon us and I don't know about the rest of you but I have one graduating from High School on a Friday night and one graduating from Grade School the next morning. Times are just busy for all of us!

Here at the store, days are just as busy but we can make these busy times much easier. We have a great selection of graduation gifts as well as cards! So while you're shopping for First Communion or Confirmation or just grabbing a good book for yourself, pick up some gifts for those special graduates in your life and we'd be glad to wrap them for you. Someone said just the other day, "I cannot think of many places you can go anymore and have your gift wrapped, well you know, the old fashioned way, other than St. Mary's." My mom started that service when she first bought the store from the Diocese. Not just a bag or a box and a bow unless that's the way you like it or you're in a big hurry. We want you to look good at the party. We want your gift to stand out! Great gift ideas and packaged beautifully! That's a wrap!

Gifts for Every Occasion

We are deep into the season of Confirmation and Communion and the store is filled with gifts that will help young people remember these special sacraments as well as help them to continue to learn more about their faith. We also cannot forget that it is an exciting time for those who are graduating too! (I have two graduations and I know our house is filled with excitement.)

This new line of music boxes and these brightly colored plaques and angels are just a few ideas that are great for every occasion. Whether those who visit SMB are in need of a First Communion Dress or veil or tie, whether they need a prayer book or rosaries, whether they are searching for a book or a medal of a special Saint chosen for Confirmation, or they want something totally different like these new lines of gift plaques and angels, we hope that we have something for everyone and for every occasion right here in our one stop shop. Hey...and don't forget the cards and gift bags! Makes everything come together for that special day.

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.