As we bid farewell to Thanksgiving, it’s now time to create our Christmas shopping lists. While choosing the right gift can be challenging, myriad choices abound for thoughtful Catholic gift-givers.
From spiritual books to Catholic experiences, from handmade Advent calendars to Christian-themed home décor, there are suitable, creative and thoughtful presents for even the most discerning recipient, from Mom and Dad in Newport Beach to Aunt Mabel in Missouri.
SPIRITUAL READING
Appropriate for adults interested in deepening their Christmastime experiences, a DVD and journal set from Ascension Press, “Rejoice! Finding Your Place in the Advent Story,” features Father Mark Toups with Sister Miriam James Heidland and Father Josh Johnson in videos that accompany a journal with the same name. The journal contains daily reflections for Advent following a weekly theme and accompanying daily prompts for prayer and journaling. [ascencionpress.com]
“The Great Adventure Catholic Bible” integrates the Bible Timeline Learning System, which is featured in the “Bible in a Year” Catholic podcast. It’s great for those of us who want to not only read but Bible. It is available in leather-bound or paperback versions and in Spanish. [ascencionpress.com]
HOME DÉCOR
Wayfair offers a colorful wall hanging of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a wooden crucifix, a red-flowered version understand the of the sacred heart and other Catholic and Christian home decorations. A beautiful, large angel tree-topper would be the crowning glory of any Catholic home’s Christmas tree. [wayfair.com]
Two dozen holy images honoring the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmas are available in paper and canvas prints to decorate your home for the holidays. [rejoiceprogram.com]
EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS
Organizations such as Dynamic Catholic offer religious pilgrimages to historic and spiritually significant shrines like Lourdes and Fatima and Medjugorje, as well as tours of the Holy Land, Poland and Italy. It would be the gift of a lifetime to provide a loved one with the opportunity to hike the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain or celebrate in Germany by attending this decade’s performance of the passion play in Oberammergau. [dynamiccatholic. com]
Closer to home, one might consider springing for a couple of tickets to the Orange Catholic Foundation’s April 2022 gala, “A Night of Country Under the Stars,” which includes a special Mass, gourmet dinner and country music performance by Gary LeVox, lead singer of Rascal Flatts. The program will include the presentation of the foundation’s inaugural President’s Award to Dr. Vincent Nguyen and recognition of the Diocese of Orange’s retiring priests. [orangecatholicfoundation. com]
RELIGIOUS ITEMS AND FUN PRESENTS
You can’t go wrong purchasing a medal [on a necklace, bracelet, key chain or lanyard] honoring your recipient’s patron or favorite saint, and many of them are available at various price ranges at the Christ Cathedral Shop. The shop also offers a wide selection of rosaries, statuary, prayer books and Catholic-themed décor. [christcathedralshop.com]
Many whimsical gifts, including socks and Christmas ornaments with saints’ images, are available online. A quick glance revealed originally designed Advent calendars, a signed print of “saint moms” and a hand-crafted St. Joseph prayer bench. [Etsy.com]
The Abiding Together podcast website offers an array of clever apparel, coffee mugs and more, all of them suited to the spiritual woman in your life. [abidingtogetherpodcast.com]