Give Catholic Gifts this Christmas

You probably already do that…and now you can give fun and useful gifts that help your family keep the Faith and support Catholic businesses at the same time!

Below is a sampling of businesses that offer gifts for adults, teens, and children that you’d enjoy giving your family and friends to celebrate the birth of Our Lord. I chose many from the list published by Catholic Women in Business and added some of my own finds and those of my friends.

Yes, it’s the Advent Season, not the shopping season :) so we’ll get back to our regularly-scheduled Advent posts next week!

WOMEN’S CLOTHING

T-shirts are among the safest clothing to give as gifts (no problem with the sizing). Holly Nguyen at Holly Loo Yah! makes good-looking T’s – one of them, perfect for any mom, reads “Surviving Motherhood one Hail Mary at a time”: https://hollylooyahdesigns.com/products/surviving-motherhood-hail-mary-t-shirt

And don’t miss her t-shirt that says, “Yes, they’re all mine.”

Petite Fleur Catholic Co. offers lovely t-shirts, throw blankets and many other beautiful items. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PetiteFleurCatholic

The founders of Catholic Dress Company https://catholicdressco.com/ couldn’t find attractive, modest clothing that didn’t break the bank. So they started their own company.

FOOD and DRINK

For the tea-lover, creative tea blends inspired by the saints. Saint Mary Magdalene tea (green tea + peppermint + ginger) sounds delish! Sacred Heart Tea is a family business owned by Jenifer and Frank Ramirez at https://www.sacredhearttea.com/product-page.

Olives and olive oil from Laura and Giuseppe Pugliano, whose family has been growing olives for generations on their farm in Calabria, Italy. So you know it’s the real thing! https://www.cicciosolives.com/family-farm/

FOR THE HOME

Anna Camacho at CORDA creates dozens of candles inspired by the saints: fun scents like “Roses in Winter” for Our Lady of Guadalupe and “Alpine Ascent” (Mountain Air and Pipe Smoke) for Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati at https://cordacandles.com/collections/shopcatholicsaintcandles/products/roses-in-winter-our-lady-of-guadalupe

Everything Tabitha Kidman and her husband at House of Joppa sell is absolutely beautiful: Catholic items for the kitchen and bath; religious items and apparel. https://www.houseofjoppa.com/collections/shop-best-sellers

Wine glass charms with Catholic saint medals? Yes, please! Made by Robin Kucinic of SipnSaints at https://www.etsy.com/shop/SipnSaints

I wanted to include of a picture of every product on Rifle Paper‘s website because they are all so beautiful. Feast your eyes on the planners, kitchenware, rugs, wallpaper, and other decorative treasures at https://riflepaperco.com/.

Stephanie Weinert offers gifts for moms, including vintage-design cookie molds for every liturgical season. https://motherandhomemarket.co/collections/cookie-molds

Owners Thérèse and Christie of Lovely Lady Linens offer beautiful Marian-inspired table linens, quilts, and other items for the home at https://lovelyladylinens.com/.

BOOKS, CARDS, and JOURNALS

My friend Sam Fatzinger, homeschool mother of 14, and her husband Rob published A Catholic Guide to Spending Less and Living More: Advice from a Debt-Free Family of 16. Since the book came out last year, Rob has retired in his mid-’50s debt-free with six children still at home. An inspiring book of faith and practical advice for any family: https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Guide-Spending-Less-Living/dp/1646800478

Daily Examen journal for men by W. Williams at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0999277316. Includes instructions for doing the daily examen and inspiring quotations especially for men.

Sam Fatzinger tells me she loves her floral Bible tabs at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NTHPVRJ

Prayer is the ultimate gift. But what if you could send a beautiful card to let them know you prayed a Novena, or offered a Mass? https://www.novenacards.com/ is your resource to make your prayers the gift that keeps on giving.

GIFTS FOR TEENS

Heather Lebano offers bead bracelets with messages that help us keep virtue strong. An especially good one for young people reads, “God First”: https://houseofloveandlaughter.com/product/god-first-beaded-bracelet/

Marian sparkle stickers at https://www.etsy.com/listing/1477623062/miraculous-medal-sparkle-sticker will let her show off her sparkle and her faith. 

Frassati Hiking Club t-shirt from https://www.etsy.com/listing/1313814767/saint-club-bl-pier-giorgio-frassati. A strong reminder to always “climb upward” in courage and faith.

Hand Maid by Emily created a one-decade “Car Rosary” of white marble for new drivers at https://handmaidbyemily.com/ Rosaries in fun colors, too.

Violets and Moss sells beautiful and sturdy hand-made paper shrines for the faithful of any age: https://www.etsy.com/market/violets_and_moss

MOMS and BABIES

After the birth of her fourth little one, Shannon Wendt designed a nursing bracelet featuring a moveable charm to help track nursing. You can get one at https://chewslife.com/. They have “teething Rosaries,” too!

Imagine being surrounded by praying saints. This throw blanket, great for baby gifts, reminds us that our intercessors are actually in heaven praying for us. And don’t miss their onesies that read “Cradle Catholic” and “Future Saint”) at https://www.etsy.com/shop/PetiteFleurCatholic

FOR MEN

Petite Fleur Catholic Co. carries mugs, t-shirts, and sweats that a man would actually use and enjoy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PetiteFleurCatholic

Jeremy’s Razors provides shaving and bath supplies for the non-woke. https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/jeremys-shaving

The Catholic Gentleman has sacramentals, mugs, books and more at https://store.catholicgentleman.com/

FOR THE CHILDREN ON YOUR LIST

Lily and Lamb children’s clothing and accessories offers “Daughter of the King” items to remind young girls of their true identity: https://lilyandlamb.com/collections/daughter-of-the-king/DOTK.

Catholic Family Crate has fun things to grow your children’s love of God, such as a monthly bundle of activity items to keep them engaged with the Faith: https://catholicfamilycrate.com/collections/monthly-subscription/products/one-month-crate

In the same vein, Seeds for Sainthood offers an affordable weekly download of prayers and activity sheets that keep elementary-school-age children in tune with the Church’s liturgical year. Owners Katie McComb and Emily Ziemba are offering 10% off through Dec. 16 using the discount code CWB2022. https://www.seedsforsainthood.com/apple

Shining Light Dolls offers toys, puzzles, activity books, and dolls like these Mother Mary and St. Joseph plush dolls, for young children: https://shininglightdolls.com/

Mary’s Garden wooden puzzle can be had at https://beaheart.com/products/wooden-puzzle-baptism-gifts

Is there a kid who doesn’t love stickers?
        https://www.santaclaradesign.com/
has some great ones. AND for last-minute gifts,
they have art that you download and print at home.

A personal top recommendation is Saintly Heart at https://saintlyheart.com/. I got to know the founder’s husband at a couple of conferences and was impressed by the quality of the toys. Maggie and Mike have little ones of their own at home to road-test their colorful, high-quality puzzles and use-your-imagination games that enable kids to really enjoy learning about their faith and the saints (they even carry temporary Saint tattoos — what fun!).