First Holy Communion Gift Ideas for Boys and Girls

You've been invited to a First Holy Communion for a relative or friend and have no idea what to give as a gift, either because you are not Catholic, or because you simply have no idea what a child that age would like to receive as a gift to commemorate their First Holy Communion. You don't want to give them their tenth rosary, so what gift should you give? Here are a few First Holy Communion gift ideas that are good for both boys and girls.

A Magazine Subscription to Magnifikid!

Magnifikid! is a Catholic magazine that is geared toward children between the ages of six and twelve, particularly independent readers. Each month, a packet is sent with with separate weekly readings for the Sunday Mass so that children can follow along. Each issue is in color, so that makes it an exciting read. A subscription for one year costs approximately $35 and can be purchased either at the Magnificat website or Amazon.com quite easily.

A Book About Saints

Children love to learn about saints and buying a boy or girl a book about various saints is an appropriate First Holy Communion gift. As children are formed through religious education, they learn more about the lives of saints as a matter of course. Eventually, when they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, they will need to choose a saint's name to take. Providing them with a library of saints to study is a gift of love.

If the child already has an affinity for a specific saint, a gift basket including books about the saint's life, prayer cards, medals and the like can be assembled and given as a First Holy Communion gift.

Prayer Card Photo Book

Giving a child a prayer card as a gift is a nice present; however, where will the child store his or her many prayer cards they are sure to receive in the future? A nice gift idea for both boys and girls would be to gift a photo book with several prayer cards already inside. Don't fill it to capacity, but instead include enough to interest the child while leaving room for future prayer cards. Gifting a prayer card is nice, but giving a child a safe place to keep it is an even better gift. The photo book is portable and can easily be taken by the child anywhere he or she might want to read.

Visit A Shrine Or Cathedral With The Child

One of the most appreciated gifts to give a child is the gift of time, especially when you can set a good moral example. Godparents or close friends or relatives who are wracking their brain for a unique gift idea should consider a religious pilgrimage to a local shrine, cathedral or other area of religious interest to Catholics. Catholicshrines.net lists many Catholic shrines by state. If a shrine is not nearby, a special trip to a museum that has Catholic items on exhibit can also be a good choice.

I hope these First Holy Communion gift ideas help you choose a special gift for a young boy or girl. These gifts are inexpensive and appropriate for any child celebrating the reception of their first Holy Eucharist.

Sources:

Magnifikid ordering website: http://www.magnificat.net/magnifikid/index.asp
Catholicshrines.net: http://catholicshrines.net/
Personal experience