Traditional Catholic
First Communion Gifts

First Holy Communion Catechism - Our first recommendation is St. Anne's Helper First Communion Catechism for its content and great review aids. The Audio CDs make awesome First Communion gifts for Grandchildren or God-children. The Downloads are easy to buy and you can own them immediately. They both make learning the Catholic Prayers, Catholic Ten Commandments, and first sacraments easy using Audio and Text files. The companion First Communion Catechism Copybook offers copywork worksheets in Manuscript that you can bind or use individually! Also, see the darling My First Communion Catechism, the ever popular New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism, and other First Communion books below this page of First Communion gift ideas.

First Communion Rosaries - One of my favorite First Communion gifts was the First Communion Rosaries I received from my parents and even one from the Dominican sisters who ran our school. They usually come in colors that commemorate the event and are appropriate for either boys or girls. They frequently have a center medal with a Host and ciborium depicted, try to choose one that is sturdy since the open medal breaks easily. Children and adults both appreciate receiving an adult sized Rosary that has their favorite color or center medal. Benedictine Rosaries are favorites since they carry additional promises when blessed by the Benedictine monks. The Dominican blessing can be given by any priest.

Girls-First Communion Dresses - Many costume patterns make excellent First Holy Communion dress patterns and allow you the flexibility choose the material you like and to add the decorations you choose, and you can also make her First Communion purse to match! Of course, a hand made First Communion dress is the most thoughtful of First Communion gifts, especially if made by someone dear. The First Holy Communion dress should be modest, simply elegant and comfortable. Remember that the lace can itch and cut! Simple cotton bias tape can cover the back side of any rough lace or elastic even on a store bought, my Mom did this for me on a darling handmade dress donated by a parishioner. Bridal shops often have a wide selection, too. Be sure to get her First Communion shoes before the Easter dressy shoes are gone for the season. Pretty white shoes can be hard to find after Easter! Her First communion purse can keep her dear treasures handy on that beautiful day.

Irish First Communion Dresses - Consider making your own Irish First Communion dress and a matching First Communion purse in the same material and motif! Seemstresses are thrilled to help in the selection of satin and Irish linen materials. Many costume patterns make excellent First Holy Communion dress patterns and allow you the flexibility to add the decorations you choose! For purity's sake, keep the "wearin' o' the green" for another dress, she's heard all about a stained dress resembling a sin on her soul!

Boys-First Communion Suits - White suits are also easier to find at bridal shops and can be rented like the groom's tux, yet places like JC Penney still carry First Communion suits. White boys' First Communion shoes can be rented if you cannot find them, but black is fine. We know one lady who simply spray-painted a pair of shoes white! They looked great and she received so many compliments! Many parishes do not ask for the white apparel and only ask that the boys wear a shirt and tie or sometimes a Sunday suit. Old pictures of First Communions seldom show the boys wearing white, which might be a helpful suggestion to your parish DRE during tough economic times when it is hard to buy a one time outfit.

First Holy Communion Invitations - First Communion invitations are not only useful to invite relatives and friends to the Mass and gathering, but can also be treasured mementos to Grandparents and Godparents, other relatives and friends. Be certain to call early in the year to let those who must travel know about the First Communion and its probable date so they can make travel arrangements. It is very nice to tell those who are traveling that you expect no First Communion gifts. Their presence is a most generous gift. Send the invitations about three weeks to a month ahead of time. Many Godparents and Grandparents save these invitations to put in shadow boxes or scrapbooks.

First Communion Remembrance Cards - These First Communion Remembrance cards are the cards that relatives and friends send to the First Communicant. They can be bought at Catholic books and gifts stores or homemade. We have kept a homemade card handy throughout the year for the child to make his or her own record of prayers and sacrifices! We encouraged them to use a gel pen to mark Masses and Rosaries as diamonds, extra little prayers as pearls (circle with a bent hatch mark), sacrifices as crosses, and acts of Faith, Hope and Charity as hearts. They love to mark them and these become their most treasured keepsakes over the ensuing years.

First Communion Veils - First Communion veils are easy to make. Again, costume patterns give the measurements and directions with materials suggestions.

First Communion Jewelry - Catholic Jewelry usually has some symbol of the Crucifixion or Catholic saints as Crucifixes or patron saints medals. The communicant's own patron saint is a good motif for First Communion gifts; medal, book or statue. Popular First Communion patron saints are Saint Pius X (allowed little children to receive Communion), Blessed Immelda, and St. Paschal Baylon.

First Communion Certificate - Usually the parish provides the First Communion Certificate, yet it is nice to buy another so as to be able to frame it as a keepsake or add it as a title page in a scrapbook. Parishes can order theirs here too!

First Communion Cakes - FIRST! Plan a time before the party for your First Communion candidate to say the prayers that are so well heard on this excellent day! After that let a simple gathering mark the day. The First Communion cake is the first element necessary for any First Communion reception. It marks the occasion in a dignified manner and adds to the festivity appropriate to this glorious day. It is easy to make a First Communion Cross Cake by removing the outer quadrants of a 9x13 for a small group or by using three 9x13 pans with the two cakes placed laterally on a tray and the one sliced in half for the Cross arms. Small plastic Rosaries can be added to the decorations, too! Consider using Crisco as the base in a butter cream frosting mix if you want that intense white so appropriate for a First Communion cake.

We hope that you have enjoyed these ideas and will pass them on to others!

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