In short: A good gift for a priest or minister is personal, not too expensive and has a link to the faith or the parish. For a farewell or jubilee, a joint gift from the parish suits well, such as a cross, a figure of the church’s patron saint or a house blessing. As thanks after a christening, First Holy Communion or wedding, a small token with a card is enough. Our ideas start at €9.90.
Whether after your child’s christening, for a retirement farewell or for a silver priestly jubilee: many people want to thank their priest and wonder what is appropriate. In this guide you will find ideas for the most common occasions, notes on how much to spend and a few wordings for the card.
What makes a good gift for a priest?
Priests and ministers receive many gifts over the years. What stays in the memory usually has three qualities:
- It is personal. A link to the parish, the church’s patron saint or a shared experience counts for more than the price.
- It is not overloaded. A parish house rarely has room for large decorations. A simple cross or a small picture is more likely to be hung up than a bulky present.
- It has meaning. Signs such as the cross, the dove or the olive branch suit the office and speak for themselves.
Almost always it includes a handwritten card. That is often what is kept longest.
A gift for a farewell or retirement
When a priest leaves the parish or retires, the parish usually gives a gift together: the parish council, the church council, the choir or a group. A joint gift can be of somewhat higher value and should recall the time spent together.
A cross for the new home
A cross accompanies you into the next stage of life. The olive wood St Benedict crucifix with INRI (28 × 15 cm, €49.90, blessed) is a dignified piece for a farewell. If you prefer something simpler, choose the olive wood wall cross from Bethlehem, 30 cm (€39.90, blessed). The glass cross, 27 × 12 cm (€59.90, blessed), looks more colourful and bright, with light falling through the glass.
A figure of the church’s patron saint
Every church has a patron saint, such as St Martin, St Joseph or St Michael. A wooden statue of this saint permanently links the priest with his parish. In our woodcarving workshop collection you will find hand-carved statues from South Tyrol, for example male saints such as Martin, Joseph, Michael or Florian, and Madonnas. Please allow time here: the statues are shipped directly from the workshop in South Tyrol, the delivery time is approx. 3 to 4 weeks, and shipping is to Germany and Austria only. The statues are not blessed in our warehouse.
With a dedication for the parish
For parishes and church institutions we offer custom pieces such as engraving or a dedication on request. If you would like, for example, to commemorate the year the parish was founded or a message of thanks, write to us at hallo@lunexus.world or call +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English).
A gift for a priestly jubilee or anniversary of service
Catholic priests often celebrate the silver (25 years), golden (50 years) or diamond (60 years) priestly jubilee. In the Protestant church the ordination jubilee is marked in a similar way. Here too, the parish usually gives a gift together.
- To display: The triptych of Pope Leo XIV as a wooden stand (12 × 10 cm, €19.90, blessed) is a contemporary gift for Catholic clergy.
- For the desk: An olive wood standing cross (18.5 cm, €29.90, blessed) suits any desk in the parish office.
- Wider choice: In the Gifts for Honours and Jubilees collection we have put together fitting pieces for milestone anniversaries.
Thank-you after a christening, First Holy Communion, Confirmation or wedding
After a family celebration, many people want to thank the priest personally. A small token is enough here, because conducting the celebration is part of his ministry. Things that recall the day but do not oblige are nice:
- An olive wood holding cross (9 cm, €13.90, blessed) for the pocket.
- The olive wood house blessing wall plaque with the German inscription “Gott segne unser Haus” (“God bless our home”) (€17.90, blessed), suitable for the parish house.
- A metal cross bookmark (€14.90) for the breviary, Bible or hymn book.
- A card with a photo of the day of the celebration and a few lines from the family.
A donation to a project of the parish, such as youth work or the renovation of the church, is also a form of thanks that many priests are especially glad of.
A gift for Christmas or a birthday
At Christmas, groups such as the church choir, altar servers or the seniors’ circle often give thanks. Small olive wood pendants for the Christmas tree, such as the “Holy Family” pendant (€9.90, blessed), are easy to present together with a card. We collect more ideas in our article Christian Christmas Gifts.
How much do you spend?
There is no fixed rule. As a guide:
- Personal thanks from a family: a small token, often between €10 and €30, or a donation to the parish.
- Joint gift for a farewell or jubilee: Many parishes collect for this, so a piece of higher value becomes possible too.
Some churches have rules about which gifts full-time staff may accept. For a larger joint gift, it is therefore worth a quick enquiry at the parish office.
What do you write on the card?
Honest, short words work better than long quotations. A few suggestions:
- “Thank you for accompanying our family on this special day.”
- “We wish you God’s blessing on your way. We will miss you.”
- A blessing from the Bible, for example the Aaronic blessing: “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26, King James Version)
Blessed, with a certificate
A Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda blesses many of our items in our own warehouse. A certificate card showing the date of the blessing is then included. Whether an item is blessed is stated in the title.
For parishes that need several gifts, for example for volunteers or catechists, a quantity discount is available on request. Items are shipped via Amazon's logistics network – free within Germany, €5.90 to Austria and France; Italy €6.90, Spain €6.90.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give a priest as a farewell gift?
Joint gifts with a link to the parish are popular: a cross, a wooden statue of the church’s patron saint, a house blessing or a photo book with greetings from parishioners.
What do you give the priest after a christening?
A small token with a personal card is enough, for example a holding cross or a bookmark. A donation to the parish is also a lovely way to say thank you.
How much money do you spend on a gift for the priest?
There is no fixed sum. For a personal thank-you, a small amount is often enough. Larger gifts for a farewell or jubilee are usually collected together by the parish.
Are there gifts that also suit Protestant ministers?
Yes. Crosses, house blessings and olive wood pieces are familiar in both denominations. With saint statues, it is worth checking whether they fit the tradition of the parish.
Can a parish order a gift with a dedication?
Yes, for parishes and church institutions, custom pieces such as engraving or a dedication are possible on request. Write to us at hallo@lunexus.world or call +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English).
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