First Communion Gift - Arlington,MA

We are not RC, but Lutheran, and when our kids were confirmed they mostly received cards with cash (or gift cards) in them. Nothing extravagant, but a gesture... $10 or $15 or whatever.

Many children receive gifts of jewelry (rosary beads, crucifix necklace, etc) or such, but from what I have seen, those mostly come from family or someone close to them in the church. For us, first communion and confirmation is the same time, so it may be a little different in the RC church when they are separate events (they are separate events, right?)

As a friend of the family, rather than family or mentor/teacher in the church, I would give a card with cash.

We always give $100.00 to those we are close with and it's also what others gave to our son when he made his first communion.. Apart from that, he also received MANY rosaries and religious type things. I like to give money, this way the child can add it to their savings and buy something they think is special.

Money is traditional and appropriate for this occasion. You are absolutely correct in wishing the gift to be different from a birthday party, so cash in whatever denomination you can afford and maybe something small for her would be perfect. Because you are not Catholic, I wouldn't go with a religious gift, but perhaps a really nice frame for her picture or a white album for photos would be great!

My favorite gift for those occasions is something that can grow...usually a plant or tree they can plant outside, or a plant they can have in their room. Money for a communion seems wrong to me for some reason. I know it's common, but it doesn't work for me.

The other things I like for first communion gifts are things that they can use in relation to their faith...a nice rosary, a purse to carry when she dresses up for church, a book about her patron saint, a booklet about her name, etc.

I have two things that I got for my First Communion that I still have to this day. A gold cross from my parents, and a misalette that my grandmother gave me.

Here are a couple of misalettes:
http://www.catholiccompany.com/marian-childrens-mass-book...
http://www.catholicchildrenscompany.com/

The 2nd link actually has a whole bunch of stuff you could look at.

There are probably some specialty stores in your area who would carry some of the stuff you could find on these websites, too. Good luck!

I got chilren bibles, witch I still have, and read to my daughter now. Or a necklace with a cross is great idea. Go to a catholic store and look. They have great stuff for a decent price!

We have traditionally given an item (such as a cross picture frame, or small jewelery box with a cross) that has been engraved. I like "Things Remembered" as they engrave for you, but it can be costly. I work at a bank that sells coins for special occasions that can also be engraved. I think when it is personalized for a special occasion, it means more to the recipient.

Good luck!