Christmas gift for a nun/teacher?

[sherry7]

I'm kind of stumped, but DIS'ers usually come up with great ideas. DD, age 4, goes to a full day program at a Montessori school, which is operated by an order of Catholic nuns. Her teacher is a nun. We are not Catholic, so I really don't know much about "protocol", for want of a better word.

I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts, and I'm totally stumped on what to get her teacher. Beyond speaking to her briefly a few times regarding DD, I really don't know her well. Any suggestions for a gift? Budget is an issue, so I'd like to keep it below $30 or so.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I'm kind of stumped, but DIS'ers usually come up with great ideas. DD, age 4, goes to a full day program at a Montessori school, which is operated by an order of Catholic nuns. Her teacher is a nun. We are not Catholic, so I really don't know much about "protocol", for want of a better word.

I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts, and I'm totally stumped on what to get her teacher. Beyond speaking to her briefly a few times regarding DD, I really don't know her well. Any suggestions for a gift? Budget is an issue, so I'd like to keep it below $30 or so.

Is there a christian bookstore nearby? They usually have great Christmas gifts that keep Christ in Christmas.

http://www.familychristian.com/

http://www.christianbook.com/

http://www.christianoutlet.com/product.asp?sku=0095177565124 *I like the soup bowl. Maybe you could put a packaged soup mix in it?

 

[Southernmiss]

Is there a christian bookstore nearby? They usually have great Christmas gifts that keep Christ in Christmas.

http://www.familychristian.com/

http://www.christianbook.com/

I would not go with a religious item. While the gesture would be warmly received, I am sure they've got all the religious items and mugs they'd want. And many live in smaller, shared spaces without a lot of room for extra stuff.

I'm a church office manager. I was a religious education coordinator for 20 years. I've received many gifts over the years. There's only so many crosses and rosaries you can use.

Also, not all Christian bookstores are Catholic friendly. We've got a local one that is sponsored by the southern Baptist convention and we don't let them know we're looking for items for Catholics. Sad. But true.

Our nun and priest like the same things everyone else does. A little cash, gift cards to favorite local restaurants maybe a barnes and noble gift card, maybe coffee or teas or chocolates, a gift card to a clothing store, a pretty scarf (our nun doesn't wear a habit).

 

[Happy Snowman]

I would not go with a religious item. While the gesture would be warmly received, I am sure they've got all the religious items and mugs they'd want.

I'm a church office manager. I was a religious education coordinator for 20 years. I've received many gifts over the years. There's only so many crosses and rosaries you can use.

Also, not all Christian bookstores are Catholic friendly. We've got a local one that is sponsored by the southern Baptist convention and we don't let them know we're looking for items for Catholics. Sad. But true.

Our nun and priest like the same things everyone else does. A little cash, gift cards to favorite local restaurants maybe a barnes and noble gift card, maybe coffee or teas or chocolates, a gift card to a clothing store, a pretty scarf (our nun doesn't wear a habit).

 

[Handbag Lady]

Do nuns take vows of poverty still? I would go with gift cards for places like Target and Olive Garden.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Do nuns take vows of poverty still? I would go with gift cards for places like Target and Olive Garden.

Many do but they still need to buy clothing and such. "Poverty" is also more of a case of not spending more than you make and living simply vs not having anything.

 

[Southernmiss]

Do nuns take vows of poverty still? I would go with gift cards for places like Target and Olive Garden.

Yes, many orders do. But there's still some leeway in gift receiving.

Our nun knows her limits and will often give cash to the less fortunate. She enjoys having a little extra $ in her pocket to bless someone else with.

And there are always personal incidentals that even religious need pocket $ for.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Many do but they still need to buy clothing and such. "Poverty" is also more of a case of not spending more than you make and living simply vs not having anything.

Yes, many orders do. But there's still some leeway in gift receiving.

Our nun knows her limits and will often give cash to the less fortunate. She enjoys having a little extra $ in her pocket to bless someone else with.

And there are always personal incidentals that even religious need pocket $ for.

That's exactly why I was thinking a Target gift card. I don't care who you are, new undies are always appreciated at Christmastime.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

I'm a teacher in a Catholic school and in my experience I'd go with a Target card. She will appreciate the gesture and can use it for anything she wants. The sisters and clergy I know tend to be very generous with their limited spending money so the chance to get a little something for themselves is appreciated. You could package it with a little chocolate or something but honestly best of all would be a heartfelt note. I save all of these and they mean the world.

 

[Tozzie]

I went to Catholic school as well as having 4 aunts who were/are nuns and my parents always gave cash in a card. Regardless of the tuition you are paying Nuns get paid very little.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I would also stay away from religious-themed items. In fact, I would get her the same type of gift I'd get any of my kids' teachers. A gift card is always appreciated, as is chocolate, fancy cookies, a scarf, nice bath items, or a pretty candle.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would also stay away from religious-themed items. In fact, I would get her the same type of gift I'd get any of my kids' teachers. A gift card is always appreciated, as is chocolate, fancy cookies, a scarf, nice bath items, or a pretty candle.

Totally agree- I am sure she has all the religious items she wants and needs- I would go with a gift card.

 

[lovesmurfs]

When the kids were young, I'd get gift certificates to the local teacher supply store for their teachers.

I worked for a Catholic school once, and their budget was quite tight -- I didn't have any budget for classroom stuff. Also, my mother-in-law taught Montessori, and the classroom stuff is pretty expensive, so a gift card related to something like that might be appreciated.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

I'd go with a gift card to someplace she could get personal items- jcpenny, Macy's, etc. that way the gift she would buy would have to be for her, not the kids. I saw our priest in REI once, in the bargain section. I had never even thought he might like to camp.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I'd go with a gift card to someplace she could get personal items- jcpenny, Macy's, etc. that way the gift she would buy would have to be for her, not the kids. I saw our priest in REI once, in the bargain section. I had never even thought he might like to camp.

I had an aunt that was a nun and when she was younger, she loved camping. She and a few nun friends would take a several week camping trip almost every summer. This was back in the early 70's even.

Nuns are still people. They like to go to sporting events, concerts, listen to music, travel, etc.

 

[NAB]

I had an aunt that was a nun and when she was younger, she loved camping. She and a few nun friends would take a several week camping trip almost every summer. This was back in the early 70's even.

Nuns are still people. They like to go to sporting events, concerts, listen to music, travel, etc.

Totally agree , The same goes for priests. I thought it was funny when our Catholic priest had a beer at one of the socials we had. Just never saw it before. He even won hockey tickets at the bazaar he thought that was great too. They go shopping too. Always weird when you see him out and about other the church.

So I would get the nun/teacher what you would get any other teacher.

 

[LBIJim]

Yeah, the nun is probably up to her eyeballs already with rosaries, prayer books, and the like. Cash or gift cards are the best gifts.

One nun in the late 1960s flat out told us not to get her any hankerchiefs, dusting powder, chocolates, cookies, or religious trinkets. Just put $10 in an envelope. Or if we insisted on a physical gift, a carton of Pall Malls would suffice.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Yeah, the nun is probably up to her eyeballs already with rosaries, prayer books, and the like. Cash or gift cards are the best gifts.

One nun in the late 1960s flat out told us not to get her any hankerchiefs, dusting powder, chocolates, cookies, or religious trinkets. Just put $10 in an envelope. Or if we insisted on a physical gift, a carton of Pall Malls would suffice.

probably would have cost less than $10 for a carton back then I just had a flashback to our grandmother having a pack of these in her house coat and True Story magazine in the other pocket

Yes definitely forget all the religious and " old lady " safe gifts and go with a gift card or cash.

 

[LBIJim]

probably would have cost less than $10 for a carton back then I just had a flashback to our grandmother having a pack of these in her house coat and True Story magazine in the other pocket

Yes definitely forget all the religious and " old lady " safe gifts and go with a gift card or cash.

Yeah, a carton of cigarettes was probably under $5 back then. Her request for $10 cash was kind of shocking, since it was at least double the going rate for teacher gifts.

At recess or lunch break, this nun would sometimes send a kid to the corner store to get her cigarettes. "Just ask for Sister Adele's cigarettes." Maybe some parent found out and complained, because eventually she stopped.

 

[daughtersrus]

My SIL teaches at a Catholic school but is not a nun. She is allowed to accept gifts from the students.

There are several nuns that work there as well. Because of Canon Law, the nuns turn over any money or gift cards that they receive as gifts to their Order.