Busted Halo’s Ultimate Catholic Gift Guide: 2019 Edition

There’s no better feeling than watching a loved one’s face light up at the sight of a lovingly selected gift! Once again, we’ve compiled our annual list of fun, thoughtful, faith-themed gifts you might consider giving your favorite Catholic this Christmas. Want even more ideas? Take a look at our 2018, 2017, and 2016 guides.

For the gym buff:

We all know somebody who’s a fitness devotee, so why not give them the gift of a chic exercise jacket from Swole.Catholic this year? This Autom Bible verse tote bag is perfect for carrying gym clothes, and still leaves room for an Atrio Hill stainless steel water bottle complete with an inspiring Bible verse. Both are sure to encourage any fitness fanatic to exercise their faith while they also exercise their bodies! To complete the set of Bible-themed gym gear, this Scripture-inspired key ring from FAITH RXD holds 17 different inspiring verses, and is perfect to hold onto gym locker keys. Know somebody who loves exercise but hates going to the gym? Gift that person home fitness videos from SoulCore Shop. These DVDs combine fitness and prayer, encouraging users to strengthen mind, body, and soul.

For the spiritual and stylish:

For Catholics who like to wear their faith on their sleeves, literally, pick up one of these trendy enamel pins dedicated to the Blessed Mother sold by HerWitness on Etsy. Another reminder of faith that can be carried throughout the day is this “One Holy Catholic Apostolic” iPhone case by littlewaydesignco. Catholics can have their faith on hand whenever they pull out their phones (which is probably quite often!). And for the jewelry-lover in your life, check out Altar’d State’s chic, minimalistic Bible verse necklace.

For the ‘HGTV Catholic’:

Many Catholics enjoy decorating their homes with their faith in mind, and these gorgeous, colorful paintings from Etsy artist Jen Norton are not only affordable, they’re also the ideal gifts for art-lovers looking for something beautiful to hang on their walls. Pick up a few Marian tea towels to add a lovely touch to your friend’s kitchen decor, and when it doubt, you can never go wrong with a candle! Prosperity Candles from Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade are environmentally friendly, look and smell wonderful, and are lovingly handmade by women artisans looking to escape poverty.

For your priest:

This holiday season, let’s not forget to give a little something to your parish priest or deacon. This amusing priest collar mug from the Catholic Company can be personalized with your priest’s name. When in doubt, money and gift cards are always appreciated. Pick up a gift certificate to your priest’s favorite restaurant, or some slip some cash into a nice Christmas card thanking them for their ministry, especially during the busy Advent/Christmas season.

For the pious and pint-sized:

Give your favorite Catholic kid the gift of cartoon saint stickers from MeyerMarketDesigns on Etsy. (But let’s be honest, everybody loves stickers, so this gift is actually for adults, too.) Looking for more fun ways to teach children about the saints? Gift them a saints coloring book, which features 48 saints, or a saint ABC pillow, for a spiritual night’s sleep. For kids who love reading Marvel and DC comic books, treat them to Shanti Guy’s unique comic book, which tells the story of St. Michael the Archangel coming to the rescue of a Korean War soldier.  

For gifts that give back:

Christmas is a time of charity and generosity, so what could be more fitting than giving a gift that also helps someone in need? Food, books, and apparel purchased from Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, contributes to their mission to help rehabilitate former gang members in Los Angeles. Check out this quarter zip hoodie with inspiring quotes tied to their mission. Another mission-driven online shop is the Holy Land Gift Shop, run by the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America. Purchases of items like olive wood jewelry, rosaries, and even granola that’s made fresh weekly at the monastery support Israeli and Palestinian Christians. Yet another place to find ethical gifts and an array of stocking stuffers is the CRS Ethical Gifts store. From this delicate starry night necklace to candle holders made with sustainably sourced wood, all of these products are eco-friendly and made by artisans living in developing countries. If you’re still stumped, there’s always the option of donating your time or money to a charity that is close to your loved one’s heart.

For the faithful foodie:

Christmas rule: You can never go wrong with chocolate! Give the best gift any food-lover will ever receive with these scrumptious hand-crafted chocolates and caramels made by the nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. Support another great cause by purchasing coffee for your favorite caffeine addict. You can find this blend that supports the Georgia Conservancy’s mission to protect and conserve Georgia’s natural resources at Cafe Campesino, which partners with Catholic Relief Services and sources coffee from small farmers. For something more fun, this Wayfair Moses nutcracker is a quirky gift that will make anybody who loves the Book of Exodus crack up. Moses cracked the 10 Commandments tablets, and this Christmas, he’s cracking some nuts too! 

For your next game night:

There’s always that one family member whose closet is packed with fun board games, and you can add to their collection with these Catholic games that are fun for the whole family. This Catholic card game is similar to “Apples to Apples,” and is filled with prompts that’ll make every Catholic chuckle. For a quiet, relaxing game, put together these beautiful jigsaw puzzles from Zazzle that depict Catholic art. Catholic history buffs will love the “Here I Stand” board game that focuses on 16th century political and religious conflicts. You can even play as the Papacy!

For those who love spiritual subscriptions:

These out-of-the-box gifts actually come in a box — a Catholic subscription box! This Saint-of-the-Month subscription box sends a cool rustic box to your house each month with gifts centered around a different saint. For kids (and kids at heart) who would like a creative way to learn about their faith, the monthly Craft of Faith subscription box comes with Scripture-inspired arts and crafts ideas. As for yearly magazine subscriptions, we recommend Living Faith Daily Catholic Devotions, written by a diverse group of writers.  

For the one who’s always reading:

Catholic bookworms will be sure to appreciate the gift of a good book to cuddle up with this Christmas season. We recommend “My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live” by Maria Morera Johnson, who shares how the bold female saints and famous Catholic women helped her through the most difficult times in her life. Some noteworthy “badasses” include Audrey Hepburn and St. Catherine of Siena. Another quirky Catholic book is “Drinking with the Saints: The Sinner’s Guide to a Holy Happy Hour” by Michael Foley. Anybody who wants to “eat, drink, and be merry” this Christmas will love this book that features a cocktail (and saintly history) for every Catholic occasion. Or, for a Catholic classic, try “My Life with the Saints” by Father James Martin. Finally, for those who love to read about adventure and maybe go on one of their own, “A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith” by Timothy Egan is part Christian history, part memoir, and part spiritual journey — complete with humorous anecdotes along the way.