Proper Gifts From a Godparent for a Catholic Baptism

The Catholic church's baptism rites are sacred and inviolate.

Catholic baptism is a solemn, sacred rite that symbolizes new membership in the body of Jesus Christ. Godparents, who serve as life guides for their godchildren, should mark the baptism of their godchildren with a gift that underscores the event's importance as well as signifies the child's transition to a new phase of Catholic life.

Keepsakes & Mementos

A photo album will let the recipient remember his baptism day forever.

Give a silver cup, a traditional baptism gift. Engrave the side with the recipient's name and date of baptism. Hire a professional photographer to take photos before, during and after the baptism, then organize the photos into a photo album for the recipient and her family. Or choose one picture of the family together and put it into a picture frame. You could also present the recipient with a small vial of holy water to commemorate the occasion. Thread a chain through the top and she can wear it as a necklace.

Activities

A new suit is an appropriate and useful gift for a maturing Catholic boy.

Treat the recipient and his family to a stylish lunch or dinner at an elegant restaurant. Invite family and very close friends to help celebrate and toast the occasion. Depending on his age, you could take him shopping and help him select one or two new, more adult-like outfits to mark his continuing journey toward adulthood. You could also enroll him in a Catholic summer camp or a week of vacation Bible school so that he could meet other young Catholics.

Sentimental Gifts

Frame a sentimental poem that the recipient can cherish for years.

Write and frame a meaningful poem about the recipient and her baptism day. Or find an attractive jewelry box and turn it into a memory box by filling it with items to commemorate the day, such as a photo, a lock of hair, or a ribbon from the dress she wore. An engraved Bible with a heartfelt dedication inside is both a useful and sentimental gift that can be cherished for decades.

Other Gifts

A silver bracelet is an attractive and adult-like gift for a young lady.

Hire a videographer to capture all the details and present the family with a DVD of the event. Silver baptismal jewelry is also an attractive and meaningful gift, especially for a young lady. You could also sew or order a commemorative blanket made of materials relevant to the recipient's life up to that point. Baptismal books, sold at Christian book stores, can help explain to the recipient the importance of being baptized and the new elements it brings to her faith.

References

• Catholic Family Gifts: Baptism Gift Ideas

Resources

• Gifting Resources: Baptism/Christening
• Christening Silver: The Godparent's Role