3 Out-of-the-Box Gift Ideas for Catholic Feminists

I do love a mug, but we can mix it up, right?

Hey, sisters!

Just popping in your inbox the day before we stuff our faces with cranberry sauce (my personal fave) to suggest three out-of-the-box gift ideas for the Catholic feminist in your life.

Because let’s face it—Catholic feminists can be kind of hard to buy for. We have different tastes in wall decor, different passions, different beverages of choice…we don’t fit in any boxes and that makes us tricky to get right when it comes to gift giving. We’re also weirdly passionate about niche things (this person doesn’t shop at Amazon, but this person doesn’t shop at Target, and this person knows all about the ethical consequences of different coffee brands, but this person only wants clothing if it’s proven to be slave-labor-free…)

As someone whose love language is gift giving, I love that feeling of getting it *right* when it comes to finding the perfect present. So consider skipping the fast fashion and knickknacks this year. If your mother-in-law has your kids and you snuck onto the couch for ten minutes of hot coffee and internet-scrolling, take a second to grab a gift for the Catholic feminist in your life that will do what gifts are supposed to do: show your heart for that person.

Here are three ideas for the Catholic feminist in your life.

1) A book.

Lucky for you, I spent all year curating booklists for Catholic feminists. There’s bound to be a book on there you haven’t seen on your friend’s shelf. Whether it’s a spiritual book, a memoir, or a book about a kickass world-changer, you’ll be able to find it in our booklists! Bonus points if you order from your favorite indie, supporting your local economy instead of Jeff Bezos’ Book Machine. ;)

2) A charitable donation.

Which causes are the nearest and dearest to your gift receiver’s heart? Maybe they’re passionate about pro-life issues, focused on ending the death penalty, or stay awake at night daydreaming about ways to end hunger in their local community. Maybe every time you pray together they’re asking God to bless their former campus ministry, or seeking answers to how they can be a part of fighting climate change. Consider making a donation to a great organization in their name—it will do good and show them how much they’re known and loved. You could print out the receipt with an image from the org and write them a sweet note.

3) A substack subscription.

Did you know you can give a Letters subscription as a gift? It’s true! By paying for a writer’s work on Substack, you’re making the world a bit more thoughtful, a bit more just, and a bit less algorithm-driven. Why give someone a pair of socks¹ you’re not sure they’ll love when you *could* grant them access to one of their favorite writers’ work for an entire year?

(Or consider supporting other Substackers doing great work, like Emily Stimpson Chapman, Tsh Oxenreider, or Katie Marquette!)

Most importantly, remember this: gifting isn’t about how much money you spend. It’s not even about the ego boost you get when someone cries or says “oh my gosh, this is incredible!” ;) It’s about making someone feel known. Wishing you the best as you seek to make all of your loved ones know just how loved they are this holiday season.

In Him Through Her,

Claire

1. Although if any family or friends are reading this, I never say no to some cozy wool socks ;)