Religious communities’ gift shops are a part of their missions

By Christina Galeone | CFP Correspondent

In Colossians 3:17, St. Paul writes, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” In modern times, how many consumer products are designed and manufactured in direct opposition to or without regard for this principle?
Unfortunately, the majority are produced in countries where people are knowingly and legally oppressing others and by companies who distance themselves from God.
Fortunately, there are many Catholic religious communities that sustain themselves through the work of their hands. Many of their products are designed or made by their communities – or other religious communities – to ultimately build God’s kingdom. Many products are also created to bring people closer to God.
During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, there’s no better time to purchase items from their gift shops, especially ones here in the Worcester Diocese.   
Located at 271 Still River Road in Harvard, at St. Benedict Center, the center’s True Devotionals gift shop – which is also online at shop.saintbenedict.com – supports the work and mission of the Sisters and Brothers of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, MICM. The shop’s hours are noon to 2:45 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 on Wednesday, noon to 3 p.m. Thursday and 10 to 3 p.m. Friday.
 According to the center’s website, saintbenedict.com, the “community of Brothers and the community of Sisters live True Devotion to Mary, and consecrate themselves daily using the formula written by St. Louis Marie De Montfort in his classic treatise.” They promote bringing people to Jesus through Mary through a life of prayer and work.
 With a particularly popular collection of beautiful sterling silver True Devotion rings and bracelets for people consecrated to Jesus through Mary, the gift shop offers a wide array of gifts for every season of the year. The Advent and Christmas items include Advent calendars, Advent candles and wreaths and Christmas statues, cards and books. And its selection of gifts includes rosary beads, clothing, accessories, music, mugs, movies and more.
Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Katherine Maria explained that selling items in their gift shop is part of their mission to spread the faith “or help to reinforce it.” “We do not look at it as a commercial enterprise; our motto ‘To Jesus through Mary’ is a motivating force in all our work …,” Sister Katherine Maria said. “Without the blessing of God, our store would be just another place to shop. Every sale we make goes into the support of our work.”
Among the Christmas and Advent items that are designed or made by the Sisters to bring people closer to Jesus, Sister Katherine Maria said that there are a few that particularly stand out this year.  One is the Sisters’ new Christmas CD “By the Manger at Christmas,” in which the nuns sing traditional Christmas hymns and carols in English, Latin, Polish, German, French and Italian. Another is the Spiritual Christmas Crib, which is built through a brief meditation and practice each day in December through Christmas Eve. Finally, there’s a 2023 Advent calendar designed and printed by the Sisters to help people have a spiritually fruitful season.   
 “We also print traditional Christmas cards, and have custom winter scarves made in Poland that say Viva Cristo Rey or Hail Mary,” Sister Katherine Maria said. “We are also having a Christmas festival on Dec. 2 where you can get some beautiful items also made by the Sisters and at the same time get the Christmas spirit in an old-world atmosphere.”
The St. Scholastica Priory gift shop – which is online at stscholasticaprioryshop.com – supports the work and mission of the nuns at the priory, a contemplative monastery of nuns. On its website, it states, “Our lives are dedicated to seeking union with God through the monastic life of charity lived in community. The Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict are our guide, and the praise of God is central to our day: the Mass and the Divine Office are sung using Gregorian chant, and are celebrated with our twin community of monks, St. Mary’s Monastery.”
The shop’s Christmas items include cards, hand-knitted mug cozies and a Nativity candle. The shop’s other gift items include religious bracelets, wood products, knitted items, cards, candles, a wide selection of distinctive rosaries and soap. St. Scholastica Priory’s Sister Maria Isabel said that their products are one of the ways they share their experience of God with others.  
“Advent is a time of readying our hearts for an ever deeper relationship with God so that he may be born in us,” Sister Maria Isabel shared. “Like Mary, we are invited to bring God to others. I think in particular of the Visitation; a pregnant Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth sharing the joy of the Word incarnate in her. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and acknowledges the divine entering her physical home and her heart.”   
When asked what items could especially bring people closer to Jesus during Advent and the Christmas season, Sister Maria Isabel’s thoughts went immediately to the shop’s beautiful handmade rosaries – which include a few different kinds of St. Michael the Archangel rosaries, a St. Benedict rosary, an Ave Maria gemstone rosary, a St. Joseph rosary and rosaries honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Face of Jesus. She said, “The rosaries in particular, because it is a prayer that meditates on the life of the incarnate Word, Christ, as he lived in time and space and reflects on the mystery of his cross and resurrection reminding us that he was born so that we may be saved and be forever united with the Trinity in heaven.”
Whether people are looking to buy items that will help to deepen their relationship with Christ during Advent or meaningful Christmas gifts for loved ones, including religious community gift shops in their Christmas shopping enhances the purposefulness of the experience. And it supports work done in the name of the Lord Jesus.