Vocation Greeting Cards

[OnlySunshine]

My friend is professing first vows in a Carmelite order on July 2nd.  I'm unable to attend but I want to send her a card.  Does anyone know of an online store that sells greeting cards for religious profession?  All I seem to find are ones for ordination.  I've found a few vow ceremony cards but most of them are impersonal.  I really would like to find one with an image of the Sacred Heart on it or Carmelites.  These are the ones that I've found that I like so far:

 

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-gifts/consecrated-to-christ-card/sku/16333

 

http://stores.odbgifts.com/you-have-heard-the-masters-voice-religious-profession/

[chrysostom]

No idea, but I always try to go with homemade ones. :)

[Luigi]

I can't guarantee that any of these carry cards specifically for vows, but try: 

 

 

The Printery House. operated by the monks of Conception Abbey: 

http://www.printeryhouse.org/

 

St. Meinrad's Abbey Gift Shop (under Greeting Cards, they have an "As You Accept God's Call" card:

 http://www.saintmeinradgiftshop.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_5009

 

 

Or if you have a nearby monastery of nuns (perhaps some monks do this, too) you can go there and get a perpetual enrollment card for a donation. I know the Pink Sisters near here do that, and they hand-letter all the cards with lots of fancy designs and gold ink and that kind of thing. I have no idea what the prices are,though. Most people buy them for the family when someone dies, but I'm sure they'd make one for a final vows ceremony, too. I think some Carmelite monasteries do the same thing - maybe you could get a card from the very monastery your friend is entering? 

Edited June 26, 2014 by Luigi

[AccountDeleted]

There are a few Carmelite communities that do greeting cards, including religious ones. I used to do the greeting card printing for Wolverhampton so I know they will do special orders as well (picture and/or words of your choosing) but they charge extra for personalized greeting cards, and of course, they would be posting from England.But their website is http://www.cloistercards.co.uk/ 

 

You could make your own, save it to thumbdrive and then print it out on a color laser printer at a Kinkos or someplace like that and have them guillotine it for you as well to the right size. MS Publisher will help you set up the right dimensions for the card size.

 

There is also Cenacle Catholic Books and Gifts and they have profession cards - one says assorted images available but they only show two images on their website - you could ask. They are also in the UK.  http://www.cenacle.co.uk/

 

I think it's lovely to send a card for the occasion - I hope you find something you like.

 

 

 

[OnlySunshine]

I can't guarantee that any of these carry cards specifically for vows, but try: 

 

 

The Printery House. operated by the monks of Conception Abbey: 

http://www.printeryhouse.org/

 

St. Meinrad's Abbey Gift Shop (under Greeting Cards, they have an "As You Accept God's Call" card:

 http://www.saintmeinradgiftshop.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_5009

 

 

Or if you have a nearby monastery of nuns (perhaps some monks do this, too) you can go there and get a perpetual enrollment card for a donation. I know the Pink Sisters near here do that, and they hand-letter all the cards with lots of fancy designs and gold ink and that kind of thing. I have no idea what the prices are,though. Most people buy them for the family when someone dies, but I'm sure they'd make one for a final vows ceremony, too. I think some Carmelite monasteries do the same thing - maybe you could get a card from the very monastery your friend is entering? 

 

Unfortunately, we don't have a monastery nearby.  I looked at a local Catholic gift shop and they had the cards from the Printery House there and I wasn't impressed with any of them.  I do, however, like a few cards from the Abbey link you posted.  I need to make a decision soon so it gets there by next week.  I really hate that I can't be there to witness her first vows, but I hope to be there when she professes final vows, God-willing.  :)

[andibc]

I'm the mom of a Carmelite and would recommend going to the store and getting the most beautiful, glittery card (thinking of you, friendship, congratulation.) you can find, and here's why

-when she opens her cards her first thought will be that she is loved and prayed for

-with a visually beautiful card, her second thought will be "wow, this card can be reused for a feast day card (or mothers day card, or birthday card) and she'll  imagine what parts of it can be cut here and there to create another beautiful and original card.  A good long paragraph in one of my daughter's letters home was gushing about the beautiful card we had sent her and how it was going to be reused, and card making has been a topic of conversation during visits in the speak room.

And there is a third gift you will be giving her, the chance to give up that beautiful card for community use after she has imagined it recreated into a card that will please another.

 

...of course add your own personal "touching" note that will be much better than any you will find on a vocation type card.

Edited June 26, 2014 by andibc

[marigold]

I'm the mom of a Carmelite and would recommend going to the store and getting the most beautiful, glittery card (thinking of you, friendship, congratulation.) you can find, and here's why
-when she opens her cards her first thought will be that she is loved and prayed for
-with a visually beautiful card, her second thought will be "wow, this card can be reused for a feast day card (or mothers day card, or birthday card) and she'll imagine what parts of it can be cut here and there to create another beautiful and original card. A good long paragraph in one of my daughter's letters home was gushing about the beautiful card we had sent her and how it was going to be reused, and card making has been a topic of conversation during visits in the speak room.
And there is a third gift you will be giving her, the chance to give up that beautiful card for community use after she has imagined it recreated into a card that will please another.

...of course add your own personal "touching" note that will be much better than any you will find on a vocation type card.

That's a good point! Even if it would be special to have a vocation greeting card, it might be even nicer to have an absolutely gorgeous 'normal' card and write something really lovely inside.

Such a good idea about the reusing - I know nuns who write their messages on post-its inside greeting cards so they can be used and reused!