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Glasgow children taking their first Holy Communion from Pope John Paul II at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow in 1982 PA Archive/PA Images

Poll: How much is appropriate to give to a child making their communion?

Give it to us straight. Be honest.

THE KIDS OF today will be doing very well in later years if they keep their communion money safe into adulthood.

A survey revealed this morning that children making their First Holy Communion receive an average of €570 in cash from family, neighbours and friends.

About one in four are even gifted more than €800 for the occasion.

Is this too much? Or is it an appropriate way to mark a big day in the child’s life?

We’re asking today: How much is appropriate to give to a child making their communion?


Poll Results:

€20 or under (4760)
€21 - €49 (4169)
€50 - €99 (2744)
€10 or under (800)
No present or money (682)
A present instead of money (651)
€100+ (505)

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    Mute Lily
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:53 PM

    It really depends on the Childs relationship with the person, blood relatives, God parents, friends of the parents.

    Generally the God parents give 50, grandparents may give between 20 and 100 depending how rich or how close they are, other relatives 20 and friends of the parents between 10 and 20.

    No one should have expectations but be thankful for what they get.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:54 PM

    @Lily: out of sheer interest, why should a child get anything for it?

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:26 PM

    @Paul Fahey: because it’s a celebration for them ..

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    Mute Timmy
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:06 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Of what? I got a day out with family and a nice dinner. That should be enough.

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    Mute Lily
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:40 PM

    You could ask why give a child presents/gifts/money for their birthday?

    Or why at Christmas they get gifts?

    Or why at Easter they get chocolate eggs?

    Sure enough it’s the done thing.

    Parents like to spoil their kids sometimes, grandparents love the day out, it’s an excuse for a family get together which many wouldn’t have otherwise.

    Whatever their reason, it’s theirs and no one has a right to judge. Let them do their thing.

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    Mute John B
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    Jun 26th 2017, 6:08 PM

    @Paul Fahey: exactly: a celebration. Kids at that age usually believe one fictional character brings them presents on the birthday of Jesus so it’s no surprise they expect money at communion.

    11
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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Jun 27th 2017, 1:40 PM

    @Paul Fahey: why not

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    Mute Cathal O'Neill
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:03 PM

    How about giving them the much more valuable advice that there is no god and they should concentrate on enjoying the life they have and not worry about the non-existent afterlife.

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    Mute Meekus
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:09 PM

    @Cathal O’Neill: Easy Cathal, you don’t want to come across as arrogant.

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:11 PM

    @Cathal O’Neill: There’s always one…

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:28 PM

    @Meekus: too late

    17
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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:22 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Or two

    10
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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:42 PM

    @Meekus: Assuming there is a god = normal, assume there is no god = arrogant. Is that how it works? :-)

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    Mute Cathal O'Neill
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:36 PM

    @Cathal O’Neill: believing in a god, and demanding respect for that belief, despite the complete lack of evidence; what would you call that?

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    Mute Meekus
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:45 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: Assuming = fine, stating as fact in a way to make fun of those with beliefs = arrogant

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    Mute Meekus
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:48 PM

    @Cathal O’Neill: *Demanding* respect? I’d also call that arrogant.

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    Mute John B
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    Jun 26th 2017, 6:10 PM

    @Cathal O’Neill: depends on here many share the belief. One man: insane. Couple of hundred: cult. Thousands and millions: religion.

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    Mute Bewarethebeardz
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    Jun 26th 2017, 11:22 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: me too!

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    Mute WJH
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:48 PM

    No option for a Mars bar and a can of Coke?

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    Mute Lynda
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:53 PM

    I remember i got 87 pounds for my communion, it was an awful lot at the time, i don’t remember who gave me money or how much they gave, I don’t remember what i spent the money on. But i do remember my grandad giving me a communion chain with an engraving on it, i still have that more than 30 years later, i treasure it, my grandad has long passed.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:53 PM

    When I was a young Roman Catholic in England we had no concept of this giving of dosh to young people taking first holy communion. You got a couple of cards with saints on and a bible. This detracts from the spiritual side of the experience. I’m disgusted and a bit disappointed in Irish Roman Catholicism.

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    Mute Keith Fealy
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:01 PM

    Bit disgusted in it myself but for very different reasons.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:01 PM

    @Damocles: the church pays of kids in this country, deal with it.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:01 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: *off

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    Mute Hughie Geaney
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:03 PM

    @Damocles: If that’s the primary reason for your disgust with irish catholicism you may be missing out on a few bits

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:06 PM

    @Hughie Geaney: I’m staying on topic. What are you doing?

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:07 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I’ll deal with things as I wish. Don’t presume to tell me how to think or act.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:52 PM

    @Damocles: I never suggested how you should deal with it or how you should think. I’d still strongly urge you to do both though.

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    Mute molly coddled
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:03 PM

    @Damocles: I was the same as you, when I made mine in the UK back in the late 60s nobody gave money, we went to Ireland on holidays that year and I was thrilled that all my relatives gave me money, even bought myself a little monkey faced purse to keep it in must have had about 20 quid, which was robbed on the ferry home so I ended up with zilch anyway :(

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    Mute Niallers
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:24 PM

    @molly coddled: That was holy God punishing you.

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    Mute molly coddled
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:53 PM

    @Niallers: nope just the carelessness of a 7 year old.

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    Mute AR Devine
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:16 PM

    @Damocles: Many former Irish catholics as well as Irish atheists & agnostics are also disgusted with Irish Catholicism but for different reasons.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:54 PM

    Money and religion are closely connected and associated.

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    Mute tae
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:34 PM

    Gold star for you Tony.

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    Mute brendan mcdaid
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:58 PM

    €800+ that’s just the gifted bragging an showing off, what’s a child of that age gonna do with that cash not to mention giving them a sense of entitlement, that’s just OTT

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    Mute TheJeff
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:20 PM

    Zero, as you shouldn’t encourage believe in fairy tales..

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    Mute Jimmy Farrell
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:30 PM

    @TheJeff: i suppose you wont give your kids presents from santy either? Miser…

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:34 PM

    @TheJeff: wasn’t really a choice for my child in school so why shouldn’t she make on it? Want communion taken seriously? Take it out of schools and only allow real church goers to let their children make their communion. As long as everyone is being made we’ll do it as we see fit. We don’t live in that kind of society anymore.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:35 PM

    @TheJeff: obviously not you personally!

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Jun 26th 2017, 7:18 PM

    @Deborah Behan: why was it not a choice for your daughter not to do her communion?

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:49 PM

    Who started this giving money to Children in these religious service’s anyway?
    How did it come about

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:49 PM

    The money and the stretch limos are what a lot of children think of now.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:55 PM

    @Alan Scott: pretty sure that’s not the children

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:15 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I have seen the limos pulling up outside the church and children getting out of the limos . What more proof do you need.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:53 PM

    @Alan Scott: that proves that they’re there does it prove that the kids are demanding them?

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Alan Scott: the limos are only for a certain culture …

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    Mute The Thinker
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:25 PM

    Why are they doing communion in the first place?

    34
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    Mute Keith McDonagh
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:50 PM

    @The Thinker: For the the money. Why else would anyone do it?

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    Mute Tony Stack
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:35 PM

    @The Thinker: because their parents are sheep

    34
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    Mute Rip Van Winkle
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:24 PM

    A good powerful sermon in the house of our Lord should be payment enough. And if they dare ask for a penny they should get a sally-rod between the shoulder blades and be made climb croagh Patrick with their school bags on their backs

    34
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    Mute Tommy Browne
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:15 PM

    Lot of atheist resentment on here today at the love demonstrated by Catholic families towards their children.

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:44 PM

    @Tommy Browne: So love=money? Ok then…

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:52 PM

    Give them a religious present like a Rosary Beads, a copy of a Children’s Bible or for girls a nice necklace which has a cross. Money, no.

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    Mute AnnieBelle
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:44 PM

    The whole “making money” saga on your communion or confo has gotten totally out of hand as has the whole communion or confirmation celebrations saga. Its silly to see that so many people these days force their kids to make their communion and confirmation considering I would say most of them barely set foot in a church unless if was for a wedding or a funeral! I also know a woman who is in emergency accommodation and somehow mananged to spend nearly 2k on her daughters communion day?!!!! Its all a complete and utter farce has nothing to do with the religious aspect, Its a keep up with the Jones’s scenario and about what kid made what. Complete waste of parents money & kids time

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    Mute Fox Trot
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:48 PM

    All depends on the “do” and if your asked to it !!!

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:35 PM

    And this notion that you have to bring kids on a holiday if you don’t want to have them take part in religious rituals has to stop. Only the gullible should be affected.

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:58 PM

    No child (anyone under 18 years as per Children’s Act) should suffer indoctrination into any cult. Incidentally I ‘made’ my communion in 1967 and bought a batman costume with my £7 haul and a great day out…but I had no choice in the matter and that is my point.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Jun 26th 2017, 10:26 PM

    @Paul Lane: was that the matter of the Batman Costume!!!?

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    Mute Keith McDonagh
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:48 PM

    I suppose it depends really on how generous you want to be. Having said that, I think I got £20 of everyone when I did it 18 years ago. In the en, I got enough to buy a PS1 so I was happy out.

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    Mute AR Devine
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:24 PM

    In my opinion parents shouldn’t be inculcating children in to either religion or atheism. Children should be informed about the various belief systems & philosophies and be allowed to make their own minds up. I have a feeling most would end up leaning towards atheism or agnosticism especially if you showed them the specific points in history in which certain religions were merely invented & how they amended and changed their minds on various issues which shows religion is an invention of humans as opposed to divine revelation from some purported creator of the universe.

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    Mute Dingleberrycity
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    Jun 26th 2017, 3:10 PM

    The child is put through all the preparation of communion and all the brain washing that goes with it, the least they deserve is a good few bob so we can all pretend we are a great catholic country.

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:08 PM

    Enough to convince them not to make it.

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    Mute David Grogan
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:15 PM

    its not much different to a jewish child receiving money for their bar mitzvah

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    Mute Pharmy
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    Jun 26th 2017, 5:34 PM

    From observation it is those who no not practice / believe who spend more.
    Those who attend church regularly tend to spend very little on clothes / gifts / entertainment, they focus on the importance of the sacrament. A small commemorative medal or prayer book from a godparent would be considered appropriate.

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:56 PM

    zero..just another money making scan from club rcc

    8
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    Mute Dan Broderick
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    Jun 26th 2017, 12:49 PM

    The more money you give a child for their communion, the more of an asshat you are

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    Mute Virtual Donal
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    Jun 26th 2017, 1:19 PM

    Pack of fags and a packet of polo mints. They love that!

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    Mute James McEneaney
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    Jun 27th 2017, 1:19 PM

    Children these days are typically over-indulged, not that it’s their fault they find themselves living nowadays. €200 altogether by the end of the day should be loads for any child to receive, €300 absolute max. The norm 20 years ago when I made my communion was about £120 as far as I remember and it seemed like an enormous boon!

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    Mute Wesley Preston
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:26 PM

    Silly Catholics

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    Mute AR Devine
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    Jun 26th 2017, 4:26 PM

    @Wesley Preston: Yes they are daft just like all religions.

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    Mute Anthony Ross
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    Jun 27th 2017, 3:09 AM

    The children first of all should be in their school uniform this will not see I must have my child same as next door ECT and there should be more a cap on what you give under 20euros remember the body of our Lord is what this is about not money ect

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:21 PM

    @Anthony Ross: pretty sure Jesus wouldnt be too keen on a load of kids munching on his remains.

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