Shop local, shop Catholic for Christmas

Supporting local businesses has never been more important. The struggles that small and locally owned businesses deal with have been exacerbated this year, forcing many to shutter their brick-and-mortar locations. Catholic business owners are no exception, and support from the community is crucial for their success.

Catholic owned businesses around the archdiocese have gift ideas from soap to burp rags to tamales.

Monks’ Marketplace
The Monks’ Marketplace at Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee is a gift shop that features handmade products made by Benedictine monks that reside at the abbey. The shop, which opened in January, sells soap, lotion, rosaries, jam and jelly. The shop also sells eggs from the abbey’s free-range hens and honey produced from the abbey’s bees as well as products from monasteries and religious communities in other states.

Anchored Okie
Saint Mark Catholic Church in Norman is home to many talented business owners as well. Anchored Okie is a custom embroidery business owned by parishioner Mekele Keilty. Keilty, a military wife, has been in business for two years and provides custom embroidery services on clothing, blankets, bags, towels, aprons and anything else that can be embroidered. 

To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, orders must be placed by Dec. 10. “The typical turnaround time is 5-7 working days, depending on product availability,” Keilty said. “We have delivery and local pick-up options and currently offer free shipping on holiday orders.” 

Gringo Girl Tamales and Southern Eatery
Kim Fields, owner of Gringo Girl Tamales and Southern Eatery, provides delivery of her handmade tamales. Fields’ restaurant is located at 924 E. Main Street in Norman and features a wide variety of comfort food. Menu items include chicken and dumplings, stuffed peppers, casseroles, macaroni and cheese and, of course, tamales. Weekday delivery is available in Moore and Norman, and Saturday delivery is available in surrounding areas.

Kristy’s Flowers and Gifts
In Okarche, Kristy’s Flowers and Gifts at The Center of Family Love has poinsettias and Christmas themed flower arrangements available for delivery by Christmas Eve for all orders placed by Dec. 21. The gift shop carries San Francisco Soap Company products for men and women, winter headwear, fuzzy socks, foot soaks and a line of Beer Bottle candles in scents like pilsner and ale. 

Don’t leave without stopping by Holy Trinity Catholic Church gift shop in the Blessed Stanley Rother memorial building to see their unique gift offerings. Proceeds from the gift shop support youth programs and religious education classes at Holy Trinity. 

Bl. Stanley Rother Store
Stumped on stocking stuffer ideas? The Blessed Stanley Rother Store at rotherstore.com has Rother coloring sheets for children that come with a set of colored pencils as well as pocket medals, pendant medals, prayer cards and rosaries featuring Blessed Stanley. 

Trinity Mercantile
Edmond residents can pick up a new pair of Sock Religious socks to wear to midnight Mass from Trinity Mercantile on Broadway. For the chef, the Vatican Christmas cookbook features Swiss Guard recipes for Advent and Christmas. Other gift ideas include door hanger house blessing beads, jewelry, stickers, magnets and a large selection of books for adults and children. For a small fee, Trinity Mercantile offers custom gift-wrapping services once a week.

Game Fish Rosaries
Looking for a custom, handmade rosary with a creative twist? Check out Game Fish Rosaries on Facebook. Young entrepreneur Jaxton Finley creates custom rosaries using fishing line, weights and swivels. The seventh grader from Piedmont came up with the idea in 2019 when he was trying to think of a unique Father’s Day gift. Jaxton thinks his rosaries would make a perfect Christmas gift “because it’s Jesus’ birthday – and we need more prayers now than ever.”

Sally Linhart is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.


Photo: Br. Damian Whalen, O.S.B., sells items from The Monks Marketplace. Photo Sally Linhart/Sooner Catholic.


The Monks’ Marketplace
Facebook page
(405) 878-5127

Anchored Okie
Facebook page
[email protected]

Gringo Girl Tamales
facebook.com/GringoGirl
(405) 857-2202

Kristy’s Flowers and Gifts
facebook.com/centeroffamilylovegardencenter
(405) 263-4465

Holy Trinity gift shop
holytrinityok.org/rother/gift-shop
(405) 263-7930

Bl. Stanley Rother Store
rotherstore.com
(405) 721-5651

Trinity Mercantile
facebook.com/TrinityMercantileOK
(405) 285-7663

Game Fish Rosaries
facebook.com/gamefishrosaries
[email protected]