First Communion Gifts

Over 700 New Items for Spring 2011

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 by Chris Vallely

Autom is proud to announce the introduction of over 700 new products to our Spring 2011 catalog. We have beefed up our ever-popular First Communion Set category. With 2 new designs and several package options, we are likely to have something for your First Communicants. We also have introduced a collection of First Communion kits that include all the essentials; a First Communion rosary, scapular, and First Communion pin, all inside a lovely rosary case or purse. Starting at only $1.99 each, these kits are a great value and can easily fit into anyone’s budget. We have increased our offering in nearly every corner of our church supply category. We have added new chalices and a wonderful chalice carrying case, linens, vestments, pyxes, and so much more. We have also increased our selection of Sacrament gift and keepsake items. So as you are preparing for your church’s First Communion, Confirmation, or RCIA celebrations; look to Autom for a cost-effective solution to show them you care. We have also added entirely new sections and product lines to our collection.

I am extremely excited about our new section of what we at the office have been calling our “Everyday Items.” We have received many suggestions from customers all over the nation telling us they wanted us to develop more products with a Christian message that can be used on a daily basis. And we listened! We have a brand new line of reusable coffee tumblers and aluminum water bottles. Each beverage container not only serves to satisfy your hydration needs, but more importantly it is an expression of your faith while you’re in the office or out at the grocery store. I was at my local coffee shop and brought my tumbler in to get filled and the cashier was really impressed. It was a great conversation starter and we ended up talking for several minutes about Autom.

We have also developed a line of tissues that would be great to hand out at church or to bring to your child’s school. Priced much lower than the leading facial tissue, it really doesn’t make sense to pay for their brand name. And at the same time, you are able to spread the Christian faith to those around you! Our new adhesive bandages are both cute and motivational. The bright colors and exclusive designs will really catch your child’s eye, but the low price and Christian message are what will catch yours.

Visit Autom.com to view our entire selection of church supplies and Christian goods and to start saving!

Testimony Tuesday - Bringing Christ to the Hospital

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 by Testimony Tuesday

This week's Testimony Tuesday from Autom comes from our friend Joe. Each week we post another inspirational story of God working daily in our lives. Have a story you would like to share? Send it to us at blog@autom.com and to show our appreciation we will give you a $5 gift certificate when we post your story.

"Soon after my ordination to the diaconate, twenty-nine years ago, I was handed a list of 30 names and a large pyx full of consecrated Hosts. I was told by our new pastor that the hospital had called and that patients were waiting. I was the only one available to bring our Lord in Holy Communion to them. On the way to the nearby National Orthopedic Hospital in Arlington, Virginia, I kept asking our Lord to tell me what to say to these patients, who would probably be in pain from surgery.

When I asked to see the first patient, the nurse at the station said, “She should be coming out of the anesthesia. She was in surgery six hours ago.” I approached the bed of a twenty-four year old woman who was facing the wall, grimacing in pain. “Do you want to receive Jesus?” I asked.

She saw me out of the corner of her eye, and nodded her head. Then it came to me. I told her, “Unite your sufferings with those of our Lord’s on the Cross, for your salvation and for the salvation of those you love.” Then I held up a Consecrated Host from the pyx and said to her, “Receive the Body of Christ.” She said, “Amen,” and closed her eyes.

Then she lay back on the pillow. I saw the beginning of a smile. I sensed Jesus' Presence in her room that day. Her God had come to her. And He was holding her in His loving peace.

Remarkable as this witness was, it happened over and over again, twenty-nine more times! Jesus love for us is endless. His mercy endures forever. He knows our pain and suffering, and our God cares for us. Pray and persevere in Christ. Jesus, we put all our trust in Thee!"

Autom: Your Economic Solution!

Monday, November 8, 2010 by Chris Vallely

No matter how many times I have heard the economists say, “The economy is turning back up!” or “In a few months things will be back to normal,” it is hard for me to see any hard evidence of change in my life. The same 10 houses that have been for sale on my street for the past 8 months still have their signs out. Many of my friends headed to Asia after college, hoping to find a job teaching English or some sort of experience that would allow them to be competitive when they do return to America. And I continue to see business offices and prime commercial real estate that has been vacant for over a year, with those numbers continually rising. So where is this upward growth I’m hearing all about?! I’m not seeing it.

In order to continue living a “normal” life (perhaps not to the extent we once were), we must cut costs and determine how to better balance our budgets. I, for one, was an avid fan of Starbucks. There is just something about that Pumpkin Spice latte! Even if it is still 105 degrees here in Phoenix when they release it (which it was this year), it feels like autumn has arrived once that first drop hits my mouth. However, this year I have cut my Pumpkin Spice consumption down drastically! I think I have only had 2 in the past two months. Instead I have been purchasing a Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee creamer for under $3 and brewing my own coffee instead. What are some ways that you have been cutting back your spending habits to counter the reduced amount of disposable income?

Autom knows that times are tough and instead of increasing our prices with rising costs like much of the competition, we continue to offer the lowest prices on the largest selection of affordable church supplies. Have you ever compared our clergy shirts and other clergy apparel to the competition? Why pay over $40 for a clergy shirt, when you can purchase a comparable shirt from us for under $20? Or purchase a stole for nearly 3x the price, when you can get it at Autom.com for $19.99? It just does not make sense to me! The list of items goes on and on…. Everything from Advent & Christmas supplies, to Baptismal & First Communion gifts, you can find it for less at Autom.com.

We would like to thank you all for your continued support and if you are new to Autom, please compare our prices to the competition. I know you will be pleasantly surprised at the savings you will gain from shopping with us. In this economy, we don’t need to stop shopping altogether, but rather become smarter shoppers! As mentioned earlier, please let us know how you are changing your spending/purchasing habits to adapt to the times in the comments below.

Find Us on Facebook!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 by Chris Vallely

Autom, your choice for affordable church supplies formally invites you to "Find Us on Facebook!"

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Autom page on Facebook. Fans will be able to post pictures and comments, review products, receive the latest news, discuss religious topics, and most importantly, receive amazing deals on Catholic Church supplies! How do you receive amazing deals? Easy!

At Autom we are a family, and we want you to know that you are the heart of this family. Our customers are our glue that keeps this business together. And to show our appreciation, we will occasionally offer one-day only deals such as but not limited to, free shipping, a buy one get one free rosary sale, $25 off any order of $100 or more, or 10-25% off any order! You will be able to use these discounts towards the purchase of clergy shirts, a cord rosary, or a few copies of the New American Bible for your church. Anything you or your church may want or need in our ever growing selection of affordable church supplies will be available to you.

And the savings don't stop there! The more "likes" we receive the more often we will pass the savings to you. As more and more Facebook users "Like" the Autom page on Facebook, we are going to offer more and more savings opportunities. We will randomly advertise a special deal, such as a free glass rosary with any order, via our status update for only 24 hours.

In this 24 hour window, customers will receive the avertised savings on any order through our website. Depending on the season or time of year, you may want to purchase gifts for those special occasions. We have a great selection of First Holy Communion Gifts, Catholic Confirmation Gifts, and Catholic Baptism Gifts.

These exclusive specials on Facebook would also be the perfect opportunity for your church to stock up on clergy apparel, such as clergy shirts or clergy stoles, a Catholic chalice, or Catholic Prayer Books. Any way you look at it, following us on facebook is a great opportunity for you and your church to be included in the biggest and best Autom sales and discounts we have to offer.

We will be announcing the first promotion via our page on Facebook very soon. Visit Autom's page on Facebook and join today for amazing savings!

Free Shipping - Celebrate Earth Day with Autom!

Thursday, April 22, 2010 by Alicia Reidhead

Today only Autom is offering Free Shipping on Any Size Order!
Click here to activate this offer. Expires 4/22/10 11:59 EST.

Reusable Tote Bags seem to be huge this Earth Day and it just so happens that they are also a favorite among both our customers and employees. We have large tote bags that are perfect for groceries as well as a variety of other sizes including bags that are just right for carrying your favorite Catholic prayer books. Another neat idea would be to use a tote as a gift bag for Catholic Confirmation gifts, First Communion gifts and more!

Here are a just a few comments from our Autom staff about our newest tote bags.

"The Grocery Tote Bag is one of my favorite items. Not only is it environmentally viable as an alternative to throw-away plastic bags, but it also has a great Bible verse reminding us to care for God's creation."
The earth is the Lord's and everything in it" is a reminder that our earth belongs to the Creator of all things.
- Beth - Merchandiser

"I always like children themed items and especially love Mother Teresa, so I would have to say our new Children of the World Tote Bag is my new favorite item! It’s environmentally friendly with an eye-catching design and popular saying from our beloved Mother Teresa. It’s suitable for any generation, from kids, teenagers to adults and is great for any activity...not just as a grocery bag."
Angela - Purchasing

"I love our tote bags, especially the new Children of the World Tote Bag. In a time when it's smart to be environmentally friendly, bringing your own reusable bags to a grocery or drug store is a necessity - and the cute designs and popular sayings we have never cease to bring comments from other customers at the stores. They're sturdier and more reliable than plastic bags, and a lot of places give you a discount on your groceries or products if you bring your own bag - a win win situation!" :)
Kara - Catalog Development

A First Communion Message from Pope John Paul II to Children

Friday, April 16, 2010 by Alicia Reidhead

Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to children about First Holy Communion, and here is a part of that letter:

"Dear friends, there is no doubt that an unforgettable meeting with Jesus is First Holy Communion, a day to be remembered as one of life's most beautiful.

The Eucharist, instituted by Christ at the Last Supper on the night before His passion, is a sacrament of the New Covenant — the greatest of the sacraments. In this sacrament, the Lord becomes food for the soul under the appearances of bread and wine.
Children receive this sacrament solemnly a first time — in First Holy Communion — and are encouraged to receive it afterward as often as possible in order to remain in close friendship with Jesus.

First Holy Communion is a great family celebration…and also a great day of celebration in the parish. I remember as though it were yesterday when, together with the other boys and girls of my own age, I received the Eucharist for the first time in the parish church of my town. This event is usually commemorated in a family photo, so that it will not be forgotten. As time goes by, people take out these pictures and experience once more the emotions of those moments; they return to the purity and joy experienced in that meeting with Jesus, the one who out of love became the Redeemer of Man."

-Pope John Paul II

We still have a great selection of Autom's First Communion sets in stock and several First Holy Communion gifts to help make this special sacrament memorable for new communicants.

Help For Haiti - Donations of Catholic Church Supplies Bring Hope

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by Paul Greene

I should introduce myself. My name is Paul Greene and I am the Sales Manager for the reseller division of Autom. For years it has been my unique privilege to help make sure that your local Catholic Book Stores and Christian Suppliers have a quality selection of glass rosaries, saint bracelets, and First Holy Communion gifts available for your special occasion. Over the years this has put me in contact with wonderful people from all around the globe who daily pour their love for Christ into everything they do. It doesn't take long in this industry before you realize that what we do is about more than just the bottom line. Whether that be helping a mother select a St. Benedict Crucifix for her daughter's first home, providing a Baptism gift for a new Christian, or even providing the altar candles that will light the altar as we mourn the passing of someone loved, each day we are blessed with the opportunity to play some small role in bringing God’s love to people’s lives. This opportunity presented itself in a unique way when the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.

Like many people around the world I was profoundly moved by the plight of the Haitian people. In moments millions had lost all that they had. While aid poured in to the Haitian people from around the world, we were looking for a way that we as a company could contribute. The answer came in an appeal sent out from the National Church Goods Association. The NCGA passed on a request from a small parish in Florida that was collecting donations for the churches of Haiti. In the earthquake the churches also lost everything. Church vestments, altar linens, chalices and ciboria, in short all the things needed to celebrate the sacraments for the people of Haiti. For these churches such a loss was devastating. International aid would help the Haitian people rebuild their lives, but even with the very humble nature of what they had before the earthquake, it could take decades for the churches to replace what they lost.   As one of top manufacturers of affordable church supplies in the world, we were in a unique position to make an impact in this area.

We presented this opportunity to all of the employees of Autom asking if they would help us raise money for this cause. Additionally the owners of the company agreed to match dollar for dollar all funds raised. These funds could then be used to purchase the most needed items for the Haitian parishes. We could buy many of the items at cost and stretch every dollar to its utmost. The response from the employees was overwhelming. People dug deep and donated all that they could. Many who had previously donated to other relief efforts made additional sacrifices to be able to contribute. Employees who could not financially contribute offered up prayers for Haiti and even went to give blood on their own as a way to help the Haitian people, (as evidenced by Monday morning band-aids and some bruised arms). We even had friends and family of employees who gave money to the effort. It was wonderful to see the outpouring of support. It made me proud to be a part of this organization.   This is not an easy time financially for many, but they still reached out to help those in need.

Using the funds raised, we focused on getting complete Catholic Chalice and Ciborium sets for the churches. This had been identified as an area of special need due to the high cost and very limited number of manufacturers of these items.   We also sent sets of liturgical vestments for the priests, including chasubles and clergy stoles. When all was gathered together we were able to donate over $18,000 worth of Catholic church supplies to the cause. It is my prayer that through these items God may touch the lives of the Haitian people. And for my part I find that through this experience I have found a renewed appreciation for my own blessings and for the group of people God has surrounded me with.

Prayer Cubes – An Autom Favorite!

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Alicia Reidhead

I recently asked my coworkers to share with me a few of their favorite products and one particular standout was our line of Prayer Cubes.

“My favorite is definitely the Prayer Cubes, they are simple, fun and get the message across for all ages.”
Lindsey – Purchasing Manager

“The Fasting Prayer Cube is the coolest thing ever. It provides ideas for fasting that are not commonplace such as 'Fast from anger and hatred', 'Fast from complaining.' Maybe all of us could use a little reminder once in awhile.”
Beth – Merchandiser

The Prayer Cubes just happen to be a favorite of mine as well, so I am very excited to be able to share with you a bit about this really neat product. We started with one original cube featuring traditional prayers and have expanded to nine additional subjects including First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Favorite Catholic Prayers, Mealtime Prayers, Advent Prayers, Lenten Prayers, Fasting Prayers, and Children’s Prayers.

These are perfect for classrooms, as each child can take turns rolling the cube to help determine which prayer will be recited during lessons. For families, they are a wonderful tool to encourage prayer and discussion during meals and before bedtime.

I love that each Prayer Cube is meant to make the process of learning prayers easy and fun. With Spring Sacraments coming up, they would make excellent Reconcilation Gifts, First Communion Gifts and Catholic Confirmation Gifts.

First Communion Season is Just Around the Corner…Are you Ready?

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by Alicia Reidhead

It is still extremely cold in many parts of the country, but at Autom we are already well into the Spring Season. Our warehouse has begun assembly of thousands of First Communion Sets and is quickly shipping out your affordable church supplies for Lent and Easter.

We are really excited about our newest selection of First Communion gifts, especially our new Everlasting Covenant Presentation Sets. This exclusive design was thoughtfully created by one of our favorite artists, Michael Adams. Featuring traditional First Communion symbols including a Catholic Chalice with Chi Rho, wheat and grapes, this design is already becoming a new Autom favorite.

Don’t let the weather fool you…Spring is just around the corner and Autom is ready to supply you with the First Holy Communion gifts you need to make the season great!