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The Guidelines
for Sponsorship
The Role of the
Sponsor:
Baptism
In Baptism the role of the sponsor (along with the parents in the case of
the baptism of an infant or child) is to present the person for Baptism
and help the newly baptized live a Catholic Christian life. The
sponsor should encourage his/her new Godchild to live a Catholic Christian
life by first faithfully fulfilling his/her own obligations to God and the
Church which he/she accepted at his/her own Baptism. Added to this
commitment are the new promises of support and guidance which the sponsor
makes at this baptism in connection with his/her Godchild.
Confirmation
The sponsor’s role in Confirmation is to guarantee that the confirmed
person lives as a true witness to Christ and faithfully fulfills the
obligations connected with Confirmation.
Adult
Initiation
The sponsor in adult initiation is to show the candidate how to live the
gospel message. The sponsor’s life and character should be an
example and model of Catholic Christian life for the candidate. The
role of the sponsor implies that he/she will in a unique way serve as this
model in the living out of the faith for the newly baptized or
confirmed.
In accord
with Canons 872, 874, and 893 of the Code of Canon Law, the qualifications
for sponsors are:
I
The sponsor is chosen by the adult who is to be baptized or for infant
baptism by the parents.
II The
sponsor is at least sixteen (16) years of age.
III The
sponsor must be confirmed and have received the Eucharist. He/she
must lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role
undertaken.
IV The sponsor
cannot be under a lawfully imposed or declared canonical
penalty.
V The
sponsor cannot be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized or
confirmed.
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St. Joseph
Church
