Sponsoring Sacraments

“Sponsors are persons who have known and assisted the candidates and stand as witnesses to the candidates’ moral character, faith, and intention.”
“As they become familiar with the Christian way of life and are helped by the example and support of sponsors, godparents, and the entire Christian community, the catechumens learn to turn more readily to God in prayer, to bear witness to the faith, in all things to keep their hopes set on Christ, to follow supernatural inspiration in their deeds, and to practice love of neighbor, even at the cost of self-renunciation.”                                         

From the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

According to Canon Law, the basic requirements of a Sponsor

• To be a sponsor, you must…
• Be at least 16 years of age.
• Have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
• Be someone other than the parent of the catechumen/candidate.
• Be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church (and if married, must be in a valid, sacramental marriage).
• Be an active, registered member of a Catholic parish*
• (Preferably) In the case of adults, be someone other than the spouse or significant other of the catechumen/candidate.
  

Specific Commitments of the Sponsor that will require you to check with the coordinators.

• Attend Mass every Sunday, preferably with your candidate.
• Depending on the sacrament, you may be required to attend preparation classes
• Pray for your candidate daily.
• Check in with the sacramental coordinator at regularly scheduled times and as needed to ensure all documents and requirements have been fulfilled prior to the celebration of the sacrament.
• Intentionally invite your candidate to join and participate in the communal life of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, where they are celebrating and receiving the grace of God to be witnesses to the faith.