RCIA and Confirmation Sponsors

“Christian initiation during the catechumenate is not the concern of catechists or priests alone, but of the whole community of believers and especially of godparents, so that from the outset the catchumens will have a sense of being part of the people of God.” (Ad gentes, no. 14)

It is an ancient custom of the Church that those who seek to join the Catholic Church be accompanied on their journey by a member or members of the Church.

If you are interested in being a godparent or sponsor, let Vincent know!

If you are planning to sponsor a candidate, please complete and submit the diocesan sponsor eligibility form.  You can submit a hard copy or scan the completed form and
e-mail it to Vincent.

No degree in religious education or pastoral ministry is required. The only requirements to be a sponsor are the following:

Otherwise, sponsors are men and women who attend church regularly, who exemplify a life of Faith, Hope and Love, and who are eager to share the teachings of the Church and their experiences with God. They take the Gospel seriously in their lives and are willing to be present all along the candidate's journey toward the sacraments of initiation, and to continue to pray for the candidate for the rest of their lives.

​​Sponsorship is a form of missionary discipleship.  We are called to meet people where they are, and to personally accompany them to deeper union with Christ.

A sponsor represents the Church personally journeying with a candidate for the sacraments.  The sponsor introduces the candidate to core aspects of Catholic life (such as regular mass attendance, praying the Rosary, etc.) by modeling living the faith in daily life and also by exploring that life through conversation and shared experience.  

The sponsor also has important liturgical roles, including witnessing to the spiritual readiness of the candidate before the parish and the bishop.

The typical time commitment of a sponsor includes:
(1) coming to the weekly sessions (approximately 1 hour, not counting mass)
(2) meeting with and praying for your candidate regularly to share the journey and the Catholic life

Outside of that, there are a couple times a year that we have days of reflection (usually, the first weekend of Advent, and just before reception of the sacraments) and, for the RCIA, the Rite of Election (in Lent) and the Triduum services (at the end of Lent).  Other than the Triduum, we keep it to one event per weekend, at most; so, on weekends that we have a day of reflection or the Rite of Election, we do not have a Sunday morning session.