From the earliest days of the Church, specific people chosen from the community supported those seeking communion with the Church. At our Baptism, they were your parents and godparents who promised that you would be raised in faith. Your parents accepted the responsibility of training you in the practice of the faith. Your godparents promised to help your parents and committed to help and support you in your Christian life. Your sponsor is a person who will support you throughout your preparation, they will stand with and present you for Confirmation, and they will help you confront the challenge of being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.
Choosing a Sponsor
The Church encourages you to choose, if possible, one of your baptismal godparents to be your sponsor for Confirmation because this expresses more clearly the link between your Baptism and Confirmation, but is not required. You also have the option of choosing someone other than your Godparent.
The Church requires a Confirmation sponsor to: · Be fully initiated in the church, meaning they are baptized, and have received Eucharist and Confirmation. · Be a practicing Catholic, meaning they regularly receiving communion and other sacraments. · Be at least 16 years of age · Not be the candidate’s father or mother
Here are a few questions that may help you choose your Confirmation sponsor: · If your Godparents are available, is one of them a good choice for your sponsor? · Is the person a good role model for the Catholic way of life? · Does this person have time to spend with you as you prepare for Confirmation? · Is he/she available to come to the rehearsal and Rite of Confirmation? (even if not a person may still be a good choice, check with a catechist about this.) · Does this person live near enough to me to be able to truly guide and support me? If not, will they be committed to communicate regularly with me despite the distance? · Would you be comfortable talking about your faith with this person? · Will this person be able to fulfill all or most of the responsibilities of a sponsor?
Responsibilities of a Sponsor
A sponsor must be a practicing confirmed Catholic of at least 16 years of age. He or she may not be the candidate’s parent. A godparent is an excellent choice. It is encouraged for the sponsor to live in the area.
A Sponsor is expected to: · Accompany the candidate to the Candidate/Sponsor night February 8th. · Accompany the candidate to the Day of Reflection, March 3rd. · Present the candidate during the Rite of Confirmation. The Confirmation Liturgy is Sunday, September 9th at 5:00pm. Sponsors will be asked to come one hour before mass and to be present for the rehearsal Saturday, September 8th at 10:30am . · Pray for and with the candidate. · Share the sponsor’s faith story with his or her candidate. · Spend time getting to know the candidate personally. · Help the candidate choose a Saint name. · Support the candidate in living as a disciple of Christ and model a faithful Christian life.