Who Can Be a Confirmation Sponsor?

What Does a Confirmation Sponsor Do?

 

Dear Sponsors and Candidates,

 

Please read the following list of terms and the qualifications of the person you are choosing to be your Confirmation sponsor. It is very important that your Confirmation sponsor be an active member of the Church and consider the role of the sponsor as a commitment to helping the candidate lead an active Catholic life before and after Confirmation.

 

TERMS:

 

Candidate: The person preparing to receive the sacrament

 

Godparent:  Baptismal sponsor

Mentor:  Guide the Confirmation candidate in preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Note:  The Mentor can also be the Sponsor.

 

Confirmation Sponsor: Baptismal sponsor or another person chosen for that role. The role of the sponsor is to present the candidate to the minister (bishop or his delegate) for anointing at the Confirmation liturgy, and to help the candidate fulfill his/her baptismal promises. Standing with the candidate as s/he is confirmed, the sponsor proclaims to the entire Church that the candidate is ready and willing to accept the responsibilities and privileges of being a fully initiated member of the Catholic Christian community.

 

Please note:

 

1.     It is desirable that the sponsor be a baptismal godparent of the    

candidate to show the relationship of Baptism and Confirmation. If this is not possible, another person can be chosen.

 

2. A sponsor must be a confirmed Catholic actively participating in the

sacramental life of the Church (attending Mass regularly), and in the life        

of the parish community of which s/he is a member.  

 

3.     The sponsor is not to be a parent of the candidate.

 

4.  All candidates for confirmation must have a sponsor. 

 

The sponsor must be available to fulfill the responsibilities listed below:

 

X                   (or mentor) Participate in the Confirmation enrollment ceremony on Sun., October 21, 2007, at the 9:00 am mass at St. Joseph’s church.

 

X                   Present the candidate to the Bishop (or his delegate) at the Confirmation liturgy in the spring of 2008 (usually in late April – date not yet announced).

 

Sponsors:  Thank you for serving as a sponsor for a young man or woman on his/her life long faith journey.