Choosing sponsors/godparents
When you ask a person to be a Godparent for your child, you are asking that person to make a lifelong commitment in guiding your child in his or her journey as a Catholic Christian. The day of the Baptism is the beginning of that relationship. It is the hope of the Church that the Godparents will be there for your child, to nurture your child's faith and help him or her to become true disciples of Jesus Christ.
According to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church:
"Sponsors [Godparents] for the Sacraments of Baptism and/or Confirmation must be Catholics who have been Confirmed and have already received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, and who lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken." (Can. 874&839)
Therefore, please refer to the following guidelines.
When Choosing a Godparent for your child, it may be helpful to consider the following questions:
According to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church:
"Sponsors [Godparents] for the Sacraments of Baptism and/or Confirmation must be Catholics who have been Confirmed and have already received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, and who lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken." (Can. 874&839)
Therefore, please refer to the following guidelines.
- Sponsors/Godparents are active, fully initiated (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) adult members of the Roman Catholic Church.
- He or She must have received the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation to be considered a Godparent. If the person you are choosing is not fully initiated, then that person can be a Christian Witness.
- He or she must be at least 16 years of age.
- Sponsors/Godparents do not have to be a couple and do not have to be married. However, if married, he or she MUST be married in the Catholic Church. No exceptions.
- Sponsors/Godparents must participate regularly at Mass and receive the sacraments. They must have a personal faith in Jesus Christ and live obediently in the values of the Gospel, as well as being a person of prayer.
When Choosing a Godparent for your child, it may be helpful to consider the following questions:
- Is this person actively practicing his or her faith? Does he or she attend Sunday Mass regularly? (If the answer is no, then the Godparent will not be able to effectively help you raise your child in the Catholic faith.)
- Will this person be able to have frequent contact with your child, to get to know your child and have an active role in your child's faith?
- Does this person know enough about the Catholic faith to be able to teach your child about it?
Adapted from Call To Celebrate, Harcourt Religion Publishers