Certification for Godparents/Sponsors:
When someone chooses you as a Godparent or Sponsor that means you are thought of as a very special Catholic. Being called to be a Godparent is not merely a choice because of family ties or a reward of friendship. The call to be a Sponsor bears the responsibility of giving spiritual witness to your Godchild of how to live out the Catholic faith in everyday life. By being faithful to God’s law, being active in the life of your parish, participating in Mass weekly, and living Gospel values, you offer tremendous personal support to the parents who commit themselves in Baptism to faithfully passing on the Catholic faith to their child.
The laws of the Catholic Church offer these qualities of a valid sponsor:
- Must be mature enough to undertake this role, at least 16 years of age.
- Must be fully initiated, having received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Must be a member of the Catholic Church, canonically free to carry out this office.
- Must know the fundamental truths of the faith, be a practicing Catholic who attends Sunday Mass and receives the sacraments regularly and sees to the religious instruction of his/her family.
- Must not be the mother or father of the one to be baptized or confirmed. The sponsor, with the parents, presents the child for the sacrament and helps him/her live a life befitting a baptized Catholic Christian.
Therefore, it is important that you prayerfully consider the serious responsibility, which you take on as a Godparent. If you are unable to live up to these Catholic ideals, you may wish to decline this responsibility. If you wish to accept the invitation, please download the document below, fill it out and have it signed by your parish.