Regarding Sponsors (Godparents)
for the Sacraments of Baptism & Confirmation
Who can be a Sponsor/Godparent?
Also called “godparents” or “padrinos”, Sponsors are persons tasked with helping newly-baptized or newly-confirmed individuals on the road of the Christian life. They bear responsibility for helping to build-up and protect the graces imparted on these individuals in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1255).
Sponsors must lead a life of faith according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, including the regular practice of the faith, especially through attendance at Sunday Mass along with frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist and sacramental Confession.
Because they play this very special spiritual role in a person’s life, the Church holds that Sponsors must be fully-initiated Catholics over the age of 16, who have received Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
When considering Sponsors for your child or yourself, ask:
Who will support me/my child grow in holiness,
helping on the path towards becoming a Saint?
What does it mean to lead a life of faith according to the teachings of the Church?
A few things to consider…
What it means to be a “practicing Catholic”
The Precepts of the Faith:
Found in paragraphs 2041-2043 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the “Precepts of the Faith” are often described as the minimum requirements to be considered a practicing Catholic. These practices are the basic spiritual needs for us to live a life of faith.
Attend Mass on Sundays and all other Holydays of obligation
Go to the Sacrament of Confession
Receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist
Observe the Church’s days of fasting and abstinence from meat
Help provide for the needs of the Church (tithe in time, talent, and/or treasure)
A note re: Holy Matrimony
Every Catholic who has not celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is called to live a life of chastity.
Cohabitating in a conjugal relationship with an unwed partner, for example, violates Christian belief about the Sanctity of Marriage.
Catholics who are cohabitating outside of sacramental marriage cannot be godparents.A baptized Catholic is obligated to be married in the Church. Civil marriage is not recognized as having a sufficiently sacramental nature in the eyes of the Church. If you have a civil marriage, the Church warmly encourages and welcomes you to con-validate in the Church. Until such a marriage is con-validated, Catholics who are only civilly married cannot be godparents.
Saint Mary Magdalen/Saint John the Evangelist Parishioners who would like to begin the process of having their marriage con-validated by/in the Church are invited to schedule an appointment with our Pastor, Father Olson, by contacting Michelle McIntyre at (425) 353-1211, ext. 119 (email).