Sponsor Guidelines
Acting as a godparent for Baptism or as a sponsor for Confirmation is an honor and responsibility. The church does not take these roles lightly and has established clear criteria for the fulfillment of these roles.
Any member of Our Lady of Grace Parish who wishes to act as a godparent for the Sacrament of Baptism or as a sponsor for the Sacrament of Confirmation, must contact Hollie Uccellini, pastoral associate, at the Parish Office. The person who will be acting as the godparent or sponsor must be the one to call. Calls from parents, spouses, the candidate for which you are to serve, or a family member of the sacramental candidate will not suffice.
Upon calling the Parish Office, a Certificate of Sponsorship will be issued for those who meet the requirements set forth by the Code of Cannon Law of the Roman Catholic Church. All individuals who qualify to serve as sponsors must make arrangements to sign and pick up their form. Even if you are requesting that your certificate be sent directly to the church where the sacrament will occur, you must make arrangements to add your signature to the form.
Find more information about:
1. Qualifications of Sponsors
2. Number of Sponsors
3. Code of Canon Law
Qualifications of Sponsors
- Be designated by the candidate, parents, guardians, or the pastor.
- Have the qualifications and intention of performing the role of sponsor.
- Be at least 16 years old.
- Be a fully initiated Catholic (received Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist).
- Lead a life in harmony with the faith and role of a sponsor (i.e., be a member of a parish, attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, not be in an irregular marriage, etc).
- Not be bound by a canonical penalty.
- Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
· The Diocese of Greensburg continues the practice of requiring proof of eligibility for sponsorship (in accord with the qualifications above) from the parish in which the sponsor is registered.
Number of Sponsors
1. Only one sponsor is required for Baptism.
2. If two sponsors are chosen, one must be male and the other female.
3. The second sponsor may be a Christian witness (i.e., a non-Catholic Christian may fulfill this role).
· In the event that neither the candidate nor the parents or guardians select a sponsor pastors may appoint a member of the parish community to fill the role of sponsor. Many parents are often concerned that they cannot find a suitable sponsor for a variety of reasons (e.g., unavailability of family members, being new to the area or unfamiliar with parishioners, etc.). In such cases, pastors have the responsibility of assisting parents and candidates in the selection of a parishioner to be a sponsor.
Code of Canon Law
The Code of Canon Law, specifically Canons 873, 874, 892, and 893, require the following:
1. The sponsor must be chosen by the one to be baptized or confirmed; by the parents or guardians of the one to be baptized or confirmed; or even by the pastor.
2. The sponsor must be capable of being the sponsor (i.e., have the use of reason) and must intend to fulfill the obligations of being a sponsor.
3. The sponsor must be a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church – the sponsor must be baptized and confirmed and the sponsor must have already received the Sacrament of Eucharist.
4. The sponsor must live a life in keeping with the laws of the Catholic Church, leading a life of faith. The sponsor must observe the precepts of the church. The sponsor must be a practicing Catholic and must attend Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid marriage.
5. The sponsor must not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
6. The sponsor must be at least 16 years old. According to the guidelines of the Diocese of Greensburg, a person who is 15 years old may function as a sponsor at the discretion of the pastor.
7. The sponsor cannot be the mother or the father of the one to be baptized; however, the mother or the father may present a child for Confirmation. The church highly encourages that a baptismal sponsor also act as a confirmation sponsor.
8. Although the Latin Code of Canon Law does not prohibit a spouse to be a sponsor for his or her spouse, the guidelines of the Diocese of Greensburg highly discourage this practice.
9. There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.