Q. Can you give me a reference, resource, or rubric where it states sponsors or godparents should never be dismissed with the catechumens?

A. The basic teaching of the church is that those who are members of the order of the faithful (all the baptized) have an obligation to pray all the prayers that belong to the faithful, that is, the Creed, the Universal Prayer (General Intercessions), and the Eucharistic Prayer. That obligation is given to all the baptized even if they cannot receive Communion. That is why we don’t dismiss children who are preparing for first Communion or those baptized persons who, for whatever reason, do not share in Communion.

There is no directive or option in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ritual text to dismiss baptized candidates or sponsors (who are presumably baptized). So the reference, resource, or rubric you are looking for is one that operates under a principle of absence: the option to dismiss baptized persons with the catechumens is never given.

The reference, resource, or rubric you are looking for is one that operates under a principle of absence: the option to dismiss baptized persons with the catechumens is never given.

When might it be ok?

Now, if the sponsor is the one who is representing the community and facilitating the faith sharing with the catechumens during their gathering after they are dismissed, then yes, they can go out with the catechumens to lead the faith sharing session that follows the dismissal.

However, in that case, that sponsor is serving in the role as a member of the faithful who accompanies the catechumens in their faith sharing. See paragraph 67A. They are not serving in the role of sponsor, per se, at that moment. As a sponsor, their primary role is to show their companion catechumen what it means to be a member of the order of the faithful. And the principle duty of the baptized is to participate in the Mass and offer the prayers that belong to them, the baptized.

Also, see this article for more information: Five things to know about dismissals – TeamRCIA