Right now, I am meeting with two brand new inquirers. They are unbaptized and one grew up as a committed atheist. They are both bubbling over with God’s Spirit, but they don’t recognize or cannot name yet what is happening to them. They just know they are “looking for something.”
They both asked me, separately, “when OCIA classes start.” They know to ask the question that way, I suppose, because the AI algorithm on their socials fed them that language. However, even though they asked the question that way, I know from just a couple of conversations with them they are not looking for a class schedule. They both have some doubts, some messy histories, and a deep hunger for something real.
If I simply hand them a “class schedule” and a reading list, I will have failed to answer the deep longing underneath their surface question.
What both of these seekers need is a spiritual companion to hang out with them. They need someone who is good at active listening and who can point out the pervasive signs of the Holy Spirit in their lives that they are currently missing.
I can do that, but my plate is already pretty full. What I need is a couple of people from the parish to step up and serve as sponsors for these two. And I immediately thought of the perfect match for both of them. The problem is, those “perfect match” parishioners are already overburdened with other ministries in the parish.
There are other parishioners I can think of who are not quite so busy. But I worry they will turn me down. I’ve heard the reasons before: “I don’t know enough.” “I’m not a very good Catholic.” “What if I tell them the wrong thing?”
And I can answer all of their objections. But, again, there is more underneath that they are not saying. They’re saying they’re afraid they are not qualified and that they don’t know what to do as a sponsor.
Sponsors don’t need to be perfect Catholics
This fear comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of what sponsorship is. We have accidentally trained folks to believe that being a sponsor means being a perfect Catholic who can quote the Catechism in answer to any question.
But true initiation ministry is about apprenticeship. A sponsor does not need to be flawless. They simply need to be an honest witness. When a sponsor is willing to share how they navigate their own doubts, how they find peace in the midst of tragedy, and how they return to prayer even when God feels distant, they give the seeker an example of discipleship in the real world. They model a living, breathing faith rather than a cardboard cutout.
True initiation ministry is about apprenticeship. A sponsor does not need to be flawless. They simply need to be an honest witness.
Sponsors listen more than speak
I would also try to tell my sponsor prospects that in addition to just being normal Catholics in front of their seekers, they need to listen more than talk. They don’t need to fix a seeker’s doubts or solve their dilemmas. Mostly, they just have to sit with them and be present in moments of uncertainty or confusion.
They help the seeker notice the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives, guiding them to recognize the voice of Christ in the Sunday scriptures, the ritual of the liturgy, and the love of the community. This kind of accompaniment does not require a theology degree. It requires a willingness to be present and attentive.
Who has the time to train sponsors?
And again, who has the time? I would love to dedicate the hours needed to help reluctant sponsor-prospects discover their own gifts and then help them translate those gifts into active, authentic, Spirit-led accompaniment. But I just cannot cram one more thing into my schedule. I’m sure you can’t either.
So what do we do? Do we rely on “Catholic guilt” to get someone, anyone, to say yes to being a sponsor? Do we pair up unsuspecting inquirers with less-qualified companions who are unsure about their responsibilities?
What if instead, you could offer your potential sponsors a systematic, complete training in how to accompany seekers on the journey of faith — without adding any new meetings to your already-packed schedule?
What if you could offer your potential sponsors a systematic, complete training in how to accompany seekers on the journey of faith — without adding any new meetings to your already-packed schedule?
Equipping sponsors without more meetings
To help you with that, we are trying something new at Team Initiation. We are building a dedicated support system designed to transform ordinary parishioners into confident spiritual companions. This will be a year-round, community-driven resource that does the hard work of formation for you, so you can focus on the rest of your ministerial commitments.
The first step of this support system is an online video training course for sponsors and godparents. The course is 30 practical video lessons divided into four modules:
- Sponsor qualifications
- Job description
- Important dates for a sponsor and godparent
- The spiritual life of a sponsor or godparent
Today, you and all your sponsors and godparents can view the first two modules — sponsor qualifications and job description — absolutely free.
Go ahead and check them out and see for yourself the depth of content and formation your sponsors will receive.
When I think back to my two inquirers, perhaps they don’t really need the “perfect” (but too busy) parishioners to sponsor them. Perhaps they would be better served by the hesitant parishioners who are afraid they aren’t “good enough” to serve as guides. The seekers need to see that discipleship doesn’t require perfection.
By providing your less-than-perfect parishioners with a clear roadmap and bite-sized, practical training, you can overcome their fears and build their confidence. And you can give your seekers the authentic accompaniment they deserve without burning yourself out.
To learn more, check out the first two modules of our new sponsor and godparent training course. And feel free to share it with all of your potential sponsors and godparents. Then come back here and drop a note in the comments box below to let us know what you think.
