Yesterday, I asked Betty, our parish secretary, if she would consider sponsoring one of our inquirers. Most people feel honored when asked to serve as a sponsor, even if they eventually say no. Not Betty. She seemed a little perturbed—but didn’t say no.
I tried to explain the role of a catechumenate sponsor over the background thrum of the photocopier, the vacuum in the hallway, and the phone ringing at the next desk. Betty seemed more interested in managing the office chaos than guiding the spiritual journey of someone she barely knew. I thanked her for considering it and promised to follow up with an e-mail detailing the responsibilities.
So, what does a sponsor actually do?
Here’s what I shared with her:
- Be a friend in Christ: The primary role of a sponsor is to be a spiritual companion. An unbaptized inquirer often has few, if any, spiritual friends. Sponsors share their own faith experiences and ask questions that help the seeker reflect on their journey.
- Show up for rites: Sponsors attend significant rituals—from the Rite of Entrance to blessings, minor exorcisms, and anointings—and accompany their catechumen to Sunday Mass. Presence matters; it models living in Christian community.
- Affirm and discern: Before the Rite for Entrance, the sponsor spends time getting to know the seeker, so they can authentically present them as ready to begin a life of Christian discipleship.
- Guide in Christian disciplines: While not catechism teachers, sponsors support their seekers in four areas of faith formation and Christian discipline:
- encountering Christ in Word and tradition
- encountering Christ in the Christian community
- encountering Christ in prayer and worship
- encountering Christ through apostolic witness.
The sponsor’s role is not to be a “Catholic expert” or a teacher of catechism, but rather a good Catholic who lives the faith outwardly in their daily life, willing to share that journey and offer support to their seeker.
The sponsor’s role is not to be a “Catholic expert” or a teacher of catechism, but rather a good Catholic who lives the faith outwardly in their daily life, willing to share that journey and offer support to their seeker.
What about a godparent?
I didn’t ask Betty to be a godparent. That role is different: it’s a permanent, lifelong commitment that begins at the Rite of Election. Sponsors, by contrast, serve temporarily—from the Rite for Entrance until the Rite of Election—guiding the inquirer on their first steps in the faith.
Unlike sponsors, godparents are chosen by the catechumen themselves. By the time of election, catechumens, having deepened their discipleship, are expected to know what qualities make a good godparent. The catechumen may choose their sponsor to be their godparent, but the roles are distinct.
Godparents have key responsibilities:
- Presence at rites: From the Rite of Election onward, godparents participate in all rites—including the scrutinies, handing-on rites, the preparation rites on Holy Saturday, and the celebration of initiation sacraments.
- Assuring readiness: Ritually, the godparent assures the bishop and the community that the catechumen is truly ready to advance to the sacraments of initiation. This requires the godparent to have had some role of accompaniment with the catechumen even before the Rite of Election to genuinely know their readiness.
Canonical requirements:
Godparents also have to meet specific canonical requirements (see Cannons 874, 892, and 893):
- They must have the intention to fulfill their role to the best of their ability and be actively living the four areas of Christian discipline (word, community, worship, and witness).
- They must be at least 16 years of age or older, though exceptions can be made by a bishop.
- They must be Catholic, baptized, confirmed, and regularly sharing in the Eucharist. They are expected to be good role models, striving for holiness, but not necessarily perfect.
- Their marriage must be regular, and they must not have any lifestyle obstacles that prevent them from being a good example of Christian living.
- The parent of the person being baptized cannot also be their godparent. While technically a spouse could serve, that is usually not a good idea.
- If there are multiple godparents, there can be at most two – one male and one female.
- Ideally, godparents would be from the same parish or geographic region, though this is not a canonical requirement.
A godparent is a permanent, lifelong commitment that begins at the Rite of Election. Sponsors, by contrast, serve temporarily—from the Rite for Entrance until the Rite of Election—guiding the inquirer on their first steps in the faith.
Why this matters
Too often, sponsors and godparents are just ceremonial stand-ins. But for seekers to truly encounter Christ, these roles must be active and authentic. They’re meant to be living examples of faith, offering guidance and friendship as the inquirer grows into a lifelong disciple.
That’s why I asked Betty to be a sponsor. Despite her sometimes brusque outward demeanor, she has a deep faith and a missionary spirit. She’ll probably say no; most people do. But that’s okay. If Betty isn’t the right fit, it just means God has someone else in mind to walk alongside our inquirer. Whoever it is, I’m excited to see how Christ will work through them, helping a new member of our parish discover the joy of living a life of faith.
Join the conversation
Have you served as a sponsor or godparent, or seen one in action? Tell us about it in the comments section—your insights could inspire others!
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Our next FREE webinar — Prepare sponsors and godparents for a journey of accompaniment — will show you how to change that. Discover how to prepare and nurture sponsors and godparents to fulfill their mission of truly accompanying seekers on the journey of faith and into deeper conversion to Christ.
