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,
Why the best sponsors are the ones who feel unqualified
When a new seeker shows up, do you start stressing over how to find a sponsor for them? Finding sponsors is often one of the most challenging parts of catechumenate ministry. But maybe that’s because we’ve been looking at recruiting in the wrong way. In this video, we explore why you may need to ask
A better way to think about recruiting sponsors
Over several articles, we have seen how profound the lenten scrutinies can be for your elect and your parish. We have explored how these rites are exercises in vision, letting the light of Christ reveal both what needs healing and what is already good. We have reframed the exorcism as a loving acclamation of victory
Empowering godparents for the scrutinies
We just finished our webinar on finding and preparing sponsors and godparents (Team Initiation members can view the recording here), and I’ve been reflecting on the experience. We can do all the planning, preparing, training, and strategizing we want—but at the end of the day, the Holy Spirit is running things. Right now, our parish
Finding the “perfect” sponsor: A Holy Spirit story
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
The roles of sponsors and godparents in the catechumenate
There’s an important difference the Church gives us between the role of sponsor and that of godparent. And when we attend to their differences, we help to model the beauty and importance of being part of the body of Christ. In this short video, learn about those differences and what each of these roles do
Sponsors and godparents: What’s the difference?
The Rite of Election is a pivotal moment in the journey of a catechumen, marking a transition from a period of inquiry and formation to a more intense spiritual preparation for the sacraments of initiation. It’s not simply an introduction to the bishop or a public declaration of intent; rather, it’s the church, through the
The weight of “yes”: Three questions godparents must answer
Every year, as we get closer to the Rite of Election, a lot of questions about godparents start to surface. When we are talking about catechumens, the roles of “sponsor” and “godparent” are different. And just to make things a little confusing, when we talk about infants, confirmation candidates, or baptized candidates for reception into
Understanding the role of godparents in the catechumenate
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
Q&A: Can sponsors be dismissed?
Q. I am the director of the catechumenate process in my parish. I was asked by two of my catechumens to be their godmother. While I am so humbled, I am not sure what the proper protocol is. Is it okay for catechumenate directors to be godparents of their catechumens? A. As long as you
Q&A: Can directors of the catechumenate be godparents of their catechumens?
