Introduction

Congratulations on being asked to be a godparent/sponsor!  While parents have the primary responsibility for raising their child as a Catholic.  The Godparents or Sponsor help them carry out this awesome responsibility.  We look forward to helping you prepare for this special role in the life of your candidate.

Letters of Sponsorship

Letters of sponsorship are provided by contacting the Pastoral Associate by phone or by e-mail at brabjohn@dor.org.

Typically, a Godparent/Sponsor will be required to meet with the Pastoral Associate prior to a letter being issued for preparation purposes. Meetings will not be required for parishioners who recently met with the Associate within the past two years.

Requirements of a Godparent/Sponsor

The Church requires that those who take on the obligation of Godparent/Sponsor at baptism or confirmation practice their religion faithfully and live lives that set them apart as followers of Jesus Christ.

The Church requires that sponsors:

1.) Be mature enough to undertake this responsibility and be over the age of 16.

2.) Have received all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, & Eucharist)

3.) Are members of the Catholic Church and are canonically free to be a sponsor.

The following are canonically disqualified from serving as a sponsor:

1.) Individuals married "outside" the Church without dispensation.

2.) Divorced individuals who have attempted to remarry outside the Church.

3.) Individuals who habitually miss weekend Mass.

4.) Parents who neglect the religious instructions of their children.

5.) Those who fail to fulfill their "Easter Duty," that is, receive Holy Communion during the Easter Season.

6.) Those who have not been both baptized and confirmed.

7.) Those whose lives give public scandal.

Pastoral Issues Surrounding Infant Baptisms

In the event that the parents cannot find two qualifying godparents: one male, one female. Parents may request to have two men, two women, or one single godparent. 

In addition and for pastoral reasons, one sponsor can be a Christian Witness provided the other sponsor meets the above qualifications.  The Christian Witness must be at least sixteen years of age and a baptized Christian from a mainstream denomination (i.e. Anglican, Orthodox, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.) who practices their Christian faith regularly and supports raising the candidate into the Catholic faith.