Asked to be RCIA sponsor

[Epistemes]

Hello,

One of the Sisters at my local parish, who is the director for RCIA, has asked me (of all people) to be a sponsor for a young guy, close to my age, perhaps, who is interested in joining the process at this late stage.

I am conflicted, to say the least. My primary concern is if I will be able to handle such an important task in terms of my schedule. There’s really no other conflict with my attending the weekly meetings, and I’m truly very flexible. I’m also concerned since I hardly feel adequate to be a sponsor and mentor to someone else given how volatile I can sometimes be myself. Anyone here on CAF who has endured my threads know of what I speak. Apparently I act differently in person, which is no surprise, since I always try to put on my game face in the real world but come here to vent and unwind with my deep-down spiritual concerns.

Anyway, I am praying about this. I told the Sister I would let her know by Friday. I know she would like this young guy to have someone close to his age so that he can see how I, someone his age, function within the faith – but given that I’m still learning myself, especially after being away for 9 months, I just don’t know…

I want to say no, but there’s something inside me (I don’t know if it’s pride or the Holy Spirit) which won’t let me.

 

[Inman]

I am sure if Sister asked you to take on the job, she felt you would be a good sponsor. I recommend you accept. Pray that the Lord will give you the grace you need to do your best. The RCIA folks will convey the information needed to the candidates. The class will likely stregthen your faith as well, or at least your knowledge of it.

 

[beckycmarie]

Hi Epistemes,

My parish hands out a “Godparent & Sponsor Job Description,” a copy of which I found online here. I’d recommend reviewing the list to help you discern whether or not you are ready to sponsor right now.

 

[beckycmarie]

Dear Epistemes,

My parish has a handout, “Godparent & Sponsor Job Description,” a copy of which another parish has posted online [here (http://www.holyspiritcatholic.com/documents/Microsoft_Word___RCIA_Sponsor_Job_Description_WEB.pdf). Perhaps you could use it to help discern if you are ready to sponsor right now.

My parish has added to that list one additional item which is crucial:

Specific Gifts Needed:

• Steadfast commitment to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church

 

[AveSantaMaria]

Maybe one could take the entire situation with all concerns, doubts, and issues to one’s confessor - a morally solid priest at your church and follow his guidance. St. Faustina as well as a priest at my church have both said that it is true that we should have no self-will. Maybe that means it is wisest to have holy obedience like such as the Mother of the Word, who bore the Sacred Heart of Jesus though she wondered “how can this be since I do not know man” or St. Joseph, who took Mary as his wife despite her unexplained pregnancy (was this pregnancy forever unexplained?), and St. Francis of Assisi.

From St. Faustina’s Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, Notebook 1, #139

Still a soul which is faithful to God cannot confirm its own inspirations; it must submit them to the control of a very wise and learned priest, and until it is quite certain, it should remain distrustful. It should not, on its own iniative alone, put its trust in these inspirations and other higher graces, because it can thus expose itself to great losses. Even though a soul may immediately distinguish between false inspirations and those of God, it should nevertheless be careful, because many things are uncertain. God is pleased and rejoices when a soul distrusts Him for His own sake; because it loves Him, it is prudent and itself asks and searches for help to make once a certain that it is really God who is acting within it. And once a well-instructed confessor has confirmed this, the soul should be at peace and give itself up to God, according ot its directions; that is, according to the directions of the confessor."

saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS3.shtml

*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.

For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

 

[jmcrae]

One of the important ways that we deepen our faith is by sharing it with someone else.

Do you know the reason why Mormons send their youngest adult members out door to door to evangelize? Do you think it is because these young men and women have such a firm grasp of their faith that they will convince others to follow it? That older members don’t have the fire and zeal of the young?

Not at all. In fact, if these young evangelists manage to make even one convert, the Mormons consider that a bonus. Rather, the reason is to make those young men and women repeat the teachings of their sect so often that they can’t help but believe in them.

If this works for a false religion, can you imagine how much better it will work for a Catholic, who has the Truth?

Evangelism is not for the sake of those being evangelized, but rather, for the sake of the evangelist. Our own faith deepens, when we have to explain and defend it to others.