N
Neophyte_Rose
Guest
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=3063774#post3063774
I did not want to detract from the above thread, and so I am starting this one. I have literally five minutes before I must leave for MASS, but this strikes me as something that desperately needs to be said - over and over and over again, as many times as it takes.
People, we need to step forward and volunteer ourselves to our own parishes, as sponsors or catechists if we’ve the training, or whatever they need us for (even to be the person organizing “snack time” for the breaks in RCIA)…
Our candidates and catechumans - our soon-to-be-Catholics, need our support. It is up to us, as laymen and women, to step forward and offer what is so desperately needed.
You don’t have to know as much as a Bishop or even as much as a Priest to be a good sponsor; all you need is to have a desire to help someone entering the Church, and the ability to search out answers and discuss issues with your candidate as he or she brings them to you.
You need to have a desire to grow yourself in your faith - because according to my Godmother, who was my sponsor last year - as well as all the other people who sponsored people in our program - invariably, you will grow in your own faith as you help another person.
It takes a couple of hours a week, and it’s a great bargan. You give some of your time, some of your love, and do your best to help someone else along (even if your best is to admit you don’t know and then look for the answer elsewhere)… and out of it, you get a really great and hopefully life-long friend and a newer and deeper perspective on your own faith.
It’s a win-win people. And it’s so sad that it’s so common for people to be without sponsors in RCIA - for so long. Don’t be shy. Don’t be nervous. Step forward and volunteer. It’s not like you’ll be the ONLY person guiding your candidate, though you will be a major one… your more for the emotional support, to make the person feel a part of the community and to help them feel welcomed… your director and priest should be the educational guides, though you can and should definitely help as well.
But as there’s so many parishes without enough sponsors… I wonder, could your parish be such a parish? and are you volunteering?
I’m still a neophyte myself, but next year or the one after that (depending on where I am - if I’m back here, where everyone is already Catholic - literally, a town of 1000 and two Catholic Churches…) - or as soon as I am able, I plan to at least volunteer. If I’m not needed or not the best person for the job, cool, I can accept that.
What I cannot accept (at least in myself) is to not even volunteer if there’s a chance I might be needed.
Any thoughts on this? Who here is already a sponsor or catechist? Who here has given it thought?
Pax Christi,
Esther Rose
I did not want to detract from the above thread, and so I am starting this one. I have literally five minutes before I must leave for MASS, but this strikes me as something that desperately needs to be said - over and over and over again, as many times as it takes.
People, we need to step forward and volunteer ourselves to our own parishes, as sponsors or catechists if we’ve the training, or whatever they need us for (even to be the person organizing “snack time” for the breaks in RCIA)…
Our candidates and catechumans - our soon-to-be-Catholics, need our support. It is up to us, as laymen and women, to step forward and offer what is so desperately needed.
You don’t have to know as much as a Bishop or even as much as a Priest to be a good sponsor; all you need is to have a desire to help someone entering the Church, and the ability to search out answers and discuss issues with your candidate as he or she brings them to you.
You need to have a desire to grow yourself in your faith - because according to my Godmother, who was my sponsor last year - as well as all the other people who sponsored people in our program - invariably, you will grow in your own faith as you help another person.
It takes a couple of hours a week, and it’s a great bargan. You give some of your time, some of your love, and do your best to help someone else along (even if your best is to admit you don’t know and then look for the answer elsewhere)… and out of it, you get a really great and hopefully life-long friend and a newer and deeper perspective on your own faith.
It’s a win-win people. And it’s so sad that it’s so common for people to be without sponsors in RCIA - for so long. Don’t be shy. Don’t be nervous. Step forward and volunteer. It’s not like you’ll be the ONLY person guiding your candidate, though you will be a major one… your more for the emotional support, to make the person feel a part of the community and to help them feel welcomed… your director and priest should be the educational guides, though you can and should definitely help as well.
But as there’s so many parishes without enough sponsors… I wonder, could your parish be such a parish? and are you volunteering?
I’m still a neophyte myself, but next year or the one after that (depending on where I am - if I’m back here, where everyone is already Catholic - literally, a town of 1000 and two Catholic Churches…) - or as soon as I am able, I plan to at least volunteer. If I’m not needed or not the best person for the job, cool, I can accept that.
What I cannot accept (at least in myself) is to not even volunteer if there’s a chance I might be needed.
Any thoughts on this? Who here is already a sponsor or catechist? Who here has given it thought?
Pax Christi,
Esther Rose
My husband is an artist and we also help when art projects or youth projects come up. It really is an awesome experience to volunteer. You are meeting new people, making friends and learning about God and oh yeah helping someone too. A great experience. :yup: