Does our daughter need a godparent?

[Upbeat_Dad]

My wife and I are in RCIA and are converting to Catholicism. We anticipate being received into the Church at the Easter Vigil in April. We were both baptized as Protestants as was our daughter who is now 2. Does she need to have a godparent? Is there a mechanism for designating one for her? We know her baptism is valid, but should we as parents be doing something about setting her up with a godparent?

 

[FrDavid96]

My wife and I are in RCIA and are converting to Catholicism. We anticipate being received into the Church at the Easter Vigil in April. We were both baptized as Protestants as was our daughter who is now 2. Does she need to have a godparent? Is there a mechanism for designating one for her? We know her baptism is valid, but should we as parents be doing something about setting her up with a godparent?

Yes, she should have at least one Godparent. The “mechanism” for designating them would be at the time the pastor “supplies the rites of the Church” by doing the baptism ritual, but without the actual pouring of water–ok, before the rite happens, but that’s when they would become official Godparents, and this would be recorded in the parish baptismal register. Most likely, it would be pastorally appropriate to wait until after Easter for this, so that you as Catholic parents can present her for the rite. If you feel comfortable at this stage, you can start looking for Godparents right away.

You could also request that the pastor do this at the Easter Vigil, and all of you could come into the Church as a family. It can be done this way, but if there are a lot of Catechumens and Candidates, it might be a little confusing. It wouldn’t hurt to ask IF this is what you want.

 

[puzzleannie]

she will be brought into the Church automatically when you are received, and when she becomes school age, instructed with others for first communion and confirmation. At that time she will with your guidance select a Catholic confirmation sponsor. Until then, the same people who will be sponsoring you can act in the role of Catholic sponsors or godparents for her as well, since they are supporting your whole family at this time. Yes there is also a provision to complete the rite of baptism, and you can have a godparent for her, although this may be done at another time.

Welcome home.