Duties of RCIA sponsor?

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angell1

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my friend has just asked me to be her sponsor for RCIA, I was just wondering if sponsors have anything specific to do in regards to the different rites? I know I have to attend them, that’s all the information I have, but are there any actions associated or do I just sit in the pew during mass?
 
What a wonderful friend you are that you were asked to sponsor. There are small pamphlets, quick reads, that explain what the role of the sponsor would be. Main thing you can do for the greatest experience in the process is to pray and when possible pray together. Bring the candidate into the silence of the adoration chapel and just sit. Peace be with you
 
Largely you will be there as a role model and spiritual friend for the person you are sponsoring. Start with praying for the person you are sponsoring. Help her get integrated into the parish – introduce her to people; if there is an event, attend with her so she won’t be alone. Encourage her when she may be struggling a bit. Be there to answer her questions whether they’re purely practical (“which knee do I go down on when I genuflect?”) or more spiritual (“why aren’t my prayers being answered?”). Some sponsors attend RCIA sessions while others don’t. Some have made it a point to meet weekly or biweekly with the person they are sponsoring for coffee or a meal. You’ll be there officially for the rites, but hopefully you’ll be there more fully to show what it means to be a faith-filled Catholic.
 
my question is about the rites specifically, is there anything I will need to do? it’s hard to find info on it. or just attend?
 
The sponsor’s role in most of the rites isn’t large.

The rites themselves depend on whether the person is a catechumen (seeking baptism) or a candidate (already baptized).

Catechumens go through the Rite of Acceptance. The sponsor may or may not be asked to do the signing of the senses (making the Sign of the Cross on the eyes, ears, mouth, etc.). At the Rite of Election the sponsors are asked if the person is ready to move forward and they say yes. At the Easter Vigil the sponsor stands with the person being baptized, helps them dry off and put on a white garment, stands with the person being confirmed, and may go up with the newly baptized to receive communion.

The duties at the rites for candidates are pretty much the same. Sometimes it’s placing a hand on their shoulders, sometimes affirming that they are ready to move forward, that sort of thing.
 
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Just being there for the person you are being the sponsor for is what is most important. As others have written the sponsor is there during the Rite of Election, Easter Vigil or when they will be received into the Catholic Church. As a sponsor, I would also prefer to go to the Mass when the Candidates receive Our Father and the Creed, and when the prayer is said over them during Lent as I personally find those times very important.
 
You may have another person stand proxy if you as sponsor cannot be there for the Baptism & Confirmation.
 
angell1 said:
my friend has just asked me to be her sponsor for RCIA, I was just wondering if sponsors have anything specific to do in regards to the different rites? I know I have to attend them, that’s all the information I have, but are there any actions associated or do I just sit in the pew during mass?
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As a sponsor, you help your friend in every way you can, spiritually, and informationally, and roll model, on her journey.
 
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Get your sponseree to church, give them the following books by Patrick Madrid so they can fend off questions and answer many of their own:
Where is that in the Bible
Why is that in Tradition
Answer Me This
they are easy to read and will make great references for the faith.
 
The following excerpts are from the USA edition of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. In other countries there may be different paragraph numbers.

“10. A sponsor accompanies any candidate seeking admission as a catechumen. Sponsors are persons who have known and assisted the candidates and stand as witnesses to the candidate’s moral character, faith and intention. It may happen that it is not the sponsor for the rite of acceptance and the period of the catechumenate but another person who serves as godparent for the periods of purification and enlightenment and of mystagogy.”

Rite of Acceptance Into the Order of Catechumens:

“AFFIRMATION BY THE SPONSORS AND THE ASSEMBLY
  1. Then the celebrant turns to the sponsors and the assembly and asked them in these or similar words.
Sponsors, you now present these candidates to us; are you, and all who are gathered here with us, ready to help these candidates find and follow Christ?

All:

We are. ”

“SIGNING OF THE FOREHEAD
  1. One of the following options is used, depending on the number of candidates.
A

If there are only a few candidates, the celebrant invites them and their sponsors in these or similar words.

Come forward now with your sponsors to receive the sign of your new way of life as catechumens.

With their sponsors, the candidates come one by one to the celebrant; with his thumb he traces a cross on the forehead; then, if there is to be no signing of the senses, the sponsor does the same. The celebrant says: ….

… Learn to know him and follow him.

All sing or say the following or another suitable acclamation.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

B

If there are a great many candidates, the celebrant speaks to them in these or similar words.

… The whole community welcomes you with love and stands read to help you.

Then, the celebrant makes the sign of the cross over all together, as a cross is traced by a sponsor or catechist on the forehead of each candidate. The celebrant says:

… Learn to know him and follow him.

All sing or say the following or another suitable acclamation.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!”

This next section is optional for the Rite of Acceptance Into the Order of Catechumens:

“SIGNING OF THE OTHER SENSES
  1. The signing is carried out by the catechists or the sponsors. (If required by special circumstances, this may be done by assisting priests or deacons.) The signing of each sense may be followed by an acclamation in praise of Christ, for example, “ Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! ”
While the ears are being signed, the celebrant says:

Receive the sign of the cross on your ears,

that you may hear the voice of the Lord. ”

This continues with eyes, lips, breast, shoulders, hands and feet. There is a Concluding Prayer and:

“INVITATION TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD
  1. The celebrant next invites the catechumens and their sponsors to enter the church (or the place where the liturgy of the word will be celebrated).
N. and N., come into the church,

to share with us at the table of God’s word.

During the entry an appropriate song is sung …”.
 
“SENDING OF THE CATECHUMENS FOR ELECTION (OPTIONAL)
  1. At the conclusion of the period of the catechumenate, a rite of sending the catechumens to their election by the bishop may be celebrated in parishes where this seems beneficial or desirable. …
AFFIRMATION BY THE GODPARENTS [AND THE ASSEMBLY]
He addresses the godparents:

I turn to you, godparents, for your testimony about these candidates. Have these catechumens taken their formation in the Gospel and in the Catholic way of life seriously?

Godparents:

They have.

Celebrant:

Have they given evidence of their conversion by the example of their lives?

Godparents:

They have.

Celebrant:

Do you judge them to be ready to be presented to the bishop for the rite of election?

Godparents:

We do.”

The next ceremony is “Rite of Election of Enrollment of Names” with the bishop or his delegate. It has:

“AFFIRMATION BY THE GODPARENTS [AND THE ASSEMBLY]
  1. Then the celebrant addresses the assembly. If he has taken part in the earlier deliberation on the candidate’s suitableness (see no. 122), he may use either option A or option B or similar words; …
A ….

He addresses the godparents:

As God is your witness, do you consider these candidates worthy to be admitted to the sacraments of Christian initiation?

Godparents:

We do.

B

God’s holy Church wishes to know whether these candidates are sufficiently prepared to be enrolled among the elect for the coming celebration of Easter. And so I speak first of all to you their godparents.

He addresses the godparents:

Have they faithfully listened to God’s word proclaimed by the Church?

Godparents:

They have.

Celebrant:

Have they responded to that word and begun to walk in God’s presence?

Godparents:

They have.

Celebrant:

Have they shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters and joined with them in prayer?

Godparents:

They have.”

The celebrant asks the catechumens questions, ending with “Then offer your names for enrollment.”

This can be done in various ways, including presenting a list to the celebrant. But one way involves the godparent, with the candidate calling out their name which is inscribed by the godparent.
 
The next ceremony with a particular role for the godparent is the Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, which usually takes place at the Easter Vigil:

“RENUNCIATION OF SIN
  1. Using one of the following formularies, the celebrant questions all the elect together; or, after being informed of each’s candidate’s name by the godparents, he may use the same formularies to question the candidates individually. …”.
PROFESSION OF FAITH
  1. Then the celebrant, informed again of each candidate’s name by the godparents, questions the candidates individually. Each candidate is baptized immediately after his or her profession of faith.
[If there are a great many to be baptised, the profession of faith may be made simultaneously either by all together or group by group, then the baptism of each candidate follows.]

Celebrant:

N., do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? …”

“BAPTISM
  1. The celebrant baptizes each candidate either by immersion, option A, or by the pouring of water, option B. ….
A

If baptism is by immersion, of the whole body or of the head only, decency and decorum should be preserved. Either or both godparents touch the candidate. The celebrant, immersing the candidate’s whole body or head three times, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity. …

B

If baptism is by the pouring of water, either or both godparents place the right hand on the shoulder of the candidate, and the celebrant, taking baptismal water and pouring it three times on the candidate’s bowed head, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity.”

“PRESENTATION OF A LIGHT CANDLE
  1. The celebrant takes the Easter candle in his hands or touches it, saying to the godparents:
Godparents, please come forward to give to the newly baptized the light of Christ.

A godparent of each of the newly baptized goes to the celebrant, lights a candle from the Easter candle, then presents it to the newly baptized.”

For the sacrament of confirmation in 235:

“Each candidate, with godparent or godparents, goes to the celebrant (or an associated minister of the sacrament); or, if circumstances require, the celebrant (associated ministers) may go to the candidates.

Either or both godparents place the right hand on the shoulder of the candidate and either a godparent or the candidate gives the candidate’s name to the minister of the sacrament.”

“LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

… 243. It is most desirable that the neophytes, together with their godparents, parents, spouses, and catechists, receive communion under both kinds.”

That is the end of excerpts from the Easter Vigil Mass.
 
In 247 it explains “the so-called Masses for neophytes, that is, the Sunday Masses of the Easter season”.

“248. All the neophytes and their godparents should make an effort to take part in the Masses for the neophytes and the entire local community should be invited to participate with them. Special places in the congregation are to be reserved for the neophytes and their godparents.”

[Excerpts from the English translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults © 1985, Internal Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.]
 
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