First Communion sponsor?

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Cimachol

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The other day I was at a parent meeting for parents of First Communion candidates, and we were told that we would have a sponsor for our children to receive the Sacrament. I’ve heard of baptismal sponsors (aka godparents) and Confirmation sponsors, but never First Communion sponsor. I asked for clarification to make sure that the requirement wasn’t intended only for those kids who hadn’t received Baptism yet and might be receiving baptism as well, but the lady leading the meeting insisted that we must have a sponsor, and get the necessary documentation to show that the sponsor is in good standing with the Church.

Is having a First Communion sponsor a new requirement, as far as anyone knows? If not, can a parish just decide to add its own additional requirements for the Sacrament? I’ve e-mailed my pastor to make sure that there isn’t some misunderstanding, but he has yet to respond.

It probably wouldn’t be TOO difficult, since our son’s Godmother is a close friend of ours and would probably do it, but I just found the whole thing very strange.
 
=Cimachol;11856903]The other day I was at a parent meeting for parents of First Communion candidates, and we were told that we would have a sponsor for our children to receive the Sacrament. I’ve heard of baptismal sponsors (aka godparents) and Confirmation sponsors, but never First Communion sponsor. I asked for clarification to make sure that the requirement wasn’t intended only for those kids who hadn’t received Baptism yet and might be receiving baptism as well, but the lady leading the meeting insisted that we must have a sponsor, and get the necessary documentation to show that the sponsor is in good standing with the Church.
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Is having a First Communion sponsor a new requirement, as far as anyone knows? If not, can a parish just decide to add its own additional requirements for the Sacrament? I’ve e-mailed my pastor to make sure that there isn’t some misunderstanding, but he has yet to respond.
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It probably wouldn’t be TOO difficult, since our son’s Godmother is a close friend of ours and would probably do it, but I just found the whole thing very strange.
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NEVER HEARD of such:)

IF it was NOT the pastor who said this then I WOULD go to the Pastor and ASK directly,
but nicely.

Pastors Do have some leeway in saving the souls they are charged with; BUT this is a new one for me and I’m a life long catholic great grandfather:D who has taught our faith for 20+ years.

I’m NOT opposed to the idea; but have no knowledge if it being a mandate.

God Bless you,
patrick [PJM]
 
My oldest kid is having First Communion this year too, and we have not been told any of this.
 
No it’s not a canonical requirement and no a parish cannot simply create such a requirement.
 
Never heard of this either, I would ask your pastor. GL and God Bless
 
I do first confession and first communion with my grade 2s every year and have never heard of this…
 
This is not a requirement.

In Mexico, they have a custom of having “padrinos” for First Communion. (Godparents)
But not in the U.S. Don’t know about other places within the Church.
It’s a custom of the Mexican culture. Nothing official.

Peace.
 
There’s no such thing. Ask the pastor. It seems like the religious ed people are getting creative.
 
In Mexico we have sponsor for First Communion, they recommend to choose the godparents from Bautism, but you can invite another person.
 
I know it’s a Mexican custom. I had a sponsor for my First Communion and that was in the early nineties. And my brother and sister were the sponsors for his girlfriend’s daughter. Ideally, it’s supposed to be the godparents from your Baptism. They are supposed to be guiding you in the faith and should be with you as you receive every Sacrament of Initiation.
 
That it’s a Mexican custom may explain it a biit — the lady running the program is from Mexico, as are many parishioners. Still, I don’t think she should be allowed to impose a Mexican custom as a requirement for receiving the sacrament here in the USA.
 
Welcome to the great Melting Pot! We have a large Mexican influence in our parish. We do not promote this as a staff but we have been known to tolerate it when a family requests it. I suppose if the parish staff is promoting it, then the pastor is okay with it.

Some parishes mandate dress and suit color. It is important to voice concerns but it is also important to just roll with it as long as it is not abusive.
 
dconklin said:
Welcome to the great Melting Pot! We have a large Mexican influence in our parish. We do not promote this as a staff but we have been known to tolerate it when a family requests it. I suppose if the parish staff is promoting it, then the pastor is okay with it.

Some parishes mandate dress and suit color. It is important to voice concerns but it is also important to just roll with it as long as it is not abusive.
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I wouldn’t have a problem with them promoting it, but requiring it seems problematic.
 
They can’t require it…I suppose they are making a blanket statement so the anglos won’t feel awkward when they show up without them.
At our parish they sit behind the kids. They don’t go up to receive with them, nor do they have them carrying any of their items that are traditional (a decorated Bible, a rosary, and a candle). It’s more of an honorary thing.

If you explain to the DRE that it’s not your custom she should waive the “requirement/custom” for you. She really has no authority beyond being kind to other cultures to impose this.
 
Having godparents present at FHC, having them “sponsor” things such paying for a party for the child, their clothing, etc, is NOT the same thing as having a canonical FHC Sponsor, in Mexico or anywhere esle.

Padrinos and madrinos “sponsor” lots of things at the quincenera and the wedding as well-- by “sponsoring” it is meant paying for. NOT the same thing as a canonical sponsor role.

A sponsor at FHC does not exist, the fact that they call it this in Mexico does not mean it really IS a FHC sponsor.
 
1ke said:
Having godparents present at FHC, having them “sponsor” things such paying for a party for the child, their clothing, etc, is NOT the same thing as having a canonical FHC Sponsor, in Mexico or anywhere esle.

Padrinos and madrinos “sponsor” lots of things at the quincenera and the wedding as well-- by “sponsoring” it is meant paying for. NOT the same thing as a canonical sponsor role.

A sponsor at FHC does not exist, the fact that they call it this in Mexico does not mean it really IS a FHC sponsor.
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Isn’t that what everyone has said?
 
Cimachol said:
I wouldn’t have a problem with them promoting it, but requiring it seems problematic.
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Have you checked with the pastor?

The Mexican custom is that the original baptismal sponsors (ie Godparents) are also the sponsors for First Communion, insofar as this is possible. They don’t actually have any liturgical role, they simply accompany the child. So, it’s not like baptism where they speak on the child’s behalf or anything like that. They might present gifts (like a rosary or cross) at some point, but again this is not anything liturgical and it’s certainly not anything in canon law.

I hope that all this turns out to be just a misunderstanding. No one can add a requirement that a First Communicant must have a sponsor. I am hoping that “must” is more of something like “your child will feel left-out if everyone else is doing this or that…”

Do talk to the pastor.
 
At my parish during my first communion, we had the opportunity to have sponsors (in the sense ke is talking about), but I do not come from a Hispanic background (although my area is seeing an increase in Hispanic parishioners now).

I don’t think it was necessary to have one, just something our parish suggested each child have. 🤷

For me, I just asked my godmother to be my sponsor and I did the same for my confirmation. She’s also my aunt so it seemed the best thing to do for me.
 
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