Godparents & baptism

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If someone is not baptised as an infant, would they still have godparents? Say if a family all converts while the children are still young like 4 or 5 years old. And how about someone who converts as an adult?

Do godparents have any specific task? (Assuming the parents are doing a good enough job raising their child in the faith)
 
Every person baptized in the Catholic Church has 2 sponsors/Godparents/Christian witnesses to the baptism, from the infants to the adults.
The Godparents’ only task is to provide a Christian example for the child, and help him or her grow in Christ.
 
Everyone of any age who is to be baptized must have one or two godparents, who are responsible along with the parents (if the baptized is a child) to insure that the child is raised Catholic. If the baptized is an adult, they assist the person in the formation of their faith.

Canonically (C. 872 ff.), godparents must meet these criteria:

They must be: at least 16 years old;
Baptized and confirmed Catholics who have made their First Holy Communion;
Live a life in accordance with the role they are undertaking;
Must not be the father or mother of the baptized;
If married, must be in a regular marriage;
Must not be under any canonical penalties (i.e. excommunication).

If there is one godparent, their gender does not matter, but if there are two, one must be a man and the other a woman. A Christian witness is a baptized non-Catholic person who witnesses the baptism, but at least one qualified godparent must also be present or represented by proxy.
 
If someone is not baptised as an infant, would they still have godparents? Say if a family all converts while the children are still young like 4 or 5 years old. And how about someone who converts as an adult?

Do godparents have any specific task? (Assuming the parents are doing a good enough job raising their child in the faith)
Every person who is Baptized in the Catholic Church should have at least one Godparent. Godparents are not required for emergency Baptisms. One Godparent may be the godparent for the whole family or each person may have one or two (one of each gender) They all must meet the Catholic requirements found in Canon Law. Generally in RCIA each adult has their own Godparent, One additional Godparent can stand for the children or each child can have their own Godparent(s).

The Godparent is your** life long** companion in the Faith.
 
Sponsors in baptism is an ancient custom. The sponsor would vouch for the baptizand’s faith and character, as well as serving as a witness to the baptism (which were originally done in the nude by full immersion).
 
If someone is not baptised as an infant, would they still have godparents? Say if a family all converts while the children are still young like 4 or 5 years old. And how about someone who converts as an adult?

Do godparents have any specific task? (Assuming the parents are doing a good enough job raising their child in the faith)
yes when an adult (this includes child of catechetical age) is baptized, a Catholic in good standing should be both the baptismal godparent and confirmation sponsor, since both sacraments will be celebrated at the same time. In the case of a family, one person can be the sponsor for all. PP erred slightly, as there needs to be only one sponsor, can be either gender, but if there are two, must be one man and one woman.
 
When an adult joins the church they have a sponsor. Are they considered a Godparent as well? ‘Patenting’ is pretty much done. I have seen people younger than the neofite serve as the sponsor.

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When an adult joins the church they have a sponsor. Are they considered a Godparent as well? ‘Patenting’ is pretty much done. I have seen people younger than the neofite serve as the sponsor.

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They can be or the person can chose a different qualified person(s) as Godparent for Baptism and Confirmation. A Sponsor for RCIA must meet the same requirements in Canon Law, since usually they become the Sponsor for Confirmation.
 
When an adult joins the church they have a sponsor. Are they considered a Godparent as well? ‘Patenting’ is pretty much done. I have seen people younger than the neofite serve as the sponsor.
If the adult is being baptized, then he or she receives Godparents. If they are already baptized, they have a sponsor.
 
If the adult is being baptized, then he or she receives Godparents. If they are already baptized, they have a sponsor.
Everyone who goes through RCIA will have a sponsor – that sponsor may be assigned. The choice of godparent remains the catechumen’s and he/she may choose the same person for his/her godparent or may choose a different godparent(s).
 
For clarity:

In Baptism:
Sponsor is the official term used by the Church (in English)
Godparent is a traditional term we use in English.
They mean the same thing; the two words are interchangeable.

Sponsor is also the term used with regard to Confirmation, although it’s not the custom of the English language to use the word “Godparent”, nor to think of a Confirmation sponsor in the same way (though perhaps we should).

The Latin word is patrinus (patrini in the plural) and the same word is used for both Sacraments. The word itself means “little parent”

It’s important for us to understand that in Baptism, Godparents and sponsors are the same thing. Some people misunderstand the concept and think that one can be a Godparent without being a sponsor.
 
Okay, hypothetical here. The Godparent is in good standing when they agree to this promise to God. Then one year later, they get married outside of the church. (This is the problem of an older lady I sit next to at daily mass for her grandson) She was telling me they can’t change her as Godparent because its permanent.
Is that right? It does make sense, because baptism is indelible also and the priesthood, right?
 
Okay, hypothetical here. The Godparent is in good standing when they agree to this promise to God. Then one year later, they get married outside of the church. (This is the problem of an older lady I sit next to at daily mass for her grandson) She was telling me they can’t change her as Godparent because its permanent.
Is that right? It does make sense, because baptism is indelible also and the priesthood, right?
No, obviously you can’t go back in time and change the person who was there to make promises and witness the baptism. Once the godparent, always the godparent.

Now, as in my case, although all the godparents I picked for my kids were qualified at the time, only one is fit of being a godparent now. A family friend acts as a surrogate godparent to my youngest son, because she cares, prays for and supports him and became his confirmation sponsor, whereas the real godparents thought I was insane for raising my children in the faith.
 
Ok Gotta question myself and i assume this is the right thread, what if someone doesn’t know anyone in the Catholic faith that could be thier sponsor after RCIA and be the God parents of your child who needs to be baptised? I am asking because I have been drawn to it and i am a single mother who knows no one in the faith.
 
Ok Gotta question myself and i assume this is the right thread, what if someone doesn’t know anyone in the Catholic faith that could be thier sponsor after RCIA and be the God parents of your child who needs to be baptised? I am asking because I have been drawn to it and i am a single mother who knows no one in the faith.
Ask your pastor. I’m sure he knows someone in the congregation who would be delighted to be RCIA sponsor for both you and your child.
 
Many parishes’ RCIA programs include cathechists or other assistants who are available and willing to act as sponors.
 
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