How to choose an RCIA sponsor?

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Hi, I was just wondering how I should go about finding a sponsor for my RCIA class. I was told that if I cannot find one, one will be provided to me by the Church. I think it’s best to find someone who’s in the parish, but it’s acceptable to find someone outside the parish, as well. Is there an age limit on who can be your sponsor, or any other requirements?

Also, is it a good idea to choose a girl you’re dating to be your sponsor? Completely hypothetical question!

Thanks in advance!
 
Are there any adults in the church that you know?

IHow old are you? Is this a serious relationship, are you going to be married in the church? If so, you might consider her parents.

I am probably going to ask the very first Catholic that I ever knew…hahaha…figure since she’s been praying for me for about three years, it’s the least I can do.

I look forward to other replies.
 
catechumen08 said:
Hi, I was just wondering how I should go about finding a sponsor for my RCIA class. I was told that if I cannot find one, one will be provided to me by the Church. I think it’s best to find someone who’s in the parish, but it’s acceptable to find someone outside the parish, as well. Is there an age limit on who can be your sponsor, or any other requirements?

Also, is it a good idea to choose a girl you’re dating to be your sponsor? Completely hypothetical question!

Thanks in advance!
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The girl thing could be trouble! 😉

Check with the director of the RCIA program for specifics on requirements. However, locate the most involved, well catechized, spirit-filled, energized sponsor you can! It will make your entrance all the more fulfulling, and you’ll be taught correctly.

What you don’t want is someone who needs the program themselves! You will need answers to your questions, and a good knowledge base is a great thing to draw upon.

God bless you and your sponsor.

Christ’s peace.
 
I have been involved involved in teaching converts for 20 years, about 15 of those in an RCIA program. We are usually very reluctant to have spouses, the engaged partner, or the girl or boyfriend as sponsor. We have allowed it on rare occasions where the person was otherwise qualified. The qualities described above for a sponsor are good ones. We usually have a group of potential sponsors at the initial meetings. After about a month the candidate or catechumen can choose one or be assigned one. Sponsors are expected to be with their candidate or catecumen for the majority of classes and the retreat.
 
Would you recommend a boss/employer as one’s Sponsor? I was thinking about asking my boss (either the husband or wife, I work for a family run business, and I go to the same parish as my boss).

If they can’t/won’t do it, at least they can possibly recommend someone.
 
hmmm, I don’t know about a boss. I guess it depends on your relationship outside of work. If it were me, I would feel wierd about that. maybe the bosses spouse.

I just went to my first RCIA meeting (as a potential sponser for a candadate) and here are the requirements that they layed down;
  1. no parent may sponser their child (and I’m pretty sure no child may sponser their parent either). outside of this, family members are welcome to sponser siblings, nieces and so on.
  2. the sponser must be a practicing catholic, living their faith.
Outside fo this, there aren’t any hard rules. The director of the program did tell me that they don’t like to have boyfriend/girlfriend or even engaged couples sponsering eachother.
 
DJgang said:
Are there any adults in the church that you know?

IHow old are you? Is this a serious relationship, are you going to be married in the church? If so, you might consider her parents.

I am probably going to ask the very first Catholic that I ever knew…hahaha…figure since she’s been praying for me for about three years, it’s the least I can do.

I look forward to other replies.
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I wouldn’t recommend asking your girlfriend or her parents. I know when I came into the Church, my priest told me that it could not be my (then) boyfriend’s parents because if they were my sponsors (godparents in essence) that would make my boyfriend and I ineligible to be married in the Church (as we would be like spiritual “siblings”). Just something to think about. You can talk to your priest to make sure, but I would think it best to avoid the potential for such a situation. 👍
 
JohnnyReb said:
Would you recommend a boss/employer as one’s Sponsor? I was thinking about asking my boss (either the husband or wife, I work for a family run business, and I go to the same parish as my boss).

If they can’t/won’t do it, at least they can possibly recommend someone.
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I would proceed cautiously here, based upon the subordinate relationship you have at work. Ask them to recommend a faith-filled friend/parishoner, as it would provide a blessed degree of separation for you. You will still attend the same parish, still have the same boss, but there would be no chance of any work tension inserting itself into your blessed path to the faith.

Christ’s peace!
 
catechumen08 said:
Hi, I was just wondering how I should go about finding a sponsor for my RCIA class…
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Are best sponsors are seasoned citizens, usually starting as total strangers. They have time to attend Mass & class with you. They are patient and usually know the Church, process, and catechism
… Is there an age limit on who can be your sponsor, or any other requirements?
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your sponsor is to be an adult in good standing with the Church.
Also, is it a good idea to choose a girl you’re dating to be your sponsor? Completely hypothetical question!
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Bad idea, I find catechumen rarely fight with seasoned citizens. Having emotions with spouses, siblings, in-laws, or coworker is more common. When we have husband wife pairs we switch them with others. We always try to have same sex pairs, so the wife is paired with another woman while the husband is paired with a man.

hope that helps
 
Thank you all for all the great (name removed by moderator)ut! I shall keep that in mind when choosing a sponsor.
 
I wanted to know what the RCIA sponsor does and and if they need to be at every session. I asked someone that I wanted to do this but they were concerned with the time commitment. Thanks for the help and god bless.
 
usually the parish appoints the sponsor who accompanies you during the classes and breaking open the Word sessions, because part of their role is introducing you to parish life. You may choose your godparent for Baptism and/or Confirmation sponsor. If you have no one close to you to ask the parish will find someone, or you can ask the sponsor you had during the classes.
 
mkipp said:
I wanted to know what the RCIA sponsor does and and if they need to be at every session. I asked someone that I wanted to do this but they were concerned with the time commitment. Thanks for the help and god bless.
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If you have a family member or friend that you would like to be your Sponsor, you can submit them. They of course must qualify. Many parishes do appoint Sponsors if you do not know anyone, but you are not required to accept them, if you have someone who qualifies in mind.
 
In the past the RCIA team signed up a number of qualified people to be sponsors. Once the group of sponsors and candidates or catechumens became acquainted they would be asked to pair up. Excess sponsors were free to stay or leave at will. We have a new leader in charge this year and I don’t know how we will do this going forward.

Some people brought along their own sponsors and if they were qualified we let them stay together. Engaged couples where one was Catholic were encouraged to not form up as a pair, but to select someone else as sponsor.

We expected sponsors to attend every session, so it was quite a commitment,
 
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