Is it possible to have a long- distance sponsor for RCIA?

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to-whatever-end

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So I currently live in an area that limits my access to RCIA programs, especially ones in my language (English). The nearest parish has arranged for me to start RCIA but they apparently don’t have anyone available to be a sponsor that is fluent in English. Is it possible to ask my high school chaplain coordinator (I am in university now but we still keep in contact) to potentially act as a sponsor? I’m still a bit confused about the whole sponsor process and purpose but because of my circumstances in my current location I would really prefer a sponsor that I can comfortably communicate with and such. Any advice? Thanks in advance.
 
You seem to be saying that you don’t speak the language of the country where you’re living. Is that it?
 
No. I’m just studying at an English university in Quebec that happens to be surrounded by a very Francophone population. I used to be fluent in french a long time ago but I grew up mainly in Ontario and so I lost the language almost completely.
 
C’est la vie! yes, outside of Montreal it is hard to find English speakers in Quebec. You should talk to the priest to see if the RCIA sponsor can be located faraway. I assume this is something at the parish discretion.
 
Sponsors carry out different roles and at least part of them can be at a distance.

There are the various rites you will go through and you need to have someone physically present for those. If needed, you could use a proxy for the rites. Then the sponsor has another role as a support person, spiritual friend, and mentor. That role can certainly be done with phone calls or whatever other method works for the two of you.
 
Yes!

Someone can stand proxy for a far away sponsor. I’ve been blessed to be both a proxy and have someone stand in for me 🙂
 
It is possible. I would ask your priest just to make sure. If it is needed a proxy can stand in for your confirmation.
 
You definitely need to talk to the priest about it. Many do allow proxy stand-ins for a sponsor who lives far away, but some do not. I’ve never been able to find anything in canon law or any other Church documents that give any sort of guidelines about proxy sponsors. So as far as I can tell, it’s at the discretion of the pastor.

This year, there are several in my parish who need proxies. It’s not uncommon where I am at because there are a lot of transplants and transients.
 
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