Please, please help - no godparents?

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Student09

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I am supposed to have godparents for the Rite of Election tomorrow, but I don’t know any practicing Catholics and I have told this to the priest in charge of RCIA three times since RCIA started, the last time was just a few weeks ago; he kept telling me that he would find someone, but he has not. So I don’t even know if I will be allowed to take part in the rite or be baptized at Easter. I feel completely alone and as if God does not want me. Please help.
 
Of course God want’s you. He calls all of us to him. I will pray that you find a solution.
Remember, God is with you and you will get through this.
 
If you’re a catechumen, you don’t need godparent(s). You just need a sponsor. Any baptized Catholic in good standing with the Church can be your sponsor.

I just found my sponsor a few weeks ago, and she can’t be at the Rite of Election tomorrow because she had a prior commitment to a retreat. I think your RCIA leaders should have people available to stand in so you can still participate tomorrow, just like they’re doing for me.

Is the priest the person in charge of RCIA? If not, I would definitely recommend talking to whoever that is about finding you a sponsor instead. Even if the priest is handling all the teaching, he probably has someone to help with administrative stuff. Priests are so overworked most of the time . . . Please don’t worry–I’m sure many people would love to be your sponsor! And even if your local parish has dropped the ball on this, God and the Church want you very, very much! Don’t give up.
 
I don’t have a sponsor either. The priest I didn’t need one for the Rite of Election, but I just found out that I do.

Thank you for your kind words.
 
The rite of election is when the sponsor who has accompanied you up until now steps back, and the godparent’s role begins (although often that is the same person). If you have no godparent the priest will appoint one but keep asking, and ask in a setting where he can attend to you, make notes, and respond, don’t ask him on the fly. Actually your RCIA director will take care of this most likely. If it should happen that Easter rolls around and you are still without a godparent, one will be appointed, often the catechist steps in for this role–it happens every year. If you are at the rite of election or scrutinies w/o your sponsor don’t worry, all those sponsors present are standing up for all of you, as is the parish assembly.

wait till you see that you are not alone and realize how large is this universal church you are joining it will blow you away.
 
Student09 said:
I am supposed to have godparents for the Rite of Election tomorrow, but I don’t know any practicing Catholics and I have told this to the priest in charge of RCIA three times since RCIA started, the last time was just a few weeks ago; he kept telling me that he would find someone, but he has not. So I don’t even know if I will be allowed to take part in the rite or be baptized at Easter. I feel completely alone and as if God does not want me. Please help.
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Your RCIA Sponsor can be and usually is you Godparent for the Sacraments.
 
The deacon from RCIA told me he would be my godparent. The ceremony went fine. It was nice to see other people who are going to be baptized.
 
What broke my heart though, was my parents reaction when I told them about it. My dad just hung up and my mom said Catholics are crazy. 😦
 
Student09 said:
What broke my heart though, was my parents reaction when I told them about it. My dad just hung up and my mom said Catholics are crazy. 😦
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Christ told us to rejoice when others reject us for Him!!!

It is difficult, but, know that the angels are rejoicing for you.
 
kage_ar said:
Christ told us to rejoice when others reject us for Him!!!

It is difficult, but, know that the angels are rejoicing for you.
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Ok, but they are my parents. I love them. Somehow I don’t think God would be exactly pleased with me if I said, “Hurray, my parents are upset!” We’re supposed to honor our mother and father, after all. I hate to see them in pain over this.
 
Student09 said:
Ok, but they are my parents. I love them. Somehow I don’t think God would be exactly pleased with me if I said, “Hurray, my parents are upset!” We’re supposed to honor our mother and father, after all. I hate to see them in pain over this.
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By following Christ, you do honor your parents.
 
kage_ar said:
By following Christ, you do honor your parents.
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I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Are you trying to say I should celebrate the fact that my parents are upset by my conversion? It’s one thing to go through with the conversion in spite of the pain and perhaps estrangement it brings, and another to celebrate the pain and estrangement.
 
Student09 said:
I don’t understand what you are trying to say.
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I think he is trying to say something along the lines of “Doing the right thing honors your parents, even if they do not realize you are doing the right thing.”
 
Student09, you DON’T have to force any celebratory feelings. This is a trial and pain doesn’t make us feel happy or it wouldn’t be pain. See the Book of Job if you need any confirmation for that. The knowledge that we are bearing the suffering for Christ, according to His will, can be a consolation that brings us spiritual joy even during our pain. Sometimes I have felt that during my pain, especially when I thank God for the pain as soon as it strikes me. At other times, I haven’t felt that consolation. But the pain itself, and the pain our obedience to God causes others, does not make us happy but sorrowful. If our pain gave us nothing but happiness, it could not be called “pain.”

Christ’s Cross hurt Him too. If he’d felt nothing but happiness, the Passion wouldn’t have had any value. It is because the Cross was hard for Him to bear, was deeply agonizing, that it has so much value to us and proves to us so richly His love.

Christ said, in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My soul is sorrowful unto death.” He prayed to the Father, “Take this cup from me! But not my will but yours be done.” Your soul has been united with His through your suffering, for you are sorrowful at your parents’ rejection as He was sorrowful in the rejection of His hometown and then the people of Jerusalem.
 
Student09 said:
I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Are you trying to say I should celebrate the fact that my parents are upset by my conversion? It’s one thing to go through with the conversion in spite of the pain and perhaps estrangement it brings, and another to celebrate the pain and estrangement.
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I checked, I never said to celebrate. I said that by honoring God you honor your parents - even if your parents are blinded and refuse to see anything but prejudice and hatred.

Lets imagine for a moment that in a far away country there is a young man who was raised to think stealing was good and lawlessness was right. When he converts to follow God, even though his parents do not think he is right, he brings honor to his parents by following God.

ETA - we are called to rejoice when we are persecuted for Christ. If your parents are persecuting you, you should be rejoice amidst that suffering, because you are doing the RIGHT thing.
 
Student09 said:
I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Are you trying to say I should celebrate the fact that my parents are upset by my conversion? It’s one thing to go through with the conversion in spite of the pain and perhaps estrangement it brings, and another to celebrate the pain and estrangement.
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I would pray that this opens your parents up to the possibility of understanding what atracted you to the Catholic Church.
 
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