RCIA - Sponsor

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mikevr6

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Hi
I have been asked to sponsor someone who is in RCIA
There was no direction on what a sponsor should do?
Can someone give me some advice please.
 
Hopefully someone from the RCIA team will give you more information about it. We always do an evening with sponsors to cover what we expect from them.

In part it depends on the person you’re sponsoring and what they need/want from the relationship with you. Some things you might consider would include:
  • Attend Mass with them. (If you go to daily Mass invite your candidate/catechumen to come with you. I find they’re often surprised at the differences between daily and Sunday Masses.)
  • Join them for coffee and donuts after Mass. Introduce them to other parishioners.
  • Invite them to attend meetings of any parish groups you belong to and introduce them.
  • Invite them to prayer services, retreat days, lectures, or whatever activities might be taking place in your parish. It can be hard to be the new person who doesn’t quite know what’s going on and doesn’t want to do something wrong or be left all alone.
  • Attend the RCIA sessions with them. Often there will be time for discussion and it would be great if you were the person they could talk with.
  • Meet with them just to talk about how things are going. Or perhaps you’re a pair who would do better by phone or e-mail. Be available to them.
  • Invite them to lunch or dinner either their whole family and your whole family or just you and your candidate/catechumen.
  • Pray for them.
That’s off the top of my head. I’m sure others will have more ideas for you. Basically you want to be a model of what it means to be a Catholic Christian and be the welcoming hand of the Church for this new person.
 
The specifics will depend on your parish, but the main thing is be there, live your faith, be an example.

The main job of a sponsor is to be there and encourage them. You should be there to help answer questions, or point them in the right direction to someone who can answer the question. You are the representative of the community. You should help welcome them, help them find their place in the community. Eventually you will also be asked to testify on behalf of your person that they really have experienced a conversion, that they are ready to be Catholic.

You will have to ask the RCIA director for more specifics. Often you will be asked to attend classes so you know what they are learning and can support them. There will be a number of Rites that you will be asked to participate it.
 
In our parish, we attend each meeting with the person we sponsor. I learn more about Catholicism each year I help out with the program. I’m a revert, I’ve been back about 4 years now. RCIA stresses the lifelong conversion experience of the heart, mind and soul.

Last year, the lady I sponsored only needed Confirmation. This year, the lady I sponsor needs the “whole shebang”. Her husband is Catholic and she’s a convert from Baptist and Unitarianism. Exciting to be able to see her conversion and be there to understand her questions.
 
=mikevr6;7127827]Hi
I have been asked to sponsor someone who is in RCIA
There was no direction on what a sponsor should do?
Can someone give me some advice please.
Click to expand...
IDEALLY:

Sponcers are Informed, fully practicing Catholics [most often of the same gender] that remain close enough to you to both know if you are living your Catholic Faitj, and able to influence and GUIDE you in doing so.

Wecome home friend! GREAT QUESTION!

Love and prayers,
Pat:thumbsup:
 
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