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Montie_Claunch
Guest
Alright I was wondering, I am in R.C.I.A. right now and I remeber hearing it on the first day. What exactly is a sponsor? Why do we have them? how do I ask someone?
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Della
Guest
I am surprised you don’t already have a sponsor. They are a practicing Catholic who goes through RCIA with you to help you on your journey by praying with you and helping you with any questions or needs you may have along the way. If you don’t know anyone to fill the bill, then ask your RCIA director(s) to find someone for you (something they should already have done by now!).
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puzzleannie
Guest
The parish should provide your sponsor for the first part of RCIA, up until the beginning of Lent before you enter the Church. This person is a good faithful Catholic who represents the parish in welcoming you, introducing you to participation in parish life and Christian service, and modelling the Christian life. He is your companion throughout the process and will try to attend all the classes and rites with you. At the beginning of Lent, if you are to be baptized at Easter you will choose a Godparent, or a Confirmation sponsor if you are to be confirmed. (the requirements will be given to you at some point). If you don’t know anyone to be a godparent the Parish will appoint a good person for you. The sponsor for the first part of RCIA is not the same person as the Godparent or Confirmation sponsor, although they could be if everyone agrees.
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DaMaMaXiMuS
Guest
I’m in the RCIA program as well, about 2 weeks ago we had to submit the name of the person who’s going to be our sponsor. I asked who could it NOT be, and I was told that they had to be catholic and after that it could be anyone. So since I don’t anyone outside my family who I would select as a sponsor, I chose my mother.
But we were never told any of the things Della and puzzleannie said. Aside from giving the name of the person and them being Catholic, that was it.
I had a email conversation last night with a friend who knows I’m in the RCIA program, and she asked me how it was going. She asked this because I had expressed to her before that I felt I was learning more from reading stuff off of Catholic.com website and forums and from buying Catholic books. She told how on the EWTN program “The Journey Home” the guest, Ken Henderson the operator of “True Knights.org”, said how he didn’t feel like he got anything out of the RCIA program. Which so far up to now I would say I feel the same way, although I know it’s still early in program.
Nelson
But we were never told any of the things Della and puzzleannie said. Aside from giving the name of the person and them being Catholic, that was it.
I had a email conversation last night with a friend who knows I’m in the RCIA program, and she asked me how it was going. She asked this because I had expressed to her before that I felt I was learning more from reading stuff off of Catholic.com website and forums and from buying Catholic books. She told how on the EWTN program “The Journey Home” the guest, Ken Henderson the operator of “True Knights.org”, said how he didn’t feel like he got anything out of the RCIA program. Which so far up to now I would say I feel the same way, although I know it’s still early in program.
Nelson
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rwoehmke
Guest
Puzzzleannie et. al. have answered the question quite well. In our parish in Wisconsin we have potential sponsors lined up to be with the group from day one. After a short time a sponsor is chosen or assigned and is expectyed to be at as many RCIA classes and functions as possible( only occasional misses allowed). I guess I am struck by how much variation in quality that seems to exist from parish to parish. It is discouraging to see some of the problems that crop up in what is a very excellent program on paper.
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NotWorthy
Guest
Montie, if you are attending OLOL, I think you may want to ask Michael Strother to be your sponsor (A little inside information can go a long way
). Tell him, his cousin Cheryl’s husband sent you.
Notworthy
). Tell him, his cousin Cheryl’s husband sent you.Notworthy
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
A Sponsor must be a Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church and should be Confirmed. In order to be a Confirmation Sponsor or Godparent they must be Confirmed. A parent CANNOT be a Godparent or Confirmation Sponsor to their own child.
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Montie_Claunch
Guest
Thanks. For some reason I didn’t think to ask the teacher to be a sponser. Thanks I’ll ask him. :yup:Montie, if you are attending OLOL, I think you may want to ask Michael Strother to be your sponsor (A little inside information can go a long way
Notworthy
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puzzleannie
Guest
we discussed this not long ago on another thread, probably in response to a question from ParisBlue. The confusion is in the use of the word sponsor. The RCIA sponsor (for a catechumen, who is unbaptized) is the person appointed by the parish to accompany the catechumen during the RCIA process, especially during Breaking Open the Word (teaching based on Sunday lectionary readings), and sometimes also in the doctrinal class. The catechumen will choose a Godparent closer to Lent, the person who will be the official witness to his baptism and confirmation.
The already baptized person who is preparing to enter into full communion with the Church will choose a sponsor (same requirements as Godparent cited above) for Confirmation. Same word, slightly different function and role.
The already baptized person who is preparing to enter into full communion with the Church will choose a sponsor (same requirements as Godparent cited above) for Confirmation. Same word, slightly different function and role.
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tamie
Guest
This is certainly a timely thread for me! I was assigned a sponsor at the beginning of RCIA. She seems nice enough but she works nights and comes to the class (the breaking open of the word is from 8:30 am-9:00 then our sponsors come in with us until 10am on Sunday morning) exhausted and barely able to comprehend what is going on. Sunday a week ago she came very late. Yesterday she was not there at all. I realize that she will miss from time to time, but I kind of feel like I am floating along by myself here and it is kind of uncomfortable. I have to say I love the class and for the first time in my life I actually look forward to going to Church! But, it would be nice to have a sponsor that is a little more involved with the process and “there” for me.
Tamie Walcott
Tamie Walcott
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Remember that a Sponsors key purpose is to meet with you once a week outside of the RCIA sessions to talk and answer
questions. It is good if they can be there for Catechetical sessions and BOW and should as much as possible. They should also attend Holy day Mass with you.
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djrakowski
Guest
Good heavens, it sounds like my RCIA experience is even worse than I thought! Our fourth class is tonight, and I haven’t heard a single word about needing a sponsor. We don’t have anything called “Breaking Open the Word,” and I haven’t learned anything I didn’t already know by reading and listening to apologetics resources. Class discussions are dominated by cradle Catholics asking about a variety of private revelations and devotions, rather than on the assigned texts of the Catechism and the Bible. And, this parish is considered one of the most ‘orthodox’ in our archdiocese!
If this is what passes for adult education in most parishes, I can understand why the church has trouble keeping people from converting to Protestantism.
If this is what passes for adult education in most parishes, I can understand why the church has trouble keeping people from converting to Protestantism.
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Orionthehunter
Guest
Because your class isn’t perfect, it only places greater responsibility on you. There are numerous books and even some good websites that talk about the Church and its teaching. PM me if you want me to give you some references. Too many people have the misunderstanding that RCIA is the end all about learning about the Church. Its basically a primer. Learning is a life-long experience required of us all.
Regarding not talking about a Sponsor by your fourth meeting, don’t despair. Different Pastors do it differently. In our Parish, we have parishioners who are attending class with the Candidates/Catechumens from the beginning. At the class prior to the Rite of Welcome (about our 10th class), Father assigns sponsors based on who develops relationships with who. The role of the sponsors are to support them on the remainder of the journey and to be a resource after Confirmation. However, Father makes it clear that they are not catechists for their Candidate/Catechumen.
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djrakowski
Guest
Thanks for the offer, but believe me, I’ve spent much $$$ on resources over the last year or so. Really, I don’t expect any class to be perfect, nor do I expect it to be the end-all of learning about the Church, but I expect it to teach something!
Oh, I’m not in despair. I was more surprised that I didn’t even know I needed a sponsor until I read this thread.
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Orionthehunter
Guest
Another thing, you have only had four classes. We spend our first five classes talking about Salvation History and certain Truths that we hold in common with all Christians as a bridge to explain the Church’s Teaching that differ from Protestantism and to aid in the discernment process. Maybe because you are beyond that in your development, you aren’t getting anything so far.
Finally, it might be that your parish is suffering from the results of the poor catechisis to Catholics over the last 30 years. Maybe after your confirmation, your mystogia calling might be to help your Pastor next year make the class better!
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tamie
Guest
Hmmm. I have had no contact with my sponsor except at RCIA. I attend Mass by myself. I wonder, should I talk to my Priest about this?
Tamie Walcott
Tamie Walcott
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puzzleannie
Guest
we just started in September, the 3 in the class who are not baptized have each missed a few classes, I won’t even begin to recruit sponsors until I am sure they are ready to stick with it. We are still in the inquiry period with that group, so until they are ready to enter the catechumenate, I won’t be looking for sponsors. As a rule, in RCIA we operate on a need to know basis. We have an order for what we present, and try not to inundate you with everything at the beginning, but prepare you for each step, each movement, each rite in the the process at the appropriate time. Your number one virtue to cultivate in RCIA is patient, there is a plan, even if you can’t see it.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Paragraph #10 of the Rite says that a Sponsor accompanies the Inquirer through Inquiry. The Sponsor should be assigned well before the Rite of Acceptance or Welcome.
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djrakowski
Guest
Br. Rich SFO:
Where can I find the text of this “Rite of Acceptance?” I’m planning on asking our pastor about this, and I’d like to have something to back me up.
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Orionthehunter
Guest
Br. Rich SFO:
Anyway, we have a period that we call “Period of Evangelization” where we cover Salvation History and certain Truths that are generally universal among Christians like Creation, and the Trinity, plus Church Authority and the four Marks (One, Holy, Universal (Catholic), Apostolic).
If the “Precatechuman” wants to go further with the the Process, we include them in the Rite of Welcome and the Inquiry begins and at that time a Sponsor is assigned. At one time, our Pastor assigned Sponsors (he personally recruits the Sponsors prior to the first class but they just attend as “parishioners interested in RCIA”) at the beginning but he has discovered that it works better during Inquiry and after Confirmation if there is some allowance for personal relationships to form.
Additionally, despite the comment that one should be able to join the RCIA process any time during the year is technically correct in that our Pastor allows people to join whenever they want.
However, except in certain cases where circumstances require a accelerated program (probably the only one he would accept is impending death or health reasons but I don’t know for sure as it hasn’t come up to my knowledge), he requires people to be enrolled prior to the Rite of Welcome and finish the classes thru Easter Vigil (we also require them to come to four classes after Confirmation to round out their learning and to talk about Mystigogia (sp?)) when they are confirmed. My Pastor feels strongly that the process is more than educational (that can probably be done by the individual w/ limited spiritual direction) and includes going thru the process within community. Our Bishop does not regularly give permission for Confirmation to be done by a Priest except for Easter Vigil.
RCIA is primarily logistically coordinated by lay volunteers with the teaching primarily done by our Pastor (we have no Associate) or (mostly retired) Priests covering certain areas where they have a particular charism (i.e. Sacrament of Marriage is done by our diocese’s Marriage expert and Tribunal Member).
Because of my Pastor’s requirement of going thru RCIA within a community that includes other Candidates/Catechumens and confirmed Catholic parishioners and limited resources of our Parish, classes begin in mid-September and are three of four Sunday evenings a month thru Easter Vigil and Mystogogia goes thru Pentecost. For those who express interest in RCIA outside of this schedule, Father recommends that they begin reading “Catholic and Christian” by Schreck, attend Mass weekly, and attend our periodic Adult Education classes conducted at our Parish until they can enroll in the scheduled RCIA program.
Regarding the request for a web site, I refer you to the UCCB’s website: usccb.org/comm/rcia/faq.shtml
I’m hesitant to write this post in fear that it might be percieved as an argument w/ Brother Rich who I respect greatly. However, I’m very sure that our diocese does this correct as our former Bishop is very diligent about being correct. I’m sure that the difference between Brother Rich’s experience and the one in my diocese is related to flexibility that is given to individual Bishop’s within the scope of each Bishop’s responsibility for evangelization and catechisis within their respective diocese.
Anyway, we have a period that we call “Period of Evangelization” where we cover Salvation History and certain Truths that are generally universal among Christians like Creation, and the Trinity, plus Church Authority and the four Marks (One, Holy, Universal (Catholic), Apostolic).
If the “Precatechuman” wants to go further with the the Process, we include them in the Rite of Welcome and the Inquiry begins and at that time a Sponsor is assigned. At one time, our Pastor assigned Sponsors (he personally recruits the Sponsors prior to the first class but they just attend as “parishioners interested in RCIA”) at the beginning but he has discovered that it works better during Inquiry and after Confirmation if there is some allowance for personal relationships to form.
Additionally, despite the comment that one should be able to join the RCIA process any time during the year is technically correct in that our Pastor allows people to join whenever they want.
However, except in certain cases where circumstances require a accelerated program (probably the only one he would accept is impending death or health reasons but I don’t know for sure as it hasn’t come up to my knowledge), he requires people to be enrolled prior to the Rite of Welcome and finish the classes thru Easter Vigil (we also require them to come to four classes after Confirmation to round out their learning and to talk about Mystigogia (sp?)) when they are confirmed. My Pastor feels strongly that the process is more than educational (that can probably be done by the individual w/ limited spiritual direction) and includes going thru the process within community. Our Bishop does not regularly give permission for Confirmation to be done by a Priest except for Easter Vigil.
RCIA is primarily logistically coordinated by lay volunteers with the teaching primarily done by our Pastor (we have no Associate) or (mostly retired) Priests covering certain areas where they have a particular charism (i.e. Sacrament of Marriage is done by our diocese’s Marriage expert and Tribunal Member).
Because of my Pastor’s requirement of going thru RCIA within a community that includes other Candidates/Catechumens and confirmed Catholic parishioners and limited resources of our Parish, classes begin in mid-September and are three of four Sunday evenings a month thru Easter Vigil and Mystogogia goes thru Pentecost. For those who express interest in RCIA outside of this schedule, Father recommends that they begin reading “Catholic and Christian” by Schreck, attend Mass weekly, and attend our periodic Adult Education classes conducted at our Parish until they can enroll in the scheduled RCIA program.
Regarding the request for a web site, I refer you to the UCCB’s website: usccb.org/comm/rcia/faq.shtml
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