Role of Godparents

[shazirah]

What is the role of godparents? What does being a godparent entail exactly? Does the technical role differ from how things actually play out in real life usually?

 

[TheLittleLady]

Canon law is short but sweet A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.

I take that to mean a person who, if my child came to them with a question, concern, doubt about faith/morals that person would counsel my kid with the teachings of the Church.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I always think of a godparent as a role model. They should be able to show their godchildren what it means to live a Catholic life.

 

[Phemie]

What is the role of godparents? What does being a godparent entail exactly? Does the technical role differ from how things actually play out in real life usually?

You’ve already been given the Church’s description of what godparents do. How it plays out in real life depends on the parents.

I’m godmother to three girls. It happened at different times of my life and my interaction with these girls differs.

The first is the daughter of my own godmother. I was 16 when I stood at her Baptism back in the late 60s. We had sporadic contact as she was growing up, in the days before cheap telephone rates, internet, and Facebook. I was asked to be her Confirmation sponsor, something I was lucky enough to be living close enough to do. Her parents saw to her religious education. We reconnected and became friends as adults and I hope I have been a good role model for her.

My husband and I became sponsor & Christian witness for one of two twin sisters. The parents split up shortly after the girls were born and the mother has custody of the girls who just turned 18 2 days ago. The non-Catholic mother is agnostic at best and made it clear to the Catholic father that religious education was on his shoulders. He had no interest in the kids or religion so they are uncatechized with horrible examples for parents. Mom moved away with them not too long after the split up so we only see them once in a while.

We became sponsor & Christian witness for another child whose parents split up. Mom is exposing her to many religions and this 6 year old sees no difference between Jesus and Buddah. We see them rarely since they moved away and have little influence over her life. She is not being catechized.

The only thing we can really do for the second and third is pray for them.