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mairegal
Guest
I agreed to become a sponsor for a candidate in RCIA. I would appreciate some tips and advice from other sponsors and from converts who have had sponsors. Many thanks
mairegal
mairegal
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A
aimee
Guest
My sponsor invited me for coffee and we talked about any concerns, etc. She was there during RCIA and went to class with me occasionally… 
K
kage_ar
Guest
I had the greatest sponsor on earth! We went to every RCIA class together - in fact, she’d swing by and pick me up because I was on her way. We’d go for coffee before class, sometimes grab a bite to eat, and talk.
She even arranged a nice get together after the Easter Vigil with a few friends and food (I was famished by then)…
Basically, she cared (and still cares) about me and is a wonderful example of a Catholic Christian.
She even arranged a nice get together after the Easter Vigil with a few friends and food (I was famished by then)…
Basically, she cared (and still cares) about me and is a wonderful example of a Catholic Christian.
B
byHisGrace
Guest
You’ve been given both an honor and a great responsibility.
You are a companion on a journey with your candidate. Don’t worry about what you might not know about the Church…but between your RCIA resources and places like this, recognize that whatever your candidate might ask…an answer can be found…always be willing to help him/her find what the Church teaches on any question.
Mostly, just remember that on this journey you’ll be an example…and in some ways you might be looked to by your candidate as to what being a good practicing Catholic means.
Try to build a relationship with your candidate, and concern yourself with not so much what you know or what your opinion is…but with what they need and want to know and what they are going through. It won’t be so much about what you know…but what you can point to in the teachings of the Church that will help them. When its appropriate, tell them your story…and why you’ve become Catholic and what it means to you. Encourage their prayer life as they prepare for the Sacraments.
And don’t let a day go by in this journey without keeping your candidate in your prayers…and be a “rock” for them if they hit some bumps in the road.
May God bless you and your candidate on such an awesome journey!
I
itsjustdave1988
Guest
I recommend spending extra time going over the content of our Catholic Faith. The RCIA process does not emphasize content, and expects the catechumen to come to an understanding of the deposit of Faith as summarized by the Catechism in an ad hoc “you’ll learn-as-you-go” manner. It can be very frustrating for them.
The method you use ought to be tailored to where they are at in their faith. You may be sponsoring a person who had never been catechized at all, and we Catholics may often take for granted that they are familiar with terms and basic concepts that they have never been exposed to. Other catechumens will surprise you and know more about the Catechism than most of the Catholic sponsors.
Good luck with it. Sponsoring a catechumen certainly makes Easter an amazing time.
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