Should I be an RCIA Sponsor?

[Light_Seeker]

I’ve been attending Mass over 20 years with my cradle-Catholic DW. I won’t get into my reasons for conversion here, as it’s is a very long story (like most I assume).

I attended our parish’s RCIA last year, and joined the Church this Easter season.

Our parish has a very active, educational, and beautiful RCIA program. Not surprisingly, it has the largest representation in the Diocese during the Rite of Election. I received so much from it, in fact, I told our RCIA director I wanted to help in any way possible for the next years program.

She recently asked if I would be willing to share my conversion story at RCIA that is starting next month. Of course I’m humbly honored if that can help in any way. She then asked if I could be a sponsor.

I’m honored she asked, but I’m just a ‘newbie’! I know I’ve come a long way on my own personal journey, but I also realize I have a lot farther to travel. I’m concerned that being a new convert that I may not be the best sponsor - frankly, I’m still learning myself.

I’m torn. I want to help anyone that may be being called, as I was, support them, and walk with them on their journey. But I just got out of the starting gate myself. Opinions?

 

[puzzleannie]

I’veI’m honored she asked, but I’m just a ‘newbie’! I know I’ve come a long way on my own personal journey, but I also realize I have a lot farther to travel. I’m concerned that being a new convert that I may not be the best sponsor - frankly, I’m still learning myself.

I’m torn. I want to help anyone that may be being called, as I was, support them, and walk with them on their journey. But I just got out of the starting gate myself. Opinions?

no matter how long we have been Catholic we are all newbies and we all have a long way to go
the best sponsors are newbies, in my experience, plus you get the benefit of the support of the program and team for this next year, which is vital so soon after your conversion. yes, yes, yes and God bless you for so doing.

 

[jmcrae]

Go for it. It will be a good experience for both of you. Keep in mind, sponsors aren’t teachers - they’re just ordinary Catholics, walking the journey with the RCIA participants. It’s only the teacher who has to know everything.

 

[AngelRose81]

Definitely YES!!

I too, was just confirmed and one of the team members wanted me to come back and sponsor this time b/c we have so many who don’t have someone. I think we have about 30 in our parish who have begun the process. There are 2 of us from last year to help sponsor and we are very excited.

Good luck if you decide to sponsor!

 

[po18guy]

I’ve been attending Mass over 20 years with my cradle-Catholic DW. I won’t get into my reasons for conversion here, as it’s is a very long story (like most I assume).

I attended our parish’s RCIA last year, and joined the Church this Easter season.

Our parish has a very active, educational, and beautiful RCIA program. Not surprisingly, it has the largest representation in the Diocese during the Rite of Election. I received so much from it, in fact, I told our RCIA director I wanted to help in any way possible for the next years program.

She recently asked if I would be willing to share my conversion story at RCIA that is starting next month. Of course I’m humbly honored if that can help in any way. She then asked if I could be a sponsor.

I’m honored she asked, but I’m just a ‘newbie’! I know I’ve come a long way on my own personal journey, but I also realize I have a lot farther to travel. I’m concerned that being a new convert that I may not be the best sponsor - frankly, I’m still learning myself.

I’m torn. I want to help anyone that may be being called, as I was, support them, and walk with them on their journey. But I just got out of the starting gate myself. Opinions?

Go for it! You have so recently come in that you can instantly bond with your sponsored candidate. Hey, the learning never stops-it’s a lifetime process, this conversion of heart thing. And, you will end up learning together. You were asked for a reason, and obviously have talents and abilities that are useful. Some have related stories of absolutely dreadful sponsors. You can’t allow that to happen, can you?

I am waiting for a Mormon to go to mass with me. She is dissatisfied with Mormonism and her grandmother was Catholic. I am hoping and praying that this will turn into a chance to be a sponsor-and I came in 20 years ago.

Place your faith and trust in God.

Christ’s peace.

 

[Light_Seeker]

Some have related stories of absolutely dreadful sponsors.

About half of our Candidates had their own sponsors - spouse, friend, relative, etc. The others who were assigned sponsors, myself included, received, as a group, some of the warmest, most caring, dedicated, and friendly people one could ever hope for. Many deep friendships have developed over the year.

Besides being just great ‘people’, all had very deep knowledge of not only Catholicism, but other beliefs & theologies including non-Christian. Many sponsors, at different points in the class, lectured along with Father, Deacons, or visiting guest lecturers. Their deep knowledge of our faith made me hesitant when asked, being just a grasshopper.

jmcrae:

Keep in mind, sponsors aren’t teachers - they’re just ordinary Catholics

Thanks, I can always ask Father!

Thank you all for your encouragement. I’ll give it my best, can’t wait for it to start next week!

 

[po18guy]

About half of our Candidates had their own sponsors - spouse, friend, relative, etc. The others who were assigned sponsors, myself included, received, as a group, some of the warmest, most caring, dedicated, and friendly people one could ever hope for. Many deep friendships have developed over the year.

Besides being just great ‘people’, all had very deep knowledge of not only Catholicism, but other beliefs & theologies including non-Christian. Many sponsors, at different points in the class, lectured along with Father, Deacons, or visiting guest lecturers. Their deep knowledge of our faith made me hesitant when asked, being just a grasshopper.

Thanks, I can always ask Father!

Thank you all for your encouragement. I’ll give it my best, can’t wait for it to start next week!

What a blessing! There certainly is a disparity between parishes. This points to the occasional necessity to locate a sponsor outside of the parish. You have a parish taht is alive, and that IS a blessing, indeed.

Christ’s peace to you.

 

[Light_Seeker]

What a blessing! There certainly is a disparity between parishes. This points to the occasional necessity to locate a sponsor outside of the parish. You have a parish taht is alive, and that IS a blessing, indeed…

Truly it is, and one of the minor reasons for my personal conversion. For many years DW and I attended a much closer parish that, unfortunately, had a long list of liturgical & rubric abuses. That culminated at an Easter Mass several years ago when we got up and left at the beginning of Mass as a dozen teenage dancers were running up and down the aisles in their pink tutus throwing rose petals, as the rock band wannabes blasted some over amplified offending new-age music displaying absolutely no talent, just noise. That same Easter day we went to our current Parish, and could not be happier!

Our parish has over 7000 active families according to a very recent census, & I believe it is the largest in a very large diocese. Just about every Mass is SRO, and it is a very large Church! We actually need to use the older adjoining Chapel for overflow at Masses such as Christmas, Easter, GF, etc. The popularity of our parish is entirely due to the friendliness & welcoming of the laity & ordained, along with the utmost reverence, humility, and leadership of our Priests and Deacons.

The RCIA program has been a model for other local parishes. Every week was a different lecturer, sometimes one of our own Priests or Deacons, many times guest lecturers such as the Diocese Historian, theology professors from the university, or other Priests or Brothers from parishes and organizations within the Diocese. I have read so many horror stories on this forum about other RCIA experiences, yes, indeed, we are truly blessed.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to rag on what a great parish, and a wonderful home we have found - as you can see, we really love it!

 

[po18guy]

Truly it is, and one of the minor reasons for my personal conversion. For many years DW and I attended a much closer parish that, unfortunately, had a long list of liturgical & rubric abuses. That culminated at an Easter Mass several years ago when we got up and left at the beginning of Mass as a dozen teenage dancers were running up and down the aisles in their pink tutus throwing rose petals, as the rock band wannabes blasted some over amplified offending new-age music displaying absolutely no talent, just noise. That same Easter day we went to our current Parish, and could not be happier!

Our parish has over 7000 active families according to a very recent census, & I believe it is the largest in a very large diocese. Just about every Mass is SRO, and it is a very large Church! We actually need to use the older adjoining Chapel for overflow at Masses such as Christmas, Easter, GF, etc. The popularity of our parish is entirely due to the friendliness & welcoming of the laity & ordained, along with the utmost reverence, humility, and leadership of our Priests and Deacons.

The RCIA program has been a model for other local parishes. Every week was a different lecturer, sometimes one of our own Priests or Deacons, many times guest lecturers such as the Diocese Historian, theology professors from the university, or other Priests or Brothers from parishes and organizations within the Diocese. I have read so many horror stories on this forum about other RCIA experiences, yes, indeed, we are truly blessed.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to rag on what a great parish, and a wonderful home we have found - as you can see, we really love it!

Praise God! and pray for the other parish!

Christ’s peace.