Why God Parents for RCIA Adults?

[Big_Dave]

Hi, I am a 75 year old evangelical christian that started in RCIA this summer. I have already gone through the Rite of Welcoming and we are dimissed during mass for the Breaking open of the Word.

Now very soon , on Feb, 25th we are going to the bishop to be sent forth or I guess it is the Rite of Election. Now I have been told that I need to pick out someone as a Godparent. I want to know why I need to do this. I thought that a Godparent would be dsomeone older to help see you through and help you in your walk. Sine I have been a “protestant” all my life I do not know very many faithful practising Catholics. I am upset now over this. My sponser that was appointed by the RCIA group leader has told me that he cannot go to the Cathedral with me on this date.

Can’t I become a catholic without having a Godparent?? It seems excessive to me.

 

[puzzleannie]

if you are already a baptized Christian, you are a candidate, not a catechumen, and therefore will not celebrate the Rite of Election. You are already a member of the elect by virtue of your baptism. You may participate in a rite called the call to continuing conversion, acknowledging the journey you are on toward full communion with the Catholic Church. You already have godparents, the ones who witnessed your baptism. You have hopefully been accompanied by a sponsor during the RCIA process who has helped you integrate into parish community life and to understanding the Catholic way of doing things. This person, or another Catholic sponsor of you choosing will stand up with you for your Confirmation as witness of your profession of faith, and witness to your sincere desire to become Catholic.

 

[mdstanzel]

Chin up. Smile. You on. Aaaaaannnnnndddd go.
Welcome, Big Dave. My wife is in RCIA and is also a candidate. My oldest son is in RCIC and my 2 youngest will be baptized this month. My wife and I are having our marriage convalidated. Now, even though technically our marriage, father doesn’t seem to realize this per canon law. But I don’t have the heart to explain this to him. The updated canon of 1983 basically says that I defected by my act of being baptised in her church. So we’re living as “brother and sister” even though “technically we are validly married”. Top that off with finding Practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church. The Church is going through difficult times.

I hope to be part of the new wave of Catholics that STRONGLY Encourage RCIA and Sunday School for the Adults more than the Children. You are among the top Catholics in the Church now. Be proud and humble at the same time. Try not to let the silly stuff get you down. It will work out. Concentrate on the prize. I will pray for you tonight - a prodigal son that lost faith in my cradle faith. But God has led me back and I have never been so happy. I forgot the peace.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi, I am a 75 year old evangelical christian that started in RCIA this summer. I have already gone through the Rite of Welcoming and we are dimissed during mass for the Breaking open of the Word.

Now very soon , on Feb, 25th we are going to the bishop to be sent forth or I guess it is the Rite of Election. Now I have been told that I need to pick out someone as a Godparent. I want to know why I need to do this. I thought that a Godparent would be dsomeone older to help see you through and help you in your walk. Sine I have been a “protestant” all my life I do not know very many faithful practising Catholics. I am upset now over this. My sponser that was appointed by the RCIA group leader has told me that he cannot go to the Cathedral with me on this date.

Can’t I become a catholic without having a Godparent?? It seems excessive to me.

Everyone who is Baptized has a Godparent, except in an emergency situation. Your Sponsor can be your Godparent, even if she cannot be there. Another person can “stand in” called a Proxy. She will be listed as the Godparent/Sponsor in the records. A Sponsor/Godparent relationship does not end at the Easter Vigil but continues for the remainder of your life.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

if you are already a baptized Christian, you are a candidate, not a catechumen, and therefore will not celebrate the Rite of Election. You are already a member of the elect by virtue of your baptism. You may participate in a rite called the call to continuing conversion, acknowledging the journey you are on toward full communion with the Catholic Church. You already have godparents, the ones who witnessed your baptism. You have hopefully been accompanied by a sponsor during the RCIA process who has helped you integrate into parish community life and to understanding the Catholic way of doing things. This person, or another Catholic sponsor of you choosing will stand up with you for your Confirmation as witness of your profession of faith, and witness to your sincere desire to become Catholic.

He says that he is an “evangelical christian”. It is unclear if he is validly Baptized. Many evangelicals that have come into RCIA have not received water Baptism.

 

[Big_Dave]

He says that he is an “evangelical christian”. It is unclear if he is validly Baptized. Many evangelicals that have come into RCIA have not received water Baptism.

Thanks Bro. Rich and all that have replied. Yes, I was baptised in water by immersion when I was 20 years old so that is not a problem. I have been welcomed into the church. I love RCIA and the Cathoilc Church. I have been studying on my own for 4 years before I even attended a mass. Started regular attendance the Sunday after last Easter. However those that witnessed my baptism have all either passed away or I have lost touch with them. So it looks like I will have someone stand in for me. I did not realize that my sponser will also be with me for the rest of my life.

Thanks Again.

 

[Big_Dave]

Chin up. Smile. You on.

I hope to be part of the new wave of Catholics that STRONGLY Encourage RCIA and Sunday School for the Adults more than the Children. You are among the top Catholics in the Church now. Be proud and humble at the same time. Try not to let the silly stuff get you down. It will work out. Concentrate on the prize. I will pray for you tonight - a prodigal son that lost faith in my cradle faith. But God has led me back and I have never been so happy. I forgot the peace.

Thanks mdstanzel. I love your enthusiam. I feel much the same way you do. I cannot wait until I can take part in encouraging others. I guess my evangelical past will carry on in wanting to not only bring others into the fullness of the faith but helping in some way to bring catholics to know their faith better. I think if my catholic friends knew their faith threy could have explained it to me long ago and I would have come in so much earlier. Better late than never!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thanks Bro. Rich and all that have replied. Yes, I was baptised in water by immersion when I was 20 years old so that is not a problem. I have been welcomed into the church. I love RCIA and the Cathoilc Church. I have been studying on my own for 4 years before I even attended a mass. Started regular attendance the Sunday after last Easter. However those that witnessed my baptism have all either passed away or I have lost touch with them. So it looks like I will have someone stand in for me. I did not realize that my sponser will also be with me for the rest of my life.

Thanks Again.

Yes your Sponsor and you should remain in contact with each other. Being 20 if you remember exactly what happened and what was said you should be able to testify to your own Baptism. If there is a doubt you can be Conditionally Baptized in private and continue as a Candidate.