Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor
What is a Sponsor?
A sponsor is a person who encourages and assists a candidate to embrace and actively practice the Catholic faith both before and after Confirmation. The sponsor also presents the candidate to the Bishop (or his delegate) at the celebration of Confirmation.
Who Can be a Sponsor?
Being a sponsor is not just an honor. The sponsor must be an active, practicing Catholic who can be a role model for the candidate. Ideally, you should choose one of your godparents from Baptism, provided he or she meets the above guidelines. If it is not possible to choose a godparent as your sponsor (e.g. they are deceased, live too far away, or are no longer a practicing Catholic), then you might ask someone else whom you see as an example of a committed, practicing Catholic. This could be a grandparent, aunt or uncle, other relative, family friend, parent of one of your friends, a teacher.
What is a Sponsor?
A sponsor is a person who encourages and assists a candidate to embrace and actively practice the Catholic faith both before and after Confirmation. The sponsor also presents the candidate to the Bishop (or his delegate) at the celebration of Confirmation.
Who Can be a Sponsor?
Being a sponsor is not just an honor. The sponsor must be an active, practicing Catholic who can be a role model for the candidate. Ideally, you should choose one of your godparents from Baptism, provided he or she meets the above guidelines. If it is not possible to choose a godparent as your sponsor (e.g. they are deceased, live too far away, or are no longer a practicing Catholic), then you might ask someone else whom you see as an example of a committed, practicing Catholic. This could be a grandparent, aunt or uncle, other relative, family friend, parent of one of your friends, a teacher.
Requirements To Be A Sponsor:
- May be either a man or a woman. (Sponsors do not have to be the same gender as the candidate.)
- Must be a fully initiated Roman Catholic (Baptized, Confirmed and has received First Communion.)
- Is a person who regularly comes to Sunday Mass and celebrates the sacraments.
- Must be at least 16 years old.
- May not be a parent of the candidate.
- If they are married, marriage must be recognized in the Catholic Church.
Three Common Misconceptions about Confirmation
1. Many Catholics view the Sacrament of Confirmation as a type of 'graduation'.The Sacrament of Confirmation does not signify the end of your religious education or formation. Likewise, it is not the end of the parents' responsibilities either. The idea that 'I just have to get my kid their Sacraments' is not only a bad idea, it's bad theology. Confirmation is not an end; it's a new beginning.
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2. A time for the teen to confirm or accept what was begun at their Baptism.Again, this is incorrect. Confirmation completes the reception of grace that was begun with the grace of Baptism. It's not about what you have to proclaim. It is about the Church confirming what happened to you at Baptism and saying that you are ready to receive the Holy Spirit in this manner.
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3. Some Catholic think that a sponsor has to be a relative or the godparent.Sometimes, well-intentioned parents insist on who your sponsor 'should be'. Their input is great and should always be respected, but the decision is yours. It doesn't have to be your godparent or even a family member. The choice is yours. Find someone you look up to and respect in the faith, in or out of your family tree, and prayerfully consider them.
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Three Misconceptions of Confirmation by Mark Hart
A Prayer to Help You Choose Your Sponsor
Holy Spirit, helper and guide, give me wisdom as I choose my Confirmation sponsor.
Help me to choose a person of prayer who will teach me also to be a person of prayer
who will support me in difficult times, who will guide me to make good choices,
and who will challenge me when I do not. Help me to choose someone who will love me
and teach me to love Jesus. Thank you for giving me a community of people around me to support and
guide me as I take this important step in becoming more fully a member of your Church.
Amen.
Help me to choose a person of prayer who will teach me also to be a person of prayer
who will support me in difficult times, who will guide me to make good choices,
and who will challenge me when I do not. Help me to choose someone who will love me
and teach me to love Jesus. Thank you for giving me a community of people around me to support and
guide me as I take this important step in becoming more fully a member of your Church.
Amen.
