The Catholic Defender: What is the role of the Sponsor in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Christian Initiation for Adults

Is to guide and walk with a Candidate on their Journey to becoming Catholic. A sponsor accompanies any candidate seeking admission as a catechumen. Sponsors are persons who have known and assisted the candidates and stand as witnesses to the candidates' moral character, faith, and intention.

The ministry of the sponsor is a ministry of accompaniment.

A sponsor is not a teacher, not a spiritual director, not an expert.

A sponsor is a living example of what it means to be an ordinary, happy Catholic.

A sponsor supports the candidate through the gift of her or his presence, consistently and intentionally.

A sponsor is a witness of the candidate’s spiritual journey into the Catholic Church.

A sponsor helps the candidate discover the Church as a living, practical, day to day reality.

A sponsor presents the needs of his or her candidate to God daily in prayer.

To be a sponsor, you must…

Be at least 16 years of age.
Have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist.
Be someone other than the parent of the catechumen/candidate.
Be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.
(Preferably) be a registered member of the parish.
(Preferably) be someone other than the spouse or significant other of the catechumen/candidate.

Attend Mass every Sunday, preferably with your candidate

Attend Sunday morning catechetical sessions, even when your candidate is not present (7:15-8:30pm at the Villa – 3007 Oakland Ave)
Meet with your candidate at least once every other week for at least 30 minutes
Pray for your candidate every day
Check in with the RCIA director at regularly scheduled times and as needed
Intentionally invite your candidate join and participate in the communal life of Christ the King

WHAT IS A RCIA SPONSOR?

As the Father has sent me, so I send you! We share in the life of Christ by our baptism. By that same baptism: -we are called to share that life with others -we are empowered by the Spirit of God to do so. What is a RCIA Sponsor?

The Sponsor is a co-traveler in this journey of faith who commits himself or herself to accompany a Catechumen or RCIA Candidate along the way.

The Sponsor is a person who is willing to be a friend, witness, a guide for the Catechumen or Candidate. ….according to the Rite.

A Sponsor accompanies any candidate seeking admission as a catechumen. Sponsors are persons who have known and assisted the candidates and stand as witnesses to the candidates’ moral character, faith, and intention. (RCIA 10) -

The Sponsor is often chosen as the godparent. The rite continues… Godparents are person chosen by the candidates on the basis of example, good qualities, and friendship, delegated by the local Christian community, and approved by the priest.

It is the responsibility of godparents to show the candidates how to practice the Gospel in personal and social life, to sustain the candidates in moments of hesitancy and anxiety, to bear witness and to guide the candidates in moments of hesitates’ progress in the baptismal like.

What does a Sponsor do? Some activities in relation to the candidates might be:

-participate in gatherings: Ask questions, encourage discussion -invite them to Sunday liturgies, parish activities…come with them if possible. -invite them over for coffee and talk. -listen to them. -pray with them about personal needs and concerns. -share faith experiences -encourage and affirm their growth in faith. -introduce them to parish member.

What might Sponsors expect from the Catechumen or Candidate? o Some anxiety or nervousness o enthusiasm or hesitancy o withdrawal from the program o problem marriages.

What might Sponsors expect for themselves?  renewal or deepening of their own faith relationship with God some good and lasting friendship a strong experience of community and belonging. Sponsors Represents the Church This may mean you will introduce the catechumen or candidate to other parishioners, to the activities of the church and to the organization of the community.

The catechumen or candidate will probably catch the spirit of the community. Sponsors Are Witnesses …If you make that experience a constructive and hospitable one, the positive impression will be lasting. You help the individual to feel at home among Catholics by your support. Sponsors Are Companions

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Romans 10:14

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

1 Corinthians 9:22-23

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'

Psalm 96:3

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!