Sponsor Information

The Requirements of a Sponsor

The role of sponsor is an important one for the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.  The church sees the sponsor a s a fully-initiated Catholic who supports the one receiving the sacrament with example and instruction.  Because of the seriousness of this ministry, the Church has the following requirements:

·         The sponsor must be a fully-initiated member of the Catholic church through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

·         The sponsor must be at least sixteen (16) years of age.

             In this case, the Catholic who is younger than 16 must be fully initiated.

·         The sponsor must have an active life of faith in the Church and provide good example.

(a) Someone married outside the Church is not able to receive Communion and is not able to be a sponsor.

(b) Also, a Catholic who has left the Church is not able to be a sponsor of a new member into the Church.

(c) Therefore, a Catholic who has left the Catholic church cannot be a sponsor, and cannot be a “Christian witness” if they join another Christian communion.

·         The sponsor cannot be either parent.