Sponsor Information
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Confirmation II Schedule
Confirmation Name Selection
Please tell us about the name you picked by completing this form.
Confirmation Sponsor Selection
Please click here to tell us about your sponsor.
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Picking A Sponsor
One of the things a candidate must do is choose a sponsor. A Confirmation sponsor supports the candidate as they prepare to become full members of the church. Being a sponsor is not a one-time duty fulfilled on the day of Confirmation!
What does the word “sponsor” mean to us?
The word “sponsor” comes from the Latin word spondēre, which means to "give assurance, promise solemnly" It means:- one who presents a candidate for baptism or confirmation and undertakes responsibility for the person's religious education or spiritual welfare
- one who assumes responsibility for some other person or thing
This is an important role to fill by the sponsor. Choosing a sponsor is also a decision that candidates should take seriously. The following are a few things candidates can consider when choosing a sponsor for their Confirmation candidacy.
Rules & Requirements
There are certain rules and requirements with regard to just who can and cannot be a Confirmation sponsor:- A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age
- Godparents, other close relatives or friend, or even siblings often qualify as sponsors1
- A Confirmation sponsor must be a confirmed member of the Catholic church
- The sponsor should be a practicing Catholic who attends mass
1 Candidates cannot choose one of their parents to act as a sponsor. The Catholic Church does not allow the parent to act as a sponsor, since a sponsor is someone who should support the candidate in addition to the parents, just as a godparent is selected at Baptism for the child in addition to the parents.
Things to Consider
Your sponsor should be willing and able to participate in your formation for Confirmation:- The person you choose as your sponsor should be someone that you admire and respect and who actively lives out the beliefs of our Catholic faith.
- Your sponsor should be someone that you trust and feel comfortable turning to for help, advice and guidance, especially in regard to your spiritual life. Though any confirmed, practicing Catholic over the age of 18 is eligible to be a Confirmation sponsor, it might help to choose someone who is older than 18. Someone who is just a few years older than you might not be the best person to provide that advice and guidance.
- Your sponsor should be someone who, through his/her example, shows you what it means to be Catholic and who will take an active role in your preparation for Confirmation.
- Where your potential sponsor lives. Once chosen, the sponsor will be asked to fulfill certain requirements, including attending meetings, so it helps to choose a sponsor who lives nearby. It's not required that a sponsor live in the community, but it will make it easier on the sponsor you choose. However, if a sponsor cannot make it to events, a "stand-in" may be used.