What About Sponsors?

Why must I choose a sponsor for Confirmation?

The Confirmation sponsor is someone who will serve as a positive Catholic role model to help you grow in your faith and who will present you to the bishop during the Confirmation ceremony. You should choose someone who is strong in their Catholic faith who can help you grow closer to God. Ask them to turn in the necessary documentation. They should attend at least the Confirmation practice and Confirmation itself, but are welcome to attend any other events or meetings as well.

What is the role and responsibility of a Confirmation sponsor?

“...it is for the sponsor to see that the confirmed person acts as a true witness to Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations connected with this sacrament” (Code of Canon Law 892). A sponsor should not be selected to honor them, express familial connection, or to thank someone for favors done. A sponsor is someone who can help the confirmation candidate grow in their faith and serve as a guide and example of Christian life.

What qualifications must one meet in order to be a sponsor?

The Code of Canon Law states that one must meet the following requirements to be a sponsor:
  Be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. 
  Be at least 16 years old 
  Not be a parent of the candidate 
  Be a Catholic in good standing who is not bound by any canonical penalty             

  Be one who leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken

In order to illustrate the unity of confirmation & baptism, it is desirable that, if possible, one of the
candidate’s godparents also be the sponsor for confirmation, though this is not strictly necessary.

How are these qualifications verified?

To verify that the above qualifications are met, we ask that the person you choose to be your sponsor sign an “Affidavit of Suitability” and also have it signed by their pastor. It is imperative that sponsors fulfill the above mentioned criteria and so are asked to affirm that by signing this document. If they can not, in good conscience, sign this document, please take steps to find someone to be your sponsor who can.
A copy of this document is provided in your packet or can be downloaded on the St. Thomas Website.
Once completed, the “Affidavit of Suitability” is due to me by November 1, 2015.