What is the role of the Confirmation Sponsor?

Just as sponsor for baptism takes upon himself/herself the responsibility of helping the newly baptized person mature in the living a Christian life and offers his or her own life and practice of the faith as an example of faith, prayer and service within the Catholic Church, the Sponsor for Confirmation continues that work for the person who is to be confirmed. The Sacrament of Confirmation also creates a strong spiritual bond between the one who is confirmed and the sponsor. The sponsor should be committed to trying to be a part of the confirmandi’s life by presence and prayer always realizing that a sponsor’s prayers for that person are especially efficacious before Almighty God. One’s “yes” to be a sponsor for Confirmation is not just a “yes” to the candidate, but also a serious commitment to God in taking on this obligation.

Sponsor Requirements

What are the requirements of the Church for being a Confirmation sponsor? A sponsor must be someone other than the parent of the one to be confirmed. A sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age and may be male or female regardless of the sex of the candidate. A sponsor must be leading a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken; therefore, if married, must be married in the Church and if single, must be striving to live a chaste life and therefore cannot be living with a person outside of marriage. A sponsor must be a practicing Catholic, registered in a parish, who regularly attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days and receives the Holy Eucharist.

Sponsor Prayer

Spirit of Wisdom, guide me on this journey that I may be a true witness to the Gospel of Jesus and the mission of the Church. Put your thoughts in my heart and your words in my mouth that I will fulfill this ministry with goodness, generosity, and grace. Amen

Sponsor & Candidate Activities

Being a sponsor is more than just holding an honorary title and showing up for a ceremony. The person chosen to be a sponsor accepts more than a casual interest in a person’s spiritual life. The sponsor is the model and guide for the candidate in his/her preparation for and living out the Sacrament of Confirmation. Contact with the candidate is an important and effective way for the candidate to benefit from the sponsor’s Christian example.

Due: Oct. 31, 2022

Due: Dec. 31, 2022

Due: February 28, 2023

Due: April 30, 2023

Faith Sharing Tips

The best gifts your candidate can receive from you are the sharing of your own faith and affirming or calling forth of theirs, which in turn will also be a gift to you. Faith sharing encompasses talking about the beliefs, values, and meanings that shape your life because you are a believer and practicing Christian. You probably already do a lot of it in everyday conversation.

Principles of Faith Sharing

Faith is a gift of God already present in you and your candidate.
Faith grows as life happens
Listening and sharing the events and experiences of our lives in a faith community helps us clarify and articulate our faith.
Faith sharing happens in both formal and informal settings and benefits both the listener and the speaker.

Create the Environment of Faith Sharing

Think of yourself and your candidate as companions on the faith journey. Companions actively listen to and trust each other. They are going in the same direction. They assist each other with experience, skill, and sharing. They enjoy each other and the journey.

Reflect. Think about your own positive experiences of being companioned on a journey. What lessons from those experiences can you bring to your role as a sponsor that will create an environment for faith sharing?
Make the Time. Set aside specific times to talk and take advantage of informal and spontaneous times together.
Listen to the Small Stuff. Your candidate will share if he or she knows you are going to listen no matter what he or she wants to talk about, whether it is what is in the Confirmation session or everyday happenings and issues. Young people trust adults when they sense an adult is truly interested in them. If they come to trust you with the small stuff, they are more likely to trust you enough to talk about more serious matters.
Listen Between the Lines. Sometimes it’s hard to talk about the things that really matter. Your candidate may want to, but cannot find the words. Pay special attention to what your candidate may be trying to say or ask.
Listen and Learn. Ask for your candidate’s opinions. Few things please young people more than being asked their opinion.
Don’t Interrupt. Give your candidate extra time to explain his or her opinions or desires, even if you think you know what he or she is going to say.
Don’t Deliver a Sermon. Ask your candidate if he or she has heard opinions from friends or family members on a topic. When the candidate feels that you are exploring the topic together, he or she will be more open to sharing thoughts and listening to yours.