"Job Description" of Godparent or Sponsor

Position: RCIA Godparent/Sponsor

Accountable to: RCIA Coordinator and, ultimately, the pastor

Short-term commitment: Duration of participant's presence in the RCIA process

• Weekly RCIA sessions

• Participation in all relevant liturgical rites

• Regular personal contact with participant

• Willingness to advise leadership on participant's progress

Note: A Candidate may choose not to become a Catholic, which we must respect and not take personally

Long-term commitment: Life (if chosen as godparent for the sacraments)

• • • • • • Regular contact especially during the new Catholic's first year

          • Periodic personal contact thereafter

Some Practical Suggestions:

• Pray for your Candidate daily, and find someone to pray for you in your role

• Develop rapport - Sit together during RCIA sessions and at Mass

• Invite your candidate out for coffee after Mass, or to your home for lunch, and to appropriate parish social, devotional, or apostolic functions; explain things that might not be known

• Introduce your Candidates to other parishioners, to widen their support network

• Talk about your love for Christ and the Church, and about your journey of faith

• Listen to your Candidate's questions, challenges, and joys, and offer friendly advice where needed; refer your Candidate to the Pastor or a Catechist as necessary

• Witness to your Candidate's progress (or lack thereof) when called on by the Pastor or Coordinator. Your input is very important to the discernment process