Confirmation Candidates:  In Canon Law (892) it states: "the sponsor is to take care that the confirmed person behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations inherent in this sacrament."  Since the purpose of a sponsor is to serve as a role model for you in the Catholic faith, and to help guide you on your faith journey, not only during the time of preparation for Confirmation, but throughout your life, you want to select a sponsor who is living the life of a good, faithful Catholic.

Well, what does that mean?  Of course you want a sponsor who loves Jesus Christ and His Church, intentionally striving to live as His disciple, and living a life of prayer and active participation in the liturgy and the sacraments.  The  Precepts of the Catholic Church (CCC 2041-2043) are a description of the  absolute minimum actions required of Catholics regarding the Church:
 

1. Attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation, and rest from servile labor.
2. Confess your sins at least once a year.
3. Receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
5. Help provide for the needs of the Church.
6. Observe the Church’s laws on marriage.

This is why you are asked to have your sponsor complete an eligibility form acknowledging that he/she meets the requirements to be your sponsor:
 

• Sponsor may not be a parent of the candidate.
• Sponsor must be at least 16 years old.
• Sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist).
• Sponsor must be leading a life in harmony with the faith (see The Precepts of the Catholic Church above).
  • If married, sponsor's marriage must be valid and blessed by the Catholic Church
  • If single, sponsor affirms that he/she is not in a cohabiting relationship (living together without marriage in the Catholic Church).
• Sponsor must promise to pray for and to be a good example for his/her Confirmation candidate. 

The sponsor then gets this form signed by his/her priest/deacon, and sealed with the church seal of the sponsor's parish.  It is extremely important that this form gets submitted to Sr. Rosario in a timely manner.

The appropriate form is found at the link below (English and Spanish).  Please ensure your sponsor completes this form (with signature and parish seal) and returns it to me no later than January 28th/29th  (Confirmation Year 2).  If your sponsor lives out of town, he/she may download the form, complete it, and mail it to the address on the form.
 

If you have any questions, please contact Sr. Rosario [email protected]