A baptismal sponsor, or godparent, must be 16 years of age, a confirmed and practicing Catholic, and may not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized. Church law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two. Only a practicing Catholic who meets the qualifications of a confirmed Catholic, age 16 or older, and has received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, may be a godparent or sponsor for baptism. 2. Non-catholic Christians may participate in Catholic Rites of baptism but obviously they cannot offer the guarantees required of the true godparent so they are called "witnesses". A godparent is also responsible for assisting the baptized in fulfilling the obligations acquired by the sacrament (see CIC, c. 872). Have received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist) Cannot be parents or legal guardians. What gender should the godparent be? 2. (Cannon #874 & #893) Are you, the Godparent, a Catholic? 2. What is the difference between a godparent and a witness? It states that a godparent must be a Catholic who has been confirmed, has already made his First Holy Communion, and who leads a life of faith compatible with the duty to be taken on (c. 874.1 n. 3, emphasis added). Be Catholic. Only a practicing Catholic who meets the qualifications of a confirmed Catholic, age 16 or older, and has received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, may be a godparent or sponsor for baptism. GODPARENTS: A person may only have one or two godparents (also called sponsors); if two are chosen, they must be male and female. The role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the catechumenate, which originated in the early Church. More than just a reliable relative or friend, the godparent is meant to be a teacher of the Catholic Christian faith. First and most importantly, all candidates must be a practicing and active Catholic, that is not estranged or excommunicated from the church – either imposed or declared – and in good standing with the local parish. Can a non-Catholic serve as a godparent? If you choose only one godparent, you are free to choose a male or a female. A non-Catholic person may not be a godparent at a Catholic baptism. If there are two, one must be male and one must be female. The godparents promise to support the parents in raising the child in the practice of the Catholic faith. Godparent (Sponsor) Requirements: (According to Canon Law. Attend the Baptism Class which we offer here at St. Joseph Church. The Qualifying Criteria For Godparents and Confirmation Sponsors. As the Office has received many calls regarding the baptism requirements, they have decided to publish the requirements for godparents. pdJ�{�� ���m�`�ٿ��6��4�i�`������ɬ�^������q~2�-���Vv� ����FP6$��Ro޵�O� ����:\�oٝCT�G��mR(���Q֏P����d������SbޥZf��[�.�Q(6 �D�N��^��Ǟ� )L�X{���jف�p�Q�=n�k���9i �,���8k����;(Mfψ�318N\��텍~UsL���tp(\&� �#����k�1��%(6�1������t��f��Z-�t�؅��2t���й�2�y�������@� �g���:0I5π�@z�6���!�~�����E1 M�X@)�)�z��) �x�M+�m�CB�^WG��>�aY��XLf\��U �{D��lb� ���g""L ��1]6m��CR�X�i�9*�IpU�(F����MVЛ�g�˜�W��z[�7nu}�5��T���h�c,��o�/�4@Q3���F��P�ˡ#}�ߵ�6"���"����"j�\"��*��+f]Ǟ�3:�"0��&���h�ޥH��,>����W��bq�y4�κT`�_�}��Ub��x��+�y92�����q�K�I�~7h1�R�"y@��&˾��M�/h)���g The role of godparent developed out of the task of sponsor in the catechumenate during the early Church. Please contact Rachael Cadena in the office to schedule a baptism. Not the Parent. The child is baptized in the faith of their parents, godparents and of the Church. 873). Check with the parish where the baptism will take place for their requirements. Generally in RCIA each adult has their own Godparent, One additional Godparent can stand for the children or each child can have their own Godparent(s). Must have taken a baptism or godparent prep class; At least one godparent must meet these requirements, but it is possible for the second godparent to be non-Catholic as long as they have been baptized. Home Baptism bible verses catholic baptism ceremony catholic baptism requirements sacrament of baptism symbols steps of baptism in catholic church what happens at a catholic baptism step by step Catholic Baptism Requirements Step By Step. A baptized non-Catholic may not be a godparent but can serve as a witness along with a Catholic godparent. The Catholic must meet all the requirements for Catholics, even if the other godparent is Catholic. Must be a Christian (One Godparent must be a Catholic) At least 16 years of age. These requirements mentioned by Fr. Parents may attend a class at anot her parish (please provide a certificate of completion). A Catholic may act as witness at a non-Catholic baptism, but not as a sponsor. I imagine the godfather role will be important to your protest in this matter as he will be the male roll model for your child’s religious upbringing. The godparent must be a fully initiated Catholic (Baptized, Confirmed, received Eucharist), at A godparent must be a Roman Catholic because the godparent is an official representative of the Catholic Church. Godparent Requirements Serving as a Godparent comes with great responsibilities. Godparent/Sponsor must be in good standing with the Catholic Church. Must be a practicing Catholic (Attend Sunday Mass weekly). Church law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two. It’s not a ‘social’ relationship and it is not restricted to relatives – especially not to relatives who do not know their faith well enough to stay close to the Eucharist, and have abandoned the sacraments. Since 1983, neither the Catholic Church Canon Law, nor the Catechism of the Catholic Church make any reference to Godparents by proxy. His or her name will be entered into the Sacrament Record Book as an “official witness”, together with the name of the godparent. 3. A baptized non-Catholic may not be a godparent but can serve as a witness along with a Catholic godparent. In order to be of sufficient maturity and capacity, the godparent must be at least 16 years of age. The Catholic Church also has a set of specific requirements for people who are to fulfill the role of godparent. At least one of the godparents must be a member of the Catholic Church. %PDF-1.4 According to Canon Law 874, Godparents must be at least sixteen years of age and fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. Must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation; If married, or living with their significant other, they must be married in the Catholic Church. x��[[�ݶF���>6b�׵�4jz;'�����E��/ �mݧ� Z����3�$�����z��k؂Dr�3�\������N���������ݏ�ޕ�ݷ�����i���?���m����;�����;�rNF���t&Y��Q��������V��rޟ΍��밿s��C�.�?��Y��C� Must be at least 16 years of age. 4. The godparent must be a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church who has received the sacraments of baptism, holy Eucharist and confirmation. Since 1983, neither the Catholic Church Canon Law, nor the Catechism of the Catholic Church make any reference to Godparents by proxy. If Single, not cohabiting. ... to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A godparent is encouraged to send a spiritual card to their godchild at Christmas, Easter, Birthday and Baptism “birthday”. Eligibility. The Church may require that both of the Godparents be Catholic, though in traditional baptism only one being Catholic is required. HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH WHARTON, TX CANONICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BAPTISM SPONSORS (GODPARENTS) The Code of Canon Law (1983) of the Roman Catholic Church requires that: Canon 873: “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.” Canon 874 §1: “To be permitted to take on the function of a sponsor a person must: 1° be designated by the one to be … Baptismal Requirements Requirements for Parents 1. May a child be baptized if only one parent requests it? Can someone serve as godparent by proxy (stand-in) if the godparent is unable to participate in the baptism ceremony? Whom should I choose as godparents/sponsors for my child’s Baptism? Yes, non-Catholic witnesses can serve as a Christian witness but it is not preferred. 5 0 obj During the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, the godparents make a promise to assist the parents of the child in fulfilling their responsibility of forming the child in the Catholic faith. If the Godparent does not meet one of the requirements… Sponsors for the sacrament of Baptism must be Catholics who have been confirmed and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Can the same godparents have responsibility for more than one child in the same family? A baptized, non-Catholic may serve as an “official witness” to the baptism, only if there is a proper Catholic sponsor who fully meets all requirements of a godparent. A godparent should be a confirmed, Catholic Christian who is at least 16 years of age, and who faithfully practices and believes in the Catholic faith as a participating member of a parish community. Parents are the primary educators in forming their child’s faith and y parents in this important ministry. I wish this were spelled out more clearly, because of course we are all sinners. In the record of Baptism, the names of both the Godparent and the proxy should be entered” (56). • There is reasonable hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith. Godparent/Sponsor cannot be the infant’s/child’s parent. HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH WHARTON, TX CANONICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BAPTISM SPONSORS (GODPARENTS) The Code of Canon Law (1983) of the Roman Catholic Church requires that: Canon 873: “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.” Canon 874 §1: “To be permitted to take on the function of a sponsor a person must: The other criteria … If a baptism is licit, meaning it’s legal, it is recognized as having been done in line with Canon Law. However, if you wish to have two godparents, there must be one male and one female. %�쏢 A godparent must be a Roman Catholic because the godparent is an official representative of the Catholic Church. If a baptism is valid, then it is recognized as having been done using the correct form, matter, and structure that is needed for the sacrament. Here the Code of Canon Law wants to eliminate the practice of having numerous sponsors, as has occurred in some cultures (No. The only situation in which a Catholic may be a godparent (sponsor) in "another ecclesial Community" is in an Eastern Orthodox Church "if he/she is so invited" (Directory for the Application of the Principles and Norms of Ecumenism, 98, a, b). The following is a review of the Church Law regarding the requirements for Godparents. If the requirements for certificates are met, the certificates then should be presented to the baptism coordinator for the parish. A baptized person belonging to a non-Catholic Christian denomination may be admitted as a Christian Witness to baptism, standing alongside a Catholic godparent. 11. [Canon Law # 874.2] Q. The General Introduction to Christian Initiation speaks to the role of the godparent (s) for children: “In the baptism of children too, the godparent should be present to be added spiritually to the immediate family of the one to be baptized and to represent Mother Church. Any faithful Catholic who has either been through a baptism preparation class, or knows someone who has, understands that one of the contributing problems to choosing poorly qualified godparents stems from a lack of education on how the Church views the role of a godparent. Godparents must be practicing Catholics who are at least 16 years of age and must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Are other Christian baptisms valid? Like any sacrament, baptisms must be both valid and licit to serve the individual as God intended. Your brother and his wife do not qualify because of their irregular marriage. The Catholic Church no longer recognizes official "proxies" at baptism. © 2021 Holy Cross Catholic Parish South Bend, IN, Holy Cross Catholic Parish South Bend, IN. 4. Godparents must also be active Catholics in a state of grace. Special Requirements “In so far as possible, a person being baptized is to be assigned a sponsor” (Canon 872). 4. �'>D�!w�MH1���N�#O:�ҏ�. In order for someone to be eligible as a godparent, these are the requirements… • They must be chosen by the parents, A baptized non-Catholic may be picked as a Christian Witness if he or she meets the set requirements. Answer: The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. Requirements of a Godparent. The Catholic Church no longer recognizes official "proxies" at baptism. In order for someone to be eligible as a godparent they must be chosen by the parents, have the ability and the intention to fulfill the role, be at least 16 years of age, and be a confirmed Roman Catholic, who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist, is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith (including Marriage) and will be a good role model for the one being baptized, and be neither the father nor the mother of the child. To be a Godparent, one must be a fully initiated Catholic (baptized, confirmed, and received Eucharist). Until further notice, the baptism classes will take place in a room where family units can sit spaced apart. A godparent must be Catholic. Each Godparent must register for a Baptism Preparation Class. What are the requirements to be a Godparent? Without these requirements, they cannot be godparents per Catholic cannon law. Not the Parent. Godparent/Sponsor must be in good standing with the Catholic Church. The Code of CanonLaw (Church Law) specifies the requirements for as serving godparents at Baptism (Canon 874): You may not be the parent of the person being baptized; you must be at least 16 years old; you must be fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist); if married, be in valid Catholic … The consent of at least one of the parents, … They must be in good standing with the Catholic Church and must lead a life in harmony with the faith in keeping with the function to be undertaken. Is a Catholic allowed to be a godparent if he/she was married in another Christian church? A. A Catholic godparent can establish a telephone relationship with the child, calling on birthdays, anniversaries of baptism and other sacraments and so on. Simply put, you can’t sponsor someone for Baptism if you are not yourself in full communion with the Church and the teachings of the Church. 1) at least 16 years old 2) practicing Catholic with good standing in the church 3) not of the same gender as the second godparent 4) have received the sacraments of baptism, eucharist and confirmation. Baptism, Baptized Catholics, Godparent requirements for catholic baptism. English & Spanish Baptism Classes. The non-Catholic must be baptized and must be present with a Catholic godparent at the time of baptism (Pastoral companion for Canon Law 57). The Godparent does not have to be present at the baptism, a proxy may stand in his or her place. If a godparent cannot attend the baptism ceremony, a proxy can stand in the place of the missing godparent. Intimately linked to Confirmation and to Eucharist, Baptism is, with these two sacraments, Christian Initiation. This includes participating in Mass every Sunday. 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