The requirements for godparents for Baptism and sponsors for Confirmation are:
Be not less than sixteen years of age.
Be a Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
Be currently registered and active members of Our Lady of Mercy. If not, please seek a certificate from the pastor of the parish where you currently reside and attend Mass.
Be living in conformity with Catholic morals and in good standing with the Catholic Church
If married, married according to the laws of the Church, not living together, not civilly married, and not divorced and remarried outside the Catholic Church.
May not be the mother or father of the person to be baptized or to be confirmed.
Have not formally left the Catholic Church for another religious denomination or renounced the Catholic faith in any way.
What is the Sponsor Certificate?
In the distant past, "Sponsor Certificates" were unheard of because, in most cases, Godparents and Sponsors were from the same Parish as the mother and father of the child being baptized. The majority of Catholics practiced the faith, received all their Sacraments, and were married in the Church. So, the priest knew both the mother and father of the child and the potential Godparent(s).
Today, with people moving around, when it comes to the Sacrament of Baptism, the parish priest often does not know the people who have been chosen to be the Godparents (Sponsors). And when we consider the declining morality and drop in Church attendance, even within families, this gives another reason why the priest does not know everyone who may even live within the boundaries of the Parish.
The Catholic Church requires that chosen Godparents and Sponsors, who will be called to assist the parents in raising the child in the Catholic faith, are of good standing in the Catholic Church. That means they must meet several expectations as outlined in Canon Law.
When the Sponsor or Godparent)goes to their parish priest, he asks for a "Sponsor Certificate." This certificate is the official letter of the Parish, confirming that the Sponsor candidate is a Catholic of good standing in the said Parish.
They attend Mass every Sunday, have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and, if married, have received the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church. They have not been excommunicated, living a life contrary to the Catholic Faith, or renounced their membership in the Catholic Church.
This highlights the importance of choosing Godparents/Sponsors in good standing with the Church. By choosing a practicing Catholic who is in good standing, there is a greater chance that the child's parent will receive the necessary spiritual assistance in raising the child in the Catholic faith.
How do you obtain a Sponsor Certificate at Our Lady of Mercy?
Only the pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church is able to sign a Sponsor Certificate for parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy Church. Staff members are not able to do so.
Therefore, you must be a registered and active member of Our Lady of Mercy Church who attends Mass regularly and complies with the abovementioned requirements. Please promptly ask for your Sponsor Certificate. It should be obtained at least two weeks before the date of Baptism and several months before the date of Confirmation. Such Sacraments are scheduled well in advance, so you should be able to act promptly to obtain a Sponsor Certificate.
Once you have determined that you are in good standing and meet the requirements of the Catholic Church, approach the Pastor after Sunday Mass and ask him to sign a Sponsor Certificate for you. If you are not known to the Pastor, please introduce yourself.
Since there is only one priest at Our Lady of Mercy, you may have to patiently wait until he has finished greeting all the parishioners after Mass. There is an office in the church's vestibule and a bench nearby; simply wait there until the Pastor is available to meet with you.
If you do not have a Sponsor Certificate provided by the Church where the Baptism or Confirmation is to take place, a Sponsor Certificate Form is available in the vestibule office and will be provided by the Pastor.
A Priest, on behalf of the Church, has a responsibility before God and in justice to ensure these Canonical requirements are fulfilled before signing a Sponsor Certificate. Therefore, if you do not meet the abovementioned requirements to serve as a godparent for Baptism or sponsor for Confirmation, please do not ask to have a priest sign a Sponsor Form.
Please do not ask the priest to violate his conscience and falsely attest to your good standing. Rather, have the personal integrity to tell those asking you to serve as a Sponsor or Godparent that you are not eligible and politely decline. This will spare you, the family, and the priest embarrassment and disappointment.
Further Questions
Please call the Parish Office at 401.884-4968 or email at parish@olmparish.org