Confirmation Prep Program Grades 9 & 10

Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor

CONFIRMATION SPONSOR

• Each candidate should have their own individual sponsor.
• The candidate may choose one of their Godparents. This shows the ties between Baptism and Confirmation.
• The sponsor should be someone the candidate sees as a positive Catholic role model in their life. 
• The parent of the candidate is NOT permitted to be the sponsor.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SPONSOR

• Must be sufficiently mature in his/her faith commitment.
• A sponsor can be of either gender.
• The person chosen must have the intention of performing their role; assume an ongoing spiritual relationship with the candidate and not merely a function as a passive witness to the sacrament.
• Sponsor must be a fully initiated Catholic, having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation.
• Sponsors are to be active members of a Catholic Church.

A SPONSOR IS

• A representative of the Catholic Community: The sponsor is the personal representative of the entire Church Community to the individual candidate.
• A Companion: A sponsor should serve as a companion or a guide for the candidate along the journey.
• The sponsor should be someone who can give you the support when there is hesitation, understanding in times of doubt and comfort when there is inner conflict. This person should also challenge you when your enthusiasm or interest is at a low point. This companion should be someone you can trust, turn to and talk things over with.
• A Mentor: A sponsor should be someone who is open to growth in one's faith and putting into practice what the faith requires. This person should be a faith example who you look up to and would like to emulate.

THE ROLE OF THE SPONSOR

• Assist in the preparation of the Sacrament.
• Accompany the candidate and present him/her to the bishop.
• Help the candidate fulfill his/her baptismal promises faithfully by growing in a faith relationship with the candidate.

SPONSORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE CANDIDATE BY:

• Deepening their faith relationship with the candidate during the time of preparation for Confirmation.
• Attending Mass as often as possible with the candidate.
• Participating in a service project with the candidate if possible. 
• Continuing to be a source of encouragement and guidance for the candidate after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

TRAITS OF A SPONSOR

• A sponsor prays.
• A sponsor participates in the Liturgy.
• A sponsor listens.
• A sponsor is respectful.
• A sponsor serves as a bridge, helping the candidate understand and become familiar with the people, places and traditions of the Catholic faith the candidate is unfamiliar with.
• A sponsor respects the candidate's freedom, allowing the candidate to decide whether this is the right time to seek the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• A sponsor lives in a world of hope, feeling confident in being able to live their faith in the modern world.

Saint Research Sites

Following are some sites where you can access information about a variety of Saints. Try researching several before choosing the one whose name you would like to take. How to choose one: he/she stands for something you believe in; he/she is the patron/ess of something you are interested in; his/her name is the name of a loved one, etc…

www.catholic.org/saints
http://www.dnu.org/worship/confirmationsaints.pdf
http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/post/Top-Ten-Confirmation-Saints-You-NeverConsidered.aspx
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patronnm.htm