Role of the Sponsor

       Just as it is in baptism, the role of the sponsor at confirmation takes upon himself/herself the responsibility of helping the baptized person mature in living a Christian life and offers his or her own life and practice of the faith as an example of faith, prayer and service within the Catholic Church. The sponsor for confirmation continues that work for the person that is to be confirmed and creates a strong spiritual bond between the two. The sponsor should be committed to being a part of the confirmandi’s life in presence and prayer, always realizing that a sponsor’s prayers for that person are especially efficacious before Almighty God. One’s “yes” to be a sponsor for confirmation is not just a “yes” to the candidate, but rather it is also a serious commitment to God in taking on this obligation.

To be a sponsor/"Godparent" for Confirmation or Baptism,
a person must meet the proper qualifications outlined
in the Code of Canon Law:

• The sponsor must be designated by the person to be baptized, or, in the case of an infant, by the parents or the person who takes their place. In the absence of a parent or guardian, the person must be designated by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling the function of baptismal sponsor. A sponsor may not be the mother or father of the person to be baptized. One Catholic sponsor, male or female, is sufficient but there may be two, one of each gender. No one can have more than two godparents for one child, nor can anyone have two godparents of the same gender. (note: there is only one sponsor for Confirmation).

• The sponsor must have completed his/her sixteenth year, unless the Bishop has established another age for sponsorship, or the pastor or minister judges that a just cause warrants an exception to the rule. N.B. The Most Reverend Vincent DePaul Breen, Bishop Emeritus of Metuchen, decreed on April 30, 1999 that the minimum age for fully-initiated Catholics to be eligible to undertake the role of baptismal sponsor shall be 14 in the Diocese of Metuchen. The sponsor must have received the sacraments of baptism, holy Eucharist, and confirmation, and be a fully initiated Catholic who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function of sponsor, not bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.

• The sponsor must provide a “sponsorship certificate” from the parish where he/she is currently registered as an active member, regularly attending Mass, which verifies that the proposed sponsor meets the requirements of canon law. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid Catholic marriage, recognized by the Church. (If the person you are considering as a sponsor is not married according to the laws and practices of the Catholic Church, or is cohabitating - living together without marriage-, you will need to consider someone else.).

• While not explicitly stated in the canons of the Latin code, a baptized member of a separated Eastern church (Orthodox church) may act as a baptismal sponsor, but only in conjunction with a Catholic sponsor. Clearly the duty of looking out for the Christian upbringing of the newly baptized/confirmed falls first upon the sponsor belonging to the Catholic Church.