Choosing Godparents

It is the very ancient custom of the Church that at the celebration of the sacrament of Baptism or Confirmation, a godparent/sponsor is present. The function of the godparent/sponsor is: a) together with the celebrant who baptizes or confirms, to represent the Church in receiving the person into the communion of the Church; and b) to support the person in living the Catholic Christian life.

In accord with Canon 874 of the Code of Canon Law, the Church can admit a person to the role of godparent/sponsor if: a) he or she is more than sixteen years of age; b) is a baptized Catholic who has been Confirmed, has already received the Blessed Eucharist, and lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; and c) is neither the father or the mother of the person.

Since Baptism is a sacrament of faith, and through it the child is brought into the family of faith, the church, for the Baptism of infants, there must be the reasonable hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic faith. If such hope is lacking because of the non-practice of the faith by the parents, the Church directs that the Baptism be delayed. Accordingly, it is expected that at least one parent or guardian of the child is a practicing Catholic. Only one sponsor is required, male or female, and that sponsor must be a practicing, confirmed Catholic.  A baptized Christian and member of a non-Catholic church may act as a Christian Witness of a Baptism together with a Catholic sponsor.

Given the functions and role a godparent/sponsor exercises, a non-Catholic Christian cannot be admitted as a godparent/sponsor; however, he or she can serve as a Christian witness at baptism, provided that there is a Catholic godparent (c. 874 2). A baptized Catholic who is sacramentally or canonically ineligible to serve as a godparent may not serve as a Christian witness. These include those who subsequently renounced the faith in favor of another church community or entity. Those unbaptized and those whose Baptism is not recognized by the Catholic Church may not serve in the role of Christian witness but are welcome to be present at the ceremony.

Note that the Catholic seeking to be admitted as a godparent/sponsor “lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken.” This means that the candidate for godparent/sponsor: a) sincerely believes and strives to put into practice the Word of God as taught by the Catholic Church; b) prayerfully assists at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation; and c) if married, was married in accordance with the requirements of the Catholic Church. One godparent/sponsor is required. Two godparents/sponsors may be appointed provided one is male and the other female.

We know that your family and friends may be spread far and wide across the world and that many people have chosen Godparents who are coming from another parish. If you are picking Godparents who are not Saint William parishioners, we ask that they provide a letter of good standing from their home parish stating that they meet the requirements above and are qualified to be Godparents.