Please complete by February 23, 2021.

Recognizing this important role, the Church requires that a sponsor be at least sixteen years of age, be fully initiated in the Church (has received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist), and be a practicing member of the Church. If married, the sponsor’s marriage must be blessed by the Catholic Church.

Sponsors must not be the father or mother of the candidate.

These requirements (Canon 874) are aimed at making sure that a sponsor is more mature, informed, and experienced in the ways of our faith and culture than the candidate.

The ideal sponsor:
- already has a relationship of trust with the candidate
- is willing to meet regularly with the candidate as he or she prepares to celebrate Confirmation
- is prepared to accompany the candidate on his or her faith journey after Confirmation
- is willing to share his or her faith with the candidate
- is an older friend or relative in whom the candidate can confide
- is an open, honest, caring, committed, and encouraging person who will help the candidate grow in his or her understanding of the faith

In addition to a sponsor interview write-up by the candidate in Year 2, the sponsor must submit a letter of verification from his/her parish in the same school year. This letter must state that the sponsor is a Catholic in good standing and must be signed by the pastor.