You are with your child every day. It would be a good idea to send this to the godparent. Another reason that the godparent can’t attend the baptism may be the because of the godparents career/job. Is a baptized Christian who could share her or his faith with a child (and later an adult) in conversation or action. Be honest and open with God and with your child. Can a non-Catholic serve as a godparent? Godparents should be both baptised and confirmed (although it is not clear in which Church), but the requirement for confirmation can be waived. They may even feel bad that they live so far away and end up doing a better job than a godparent who lives close. Visit this page to read more about godparents. For this reason, a godparent must be baptized themselves and ideally confirmed too. To be a godparent, a person must be one “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on” (CIC 874 §1). The godparent needs to be a Catholic at least 16 years old who has had the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, holy communion, and confirmation . No one can influence a child quite like his/her parents. The godparents must not be bound by canonical penalty. Choosing a godparent it a big deal. Pre-Baptism Class: Parents and Godparents must attend the Pre-Baptism class.Call the parish office to register for the class date you wish to attend! This page explains how to trace a baptism record. You are not required to choose additional sponsors, sometimes called godparents. The godparent name is entered into the parish record book as the “official” godparent or sponsor for baptism. Ordinary Minister of the Sacrament (Priest or Deacon) My partner and I were both asked to be Godparents to his nephew, the only problem is that I wasn't christened, I come from a very religious family, with my grandfather being a vicar; but my mother chose not to have me baptised, more out of spite to the rest of my family I think. Yes, three is the minimum, unless it’s simply not possible to find three. Do you intend to do this? Even if your expectations of the godparent are a little different from what the pamphlet says it’s still good to send it on – maybe include a photo of their godchild from the baptism day to make it a bit more personal/special. If you're not ready to do classes you can definitely wait. In this case they still want to choose a godparent who they know well and they know will be a part of their child’s life for the long-haul. However, all sponsors must be … Today, most people are baptized as infants by a priest or deacon, though this is not strictly necessary (see below). It goes without saying, therefore, that godparents’ number-one responsibility is to see to it that the godchild is raised in the Catholic faith. What gender should the godparent be? As a godparent you probably feel like you want to get something extra... Hey there, I'm Ruth. However, they always remembered me with cards and messages. However, as godparent to others I was grateful for a pamphlet to remind me of my responsibilities and the role that I had agreed to. Maybe in this case you might also need to use a proxy godparent at the baptism to officially witness the baptism and serve as the godparent until the actual godparent reaches 16 years. The parents present the child for baptism while the godparents are present as witnesses. If the person being baptized is under 7 years old, she doesn't have to take catechism classes (classes that teach what the Roman Catholic church believes). Ideally yes, but talk to your vicar if you simply can’t find three confirmed godparents. Sacraments Services and Resources Stewardship Education Offices. Regarding “godparents” or “sponsors,” keep in mind that this is a custom of the church that is neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture. So, when a godparent is not christened themselves, the obvious first question is whether this is something they would like to consider. In order for them to guide the child they need to first know the catholic faith. Finding someone who fulfils these measures and also someone who you trust will do a good job and be there long term for your child can sometimes be a tough find. They can be, but they don’t have to be. They can ‘t be the baby’s mother or father. It’s a good idea to make sure the original godparent knows what was said and promised on their behalf at their godchild’s baptism. We both made our Communions and Confirmations, as well.Neither of us came from extremely religious households per se, but our parents liked them some traditions. Baptism is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations share in common. Do the godparents/sponsors have to be physically present at the baptism? Godparents are really special. In order for someone to be eligible as a godparent they must be chosen by the parents, have the ability and the intention to fulfill the role, be at least 16 years of age, and be a confirmed Roman Catholic, who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist, is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith (including Marriage) and will be a good role model for the one being baptized, and be neither the father nor the mother of the child. Do I need to have been baptised to be a Godparent? How do I have my child Baptized in another parish? I know I felt a little uncomfortable about giving the Godparent pamphlet to the godparents for our children. It definitely depends on the church. Someone who has a strong faith in God and can help point your child to God. An old Catholic tradition requires the godparents to buy the clothes the baby will … It doesn’t matter if they are parents. The church may also give you the option of adding the proxy godparent to the baptism certificate to act as an extra godparent for your child. There is no time constraints for getting your child baptized. Godparents are really important people at a christening. You can choose another person you know to be a proxy godparent, but they should be a baptised christian. The godparents had to be married in Catholic Church, never to have lived together before marriage... crazy. A godparent should be at the baptism if at all possible. The role of godparent always involves talking with God about your godchild: thanking God for your godchild, asking him to protect and guide your godchild and then trusting him to do this. Do I have to choose godparents if I have my child baptized? Actually, correction. You can name just one godparent, or two godmothers or godfathers. Not everyone is certain if they have been christened, but it should be possible to find out. Also remember that as parents the main responsibility of raising your child with faith in God falls on you as parents. Things to do with children in Winter and at Christmas. Godparents are not required for emergency Baptisms. Ideally they should be confirmed too, but check with the vicar about local policy on this. Many churches will also give out a pamphlet to help the godparents know what their role is in their godchild’s life. However if you’ve moved somewhere new and don’t know many christians in the area then it could be difficult to find someone that you trust to fill the role of proxy godparent. I also didn’t want them to feel like I thought they didn’t know what they were doing. This can involve being a good role model, giving a gift on their baptism birthday to help remind them about the importance of the day but also teach them something about God and his nature and how he thinks about your godchild. If you choose only one godparent, you are free to choose a male or a female. The godparents need to be Catholics. To be a godparent, the person must be a fully initiated Catholic, one who is baptized and has received the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation. Does a godparent really have to be at the baptism? Because of the very special role they have in supporting your child’s faith journey, godparents must be baptized themselves. You will likely want... 9 Gift Ideas For Your Godson's Baptism: Cool, Unique & Personalised. It’s truly beautiful to use the Baptismal candle as a reminder of the joy of welcoming the little one into the Catholic family rather than allowing it to collect dust in … Learn more about him by reading his Word. The original godparent will still be the official godparent on the baptism certificate. Your child looks up to you and will copy what you do without even realising they are doing it. In order to be of sufficient maturity and capacity, the godparent must be at least 16 years of age. They will witness the baptism on behalf of your godparent and also make confessions of faith on behalf of your child. Let’s look at the role of the proxy godparent and some other reasons why a godparent may not be able to make it to the baptism. I'm glad you're here! Read: Baptists, just without the baptisms By the fifth century, godparents were fairly common in western Europe, says Guido Alfani, an economic-history … I believe a physically distant godparent can absolutely do a good job as godparent. As a new godparent one of the first things you will probably do is choose a gift for your goddaughter to celebrate her baptism. The most common reason that parents might choose a godparent who they know probably won’t be able to make it to the baptism is that the parents have just moved somewhere away from close family and friends. To my delight, the answer has often been ‘Yes’! I’ve been to a catholic baptism where the catholic godparent lived overseas and couldn’t make it to the baptism. Really narrowed down their choices. I was baptized when I was a baby, and so was my husband. I'm a mum with 3 young kids on the bumpy road of life, hanging tight to faith in a good God. Visit the pages below and right to find out more about why godparents are so special. I was just happy that they agreed to be godparents and didn’t want to impose anything else on them. They will make some big promises in church to support their godchild in their Christian faith for a lifetime. Growing up I had a godparent who I rarely saw as they lived in another state. They also answer questions about christian belief on behalf of the baby, before the baby is baptised. Many years ago this wasn’t really an issue, but now people travel so much and it’s not uncommon for close family and friends to live far away. Godparents should really help the parents commemorate their godchild’s Baptism annually, much like a birthday celebration. The parents and godparents reply together. Maybe they live a long way away and travelling just for the baptism is not really an option. The main role of the godparent is to help the parents in teaching the child about faith in God. I'm the owner of thepuregift.com. Yes, this is a basic requirement for a godparent. There is no requirement for clergy to baptise those from outside their parishes, and baptism can be reasonably delayed so that the conditions, including suitable godparents, can be met. Congratulations on being chosen as godparent! Baptism, like all … As canon 872 states, godparents are to help the newly baptized to live a Christian life and faithfully to fulfill the duties inherent in baptism. Video messages can be a great way to send a quick message to your godchild, or face-time/video calls. Send this on to the godparent so they can understand what’s expected of them. A Christian witness needs to be a baptized Christian. The Catholic church also require the godparent to be baptised … But having another mature Christian who pledges to support your child toward making a public commitment to Christ and growing in holiness of heart and life can be a great blessing. Do godparents have to be baptized in the Church of England. Can our child be baptized in a parish if we do not live within the parish boundaries? I'm also a mum of 3 kids enjoying life in country South Australia. The reason for this distinction and restriction is that the godparent not only is taking responsibility for the religious education and spiritual formation of the baptized person, but also is representing the Church, the community of faith, into which the person is being baptized. Maybe they work in the army and got called away suddenly, or maybe another emergency type job. However, parents and godparents are required to take instruction, as are individuals being baptized who are more than 7 years old. Discover more about what it means to be a good godparent here. Often the church will provide a copy of the words spoken at the baptism. Children learn by example way more than they learn by being told. I've created this site to explore baptism and our role as parent/godparent and ways that we can share love and faith with our kids/godkids. However, if you wish to have two godparents, there must be one male and one female. Pick-up information packet: Registered parishioners stop by the parish office to pick up the Baptism Application to be completed by the parents and the Sponsor/Godparent Forms to be signed in the sponsor's own parish. The baptism could be rebooked to another date, or you could choose a proxy godparent to stand in on their behalf at the baptism. Most churches require the godparent to be at least 16 years of age, but maybe you know a really mature 14 or 15 year old who you think would make a fantastic godparent. Traditionally a godparent will take part in a baptism or baby dedication for the infant, and make a vow to assume a role in the spiritual development of that child. They were at my baptism but I didn’t see them a lot. Other ones I know have … It’s important to choose someone who can fulfil this important role in your child’s life. At a babies baptism the godparents and parents stand at the front of the church and are asked if they intend to help raise the child with faith in Jesus. Yes, a godparent, by definition, is Catholic – thus all godparents are Catholic. Therefore, the single most important factor is whether the person is an active, practicing Catholic. In the Catholic Church, the Godparents need to be both baptized and Catholic. A non-Catholic baptized Christian can participate in the Rite of Baptism as a “Christian witness,” however a Catholic godparent must also be present. This page explains more. There are so many ways that you can be face-to-face with your godchild through a screen. The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. Most churches realise this and won’t add the extra criteria of close physical distance to your child, and will allow your chosen godparent to be godparent even if they can’t attend the baptism. I think most godparents will feel the same way. It's not that we don't like traditions -- quite the contrary; we have a couple of our own we're quite fond of. It’s an important role that they have agreed to and having the promises and responsibilities written down is important. For this reason, a godparent must be baptized themselves and ideally confirmed too. (If so, say ‘Yes, I do’. It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial Community in which the baptism is being celebrated. Read on if that applies to you. It’s a life-long commitment which will involve special times and treats, but much more as well. 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