The Role Of Sponsorship
Being chosen as the godmother or godparent of a baby is a great honor for a close friend or relative of a new parent. The role of sponsorship is a lifelong commitment and a pleasure that only people who are close to our hearts experience.
Often times a couple begins looking for godparents right after they find out that a child is expected. Typically, the father chooses the godparent and the mother chooses the godmother.
The future parents are responsible for this decision and they must make wise decisions. After all, according to Christian tradition, the godparents are responsible for the baby’s spiritual life.
The godmother and godfather also take on the role of parents in case something should happen to mom and dad.
The role of sponsorship is lifelong and choosing the right sponsor can be a difficult task.
What is the role of sponsorship?
In theory, godparents are the people who take care of a child when for some reason their parents can’t. Unfortunately, in some cases it becomes necessary for a godparent to take on this role.
However, sponsorship is about much more than that. In Catholic families, the sponsors are responsible for the child’s religious education. Sponsoring generally means giving spiritual guidance and setting a good example.
This means that it is necessary that the godparents want to be a part of the child’s life. You have to help your sponsored child achieve his or her goals and you have to celebrate his achievements and support the parents in crucial moments.
The godparent doesn’t always have to be a blood relative, but he or she will always be part of the family. Sponsorship requires determination, responsibility, and an interest in the child’s spiritual wellbeing.
Together with the parents, the godmother and godparent must support the upbringing of the child and thus contribute to its lifelong development.
Don’t be afraid to take on this huge responsibility.
Sponsoring means feeling safe in the role you play in the child’s life. This will help you fulfill your duties and contribute positively to the upbringing of your sponsored child.
The Catholic Church recommends that godparents lead by example by living as good Christians and attending mass regularly. The godparents are expected to pray daily for their godchildren and to give them religious gifts such as Bibles and rosaries.
However, many families of other faiths choose trusted friends or relatives who play a similar role in their children’s lives.
Requirements for a sponsorship
An important requirement is that the person chosen as godmother is over eighteen years old.
This ensures that she is mature enough to fulfill the role of sponsorship. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
In order to be able to become a Catholic godfather, the godparents themselves have to be catholic.
They must have received First Communion and Confirmation and are practicing their faith. You must not have been excommunicated from the Church and must not belong to any other faith.
An exception to this rule can be made if the godparent is the baby’s older brother or sister and is under fifteen years old. In this case, the godfather must have finished his first communion or be in the process of completing it.
This often works well because older siblings live in the same house and are usually more involved. When the time comes for the child to be confirmed, the godparents can change or be retained.
Tips for sponsorship
There are some tips and hints that godparents can use to help them do their job.
In the beginning you should try to anchor traditions, such as B. a special gift if the child gets a good grade or goes out for a birthday
In addition, the godparent can write a letter to the godchild at the baptism. In this way, unconditional support for both the child and the parents can be affirmed.
The godparent should assume his or her role responsibly.
When visiting a sponsor, focus on the child. The child should feel important and know that they have the full support of their godparents.
The most important part of sponsorship, however, is to carry out all these important tasks with love and goodwill. Accompany your sponsored child through good and bad times.
Sponsoring means being part of the child’s family and playing an important role in their upbringing.
