RCIA Sponsors

karamelkiss_22 · Dec 10, 2007

When you're going through RCIA Classes, are you suppose to have a Sponsor from the beginning of those classes? Or is it closer to Confirmation when you have a Sponsor?

BAFRIEND · Dec 10, 2007

Sorry no one answered sooner.

Normally, parishes and diocese can vary- you go through inquiry prior to RCIA- then you are given the sponsor and then there is a Rite of Welcome.

I would guess most parishes introduce you to the sponsor just before you enter RCIA from Inquiry.

So, yeah from the beginnning you should have one unless they are falling short volunteers which is not uncommmon, either.

Personally, I would be too afraid to turn down the request to be a sponsor- given that the purpose is to help pave the road to salvation for another. Who knows what God may hold in store for the person who won't volunteer because it interferes with the football schedule.

tadoflamb · Dec 10, 2007

It was a couple of weeks into RCIA before we got our sponsors or at least until they started coming to the sessions with us.

Catholic Wife · Dec 10, 2007

I was asked to be a sponsor about a week before the Rite of Welcome. Some of our catechumens and candidates had godparents/sponsors before starting RCIA, though.

Michie · Dec 10, 2007

I didn't have one officially till the very day of becoming Catholic.

Auntie · Dec 10, 2007

BAFRIEND said:
Sorry no one answered sooner.

Normally, parishes and diocese can vary- you go through inquiry prior to RCIA- then you are given the sponsor and then there is a Rite of Welcome.

I would guess most parishes introduce you to the sponsor just before you enter RCIA from Inquiry.

So, yeah from the beginnning you should have one unless they are falling short volunteers which is not uncommmon, either.

Personally, I would be too afraid to turn down the request to be a sponsor- given that the purpose is to help pave the road to salvation for another. Who knows what God may hold in store for the person who won't volunteer because it interferes with the football schedule.

What is "going thru inquiry"?

And what is "Rite of Welcome"?

I didn't know about needing a sponsor until recently.

(sometimes I feel so dumb about these things)

Also, what exactly happens at RCIA classes? Do you just sit and listen?

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

Auntie said:
What is "going thru inquiry"?

And what is "Rite of Welcome"?

I didn't know about needing a sponsor until recently.

(sometimes I feel so dumb about these things)

Also, what exactly happens at RCIA classes? Do you just sit and listen?

Hi Auntie- :wave:

RCIA classes are for study & discussion. You don't just sit & listen. It is a teaching enviroment but participation is greatly encouraged.

You are also given reading material to view for the following week to discuss & ask about for the next class.

Rite of welcoming is one of the first steps in joining the Catholic community. Its done in front of the Church congregation for two reasons. One is to be a witness to the existing community as a witness of what a great gift the Catholic faith is. The other is to gradually ease the the new candidates into the Catholic community.

Intentions are asked & the signing of eyes, ears, etc. by the sponsor. I had no sponsor but had someone in RCIA do that for me. I asked her to stand up for me when I entered the Church.

Here is more info on the differing processes when one enters the Church. Alot more if you Google.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_Christian_Initiation_for_Adults

Auntie · Dec 11, 2007

Michie said:
Hi Auntie-
RCIA classes are for study & discussion. You don't just sit & listen. It is a teaching enviroment but participation is greatly encouraged.

You are also given reading material to view for the following week to discuss & ask about for the next class.

Rite of welcoming is one of the first steps in joining the Catholic community. Its done in front of the Church congregation for two reasons. One is to be a witness to the existing community as a witness of what a great gift the Catholic faith is. The other is to gradually ease the the new candidates into the Catholic community.

Intentions are asked & the signing of eyes, ears, etc. by the sponsor. I had no sponsor but had someone in RCIA do that for me. I asked her to stand up for me when I entered the Church.

Here is more info on the differing processes when one enters the Church. Alot more if you Google.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_Christian_Initiation_for_Adults

Hi Michie

Thanks so much for the info.

Wow, it all sounds so difficult to this agoraphobic. :sorry:

What is this: "Intentions are asked & the signing of eyes, ears, etc. by the sponsor.".

Solidlyhere · Dec 11, 2007

The Sponsor's "JOB" ... be there on THE day, and introduce (or, present) you to the Bishop.

When a person is studying, it is nice to have a person, who is there ... to talk to, to ask questions, for edification.

But, that is NOT required.

A friend "found" a sponsor at Church, one week from THE day.
Of course, he was told to "find" a sponsor as soon as he could (at the beginning of the classes).

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

Auntie said:
Hi Michie Thanks so much for the info. Wow, it all sounds so difficult to this agoraphobic.

What is this: "Intentions are asked & the signing of eyes, ears, etc. by the sponsor.".

I'm the same way but it is not nearly as difficult as it sounds.

Here you go, hope it helps.

As I read the Gospel for this Sunday, it brought to mind the Rite of Acceptance for those entering into the process of becoming Catholic. Perhaps the most striking element of this rite of the catechumens with the cross, the very symbol of Christianity. In recognition of their acceptance of their call to take up their personal crosses and follow Jesus, as well as their willingness to lose their own lives for the sake of Gods reign, they are signed with the cross on the forehead, ears, eyes, lips, heart, shoulder, hands and feet. In accepting the cross, they acknowledge the costs of their discipleshipdying to ones self-centeredness and sacrificing ones own life for the sake of another. In addition, they accept their calling to become counter-cultural signs in a culture already overtaken with self-absorption and self-indulgence. In addition, they serve as a reminder to those of us already baptized into Christ, that we are called to do no less.

http://www.sbmission.org/2005_08_01_bulletin_archive.shtml

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

Solidlyhere said:
The Sponsor's "JOB" ... be there on THE day, and introduce (or, present) you to the Bishop.

When a person is studying, it is nice to have a person, who is there ... to talk to, to ask questions, for edification.

But, that is NOT required.

A friend "found" a sponsor at Church, one week from THE day.
Of course, he was told to "find" a sponsor as soon as he could (at the beginning of the classes).

I was never presented to the Bishop. I did not have to wait as long as some did. I studied 2 years before RCIA.

Solidlyhere · Dec 11, 2007

Michie said: "I was never presented to the Bishop."

Well, then I guess you haven't been through Confirmation.
This is what the Sponsor does.

As far as I know, the Bishop is the only one who performs the Rite.

karamelkiss_22 · Dec 11, 2007

You go through inquiry prior to RCIA- then you are given the sponsor and then there is a Rite of Welcome.

What is.... "going through Inquiry"??? And what if you don't get a Sponsor, should you ask about one? Also, What is the Rite of Welcome and when does that take place?

hsilgne · Dec 11, 2007

Solidlyhere said:
Michie said: "I was never presented to the Bishop."

Well, then I guess you haven't been through Confirmation.
This is what the Sponsor does.

As far as I know, the Bishop is the only one who performs the Rite.

No, a priest can do it. They just need permission from their Bishop. Our priest always does them here.

hsilgne · Dec 11, 2007

In our parish, candidates are given the opportunity to find their own sponsor(a catholic friend or family member). Or they can just have the parish appoint someone. Our sponsors go to RCIA with the candidates and are quite involved in the whole process.

karamelkiss_22 · Dec 11, 2007

You go through inquiry prior to RCIA- then you are given the sponsor and then there is a Rite of Welcome.

What is.... "going through Inquiry"??? And what if you don't get a Sponsor, should you ask about one? Also, What is the Rite of Welcome and when does that take place?

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

Solidlyhere said:
Michie said: "I was never presented to the Bishop."

Well, then I guess you haven't been through Confirmation.
This is what the Sponsor does.

As far as I know, the Bishop is the only one who performs the Rite.

A sponsor is not only for the purpose of presenting the person to the Bishop. The sponsor is for questions, support & whatever else comes up. They are to attend RCIA with you if at all possible.

I've been assured that I'm confirmed & have been through all the needed steps. I became a Catholic in October of that year. As I said, I studied beforehand. Also, I was a baptised Christian beforehand. Not everyone is presented to the Bishop before entering the Church. It is those that need the 9 months to 1 year study that are usually presented to the Bishop. And also, it depends on he timing one starts RCIA & the time needed for study before entering the Church. I presented a candidate myself after becoming Catholic to the Bishop but was never introduced to him as a candidate myself.

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

hsilgne said:
No, a priest can do it. They just need permission from their Bishop. Our priest always does them here.

Right. That was the case with me.

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

karamelkiss_22 said:
You go through inquiry prior to RCIA- then you are given the sponsor and then there is a Rite of Welcome.

What is.... "going through Inquiry"??? And what if you don't get a Sponsor, should you ask about one? Also, What is the Rite of Welcome and when does that take place?

Inquiry is just a formal term for going to RCIA. Inquiring & studying the faith. Rite of Welcoming usually happens in the Lenten season before Easter. Basically after so much study it's an affirmation to the Catholic community that you intend to continue your journey into the Catholic Church.

It sounds a lot more comolicated than it is. It's really not complicated at all. You get walked through the processes & like I said, it's affirming, not complicated.

Michie · Dec 11, 2007

hsilgne said:
In our parish, candidates are given the opportunity to find their own sponsor(a catholic friend or family member). Or they can just have the parish appoint someone. Our sponsors go to RCIA with the candidates and are quite involved in the whole process.

I didn't know anyone to do so. Plus, I always asked the same person who helped in RCIA to stand up with me when needed. So the day before entering the Church officially I asked her. It all worked out. It's basically the same at my parish but nobody acted particularly concerned about me getting a sponsor to guide me through. I think because I've the study I did previously.

RCIA Sponsors

tHeLOrdiStHeROckOfMYSaLvA tiOn!!!

Well-Known Member

no identificado

Senior Veteran

Well-Known Member

THANK YOU JESUS!!

Well-Known Member

THANK YOU JESUS!!

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

tHeLOrdiStHeROckOfMYSaLvA tiOn!!!

Frustrated in Hooterville.

Frustrated in Hooterville.

tHeLOrdiStHeROckOfMYSaLvA tiOn!!!

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads