Picking Godparents

[Gnarwhal]

I can't remember if I've posted about this before or not, but even if I have this is with a new question so here I am.

My wife and I are hoping to finally get our son baptized next month after the dust settles from Holy Week. The issue is godparents. Our older son was baptized in NY when we lived with her parents, and at the time all of her friends lived there, so we chose a married couple she's close to to be his godparents, and they're on our list again for the baby. The problem is we feel like we'd be asking a lot of them to fly across country just for a baptism, and we don't know if they're available anyway. Plus I wonder how prudent it is to choose godparents who live 2,500 miles away. It wasn't necessarily the same scenario when we picked them for our older son.

Which brings me to my question, earlier this week I had the bright idea for some alternative godparents, but they're not married. The guy would be a great godfather, he converted a year after me and we have very similar backstories. Now we co-teach a small group of catechumens for RCIF. The choice of godmother is where I need input, I thought of one of the catechumens who is coming into the Church this Easter. She's very solid and she's very devoted not only to seeing her conversion through but also really properly catechizing her kids, and she really pursued convalidation of her marriage hard. All indicators that she'd be a great godmother cause she's very serious about it and wouldn't take her responsibilities as a godparent lightly.

The only thing I wonder, and I'm gonna consult my friend who overseas all the catechesis programs at our parish as well, is whether it's a good idea to choose someone who's just entered the Church to be godparent? I know my aforementioned friend is kind of protective of new converts, she doesn't want people asking too much of them in their neophyte year so they're no overwhelmed. So I'll get her opinion, but also what do you think? We're real thin on options unfortunately, none of my family are Catholic and none of hers are faithful.

 

[Valletta]

I can't remember if I've posted about this before or not, but even if I have this is with a new question so here I am.

My wife and I are hoping to finally get our son baptized next month after the dust settles from Holy Week. The issue is godparents. Our older son was baptized in NY when we lived with her parents, and at the time all of her friends lived there, so we chose a married couple she's close to to be his godparents, and they're on our list again for the baby. The problem is we feel like we'd be asking a lot of them to fly across country just for a baptism, and we don't know if they're available anyway. Plus I wonder how prudent it is to choose godparents who live 2,500 miles away. It wasn't necessarily the same scenario when we picked them for our older son.

Which brings me to my question, earlier this week I had the bright idea for some alternative godparents, but they're not married. The guy would be a great godfather, he converted a year after me and we have very similar backstories. Now we co-teach a small group of catechumens for RCIF. The choice of godmother is where I need input, I thought of one of the catechumens who is coming into the Church this Easter. She's very solid and she's very devoted not only to seeing her conversion through but also really properly catechizing her kids, and she really pursued convalidation of her marriage hard. All indicators that she'd be a great godmother cause she's very serious about it and wouldn't take her responsibilities as a godparent lightly.

The only thing I wonder, and I'm gonna consult my friend who overseas all the catechesis programs at our parish as well, is whether it's a good idea to choose someone who's just entered the Church to be godparent? I know my aforementioned friend is kind of protective of new converts, she doesn't want people asking too much of them in their neophyte year so they're no overwhelmed. So I'll get her opinion, but also what do you think? We're real thin on options unfortunately, none of my family are Catholic and none of hers are faithful.

I would ask a priest.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Follow up: my friend (the RCIA coordinator) said it's an awesome idea and she thinks the person in question would be honored. So we're just waiting to see what our friends from NY say (we're expecting a "no") which is find cause my wife still has to fetch the birth certificate from the county offices anyway.

 

[RileyG]

If I understand correctly, only one of the godparent has to be Catholic.

My sister in law’s sister is the godmother to both of my nephews and she’s Lutheran ELCA.

My aunt and uncle are godparents to my niece, although neither attend Mass anymore.

My oldest brother is the godfather to my older nephew, although he never goes to Church.

I’m the Godfather to my younger nephew.

Thank you for actually taking this role seriously. Most don’t.

 

[Gnarwhal]

If I understand correctly, only one of the godparent has to be Catholic.

My sister in law’s sister is the godmother to both of my nephews and she’s Lutheran ELCA.

My aunt and uncle are godparents to my niece, although neither attend Mass anymore.

My oldest brother is the godfather to my older nephew, although he never goes to Church.

I’m the Godfather to my younger nephew.

Thank you for actually taking this role seriously. Most don’t.

I think they've tightened things up since. I know that both the parents and the godparents have to take a quick course, which my priest says is to confirm that they all know the faith and can be reasonably expected to fulfill their promises for the child.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I can't remember if I've posted about this before or not, but even if I have this is with a new question so here I am.

My wife and I are hoping to finally get our son baptized next month after the dust settles from Holy Week. The issue is godparents. Our older son was baptized in NY when we lived with her parents, and at the time all of her friends lived there, so we chose a married couple she's close to to be his godparents, and they're on our list again for the baby. The problem is we feel like we'd be asking a lot of them to fly across country just for a baptism, and we don't know if they're available anyway. Plus I wonder how prudent it is to choose godparents who live 2,500 miles away. It wasn't necessarily the same scenario when we picked them for our older son.

Which brings me to my question, earlier this week I had the bright idea for some alternative godparents, but they're not married. The guy would be a great godfather, he converted a year after me and we have very similar backstories. Now we co-teach a small group of catechumens for RCIF. The choice of godmother is where I need input, I thought of one of the catechumens who is coming into the Church this Easter. She's very solid and she's very devoted not only to seeing her conversion through but also really properly catechizing her kids, and she really pursued convalidation of her marriage hard. All indicators that she'd be a great godmother cause she's very serious about it and wouldn't take her responsibilities as a godparent lightly.

The only thing I wonder, and I'm gonna consult my friend who overseas all the catechesis programs at our parish as well, is whether it's a good idea to choose someone who's just entered the Church to be godparent? I know my aforementioned friend is kind of protective of new converts, she doesn't want people asking too much of them in their neophyte year so they're no overwhelmed. So I'll get her opinion, but also what do you think? We're real thin on options unfortunately, none of my family are Catholic and none of hers are faithful.

Ask if you are allowed stand ins for the ones far away.
I'm trying to recall if that was possible.