The parents present the child for baptism while the godparents are present as witnesses. 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. If they are, you can tell how they are with children. Yes. If the godparent is away temporarily at the time of the baptism then maybe you could choose the godparent’s sister or spouse or mother to act as proxy godparent. For this reason, a godparent must be baptized themselves and ideally confirmed too. 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. 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. What gender should the godparent be? Read on for more about this. Visit the pages below and right to find out more about why godparents are so special. 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 … First the proxy godparent will have to answer questions with the parents about their intentions to help raise the child in faith, something like: “Parents and Sponsors, Since you have brought _______ to be baptised, you are responsible for her upbringing in the church. 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. They will witness the baptism on behalf of your godparent and also make confessions of faith on behalf of your child. An old Catholic tradition requires the godparents to buy the clothes the baby will … Can a non-Catholic serve as a godparent? 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. This is something that is totally up to you, depending on how close you are to the proxy godparent and how you and the proxy godparent feel about this. I'm also a mum of 3 kids enjoying life in country South Australia. There is no requirement that any sponsor (a "godparent" is the term for the sponsor of an infant) be an Episcopalian. No one can influence a child quite like his/her parents. Yes, this is a basic requirement for a godparent. In the Catholic Church, the Godparents need to be both baptized and Catholic. Visit the pages below and right to find out more about why godparents are so special. 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. Your child looks up to you and will copy what you do without even realising they are doing it. They also answer questions about christian belief on behalf of the baby, before the baby is baptised. Yes, a godparent, by definition, is Catholic – thus all godparents are Catholic. The parents and godparents reply together. Godparents are really important people at a christening. 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. 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. 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. Send this on to the godparent so they can understand what’s expected of them. Baptism, like all … They can ‘t be the baby’s mother or father. (Assuming the parents are doing a good enough job raising their child in the faith) Every person who is Baptized in the Catholic Church should have at least one Godparent. They may even feel bad that they live so far away and end up doing a better job than a godparent who lives close. Be honest and open with God and with your child. These days technology has made it even easier for physically distant godparents to still do a great job as godparent. 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! 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. By all means, do contact one of our pastors to arrange for the baptism of your son. However, they always remembered me with cards and messages. Godparents are really special. A proxy godparent is someone who will represent your chosen godparent at the baptism. So don’t worry that the godparent you’ve chosen won’t do a good job because they live too far away. Because of the very special role they have in supporting your child’s faith journey, godparents must be baptized themselves. I believe a physically distant godparent can absolutely do a good job as godparent. However, if you wish to have two godparents, there must be one male and one female. Is it ok to choose a godparent for your child if you know that they won’t be able to attend the baptism? Someone who has a strong faith in God and can help point your child to God. You will likely want... 9 Gift Ideas For Your Godson's Baptism: Cool, Unique & Personalised. However, all sponsors must be … You can name just one godparent, or two godmothers or godfathers. Maybe you booked the baptism when they were available and now suddenly they’ve been called away for work. 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. Godparents should really help the parents commemorate their godchild’s Baptism annually, much like a birthday celebration. 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. Do the godparents/sponsors have to be physically present at the baptism? 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. 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. If you're not ready to do classes you can definitely wait. There is no time constraints for getting your child baptized. Maybe they live a long way away and travelling just for the baptism is not really an option. 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 name is entered into the parish record book as the “official” godparent or sponsor for baptism. Choosing a godparent it a big deal. )”, Then the parents and godparents together say aloud “Yes, I do.”. Read: Baptists, just without the baptisms By the fifth century, godparents were fairly common in western Europe, says Guido Alfani, an economic-history … How do I have my child Baptized in another parish? I was baptized when I was a baby, and so was my husband. Therefore, the single most important factor is whether the person is an active, practicing Catholic. In this case the church will likely have someone that could fill the role for you. It’s important to choose someone who can fulfil this important role in your child’s life. 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. 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. Many churches will also give out a pamphlet to help the godparents know what their role is in their godchild’s life. The godparents had to be married in Catholic Church, never to have lived together before marriage... crazy. Actually, correction. 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. They will make some big promises in church to support their godchild in their Christian faith for a lifetime. Godparents should be both baptised and confirmed (although it is not clear in which Church), but the requirement for confirmation can be waived. 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. The original godparent will still be the official godparent on the baptism certificate. For this reason, a godparent must be baptized themselves and ideally confirmed too. I was just happy that they agreed to be godparents and didn’t want to impose anything else on them. Today, most people are baptized as infants by a priest or deacon, though this is not strictly necessary (see below). Visit this page to read more about godparents. Do I need to have been baptised to be a Godparent? I know I felt a little uncomfortable about giving the Godparent pamphlet to the godparents for our children. Can our child be baptized in a parish if we do not live within the parish boundaries? 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. The godparent needs to be a Catholic at least 16 years old who has had the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, holy communion, and confirmation . In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith and to free them from the original sin they were born with. I'm glad you're here! You are not required to choose additional sponsors, sometimes called godparents. Baptized, participating Christians of other denominations may serve as a “Christian Witness” and be so designated in the Baptismal Register. Things to do with children in Winter and at Christmas. The Catholic church also require the godparent to be baptised … Another reason that the godparent can’t attend the baptism may be the because of the godparents career/job. Ideally yes, but talk to your vicar if you simply can’t find three confirmed godparents. Others at a Baptism. You are with your child every day. 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). 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’! There are so many ways that you can be face-to-face with your godchild through a screen. 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. But remember that only one godparent is required. The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. As a godparent you probably feel like you want to get something extra... Hey there, I'm Ruth. In order for them to guide the child they need to first know the catholic faith. You don’t need to have a “matched set” of one man and one woman. 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. They can be, but they don’t have to be. They were at my baptism but I didn’t see them a lot. 9 Gift Ideas For Your Goddaughter's Baptism: Beautiful & Personalised. So, when a godparent is not christened themselves, the obvious first question is whether this is something they would like to consider. Regarding “godparents” or “sponsors,” keep in mind that this is a custom of the church that is neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture. This page explains how to trace a baptism record. Baptism is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations share in common. You can choose another person you know to be a proxy godparent, but they should be a baptised christian. Other ones I know have … It would be a good idea to send this to the godparent. Do you intend to do this? The reason is this, the godparents take the responsibility of educating the child in catholic faith from the day of baptism. (If so, say ‘Yes, I do’. To help people choose someone with a strong faith most churches require that the godparent is a baptised christian. Godparents are really important people at a christening. The godparents have to go to a class too (they live in NY, so they'll do it up there) and we need to have copies of their church records (baptism and confirmation). Godparents are not required for emergency Baptisms. 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. Maybe they work in the army and got called away suddenly, or maybe another emergency type job. Not everyone is certain if they have been christened, but it should be possible to find out. Does a godparent really have to be at the baptism? If you choose only one godparent, you are free to choose a male or a female. The godparents need to be Catholics. It goes without saying, therefore, that godparents’ number-one responsibility is to see to it that the godchild is raised in the Catholic faith. Choosing a baptism gift for your godson is one of the first steps you will take after saying 'yes' to being a godparent. The main role of the godparent is to help the parents in teaching the child about faith in God. Do godparents have any specific task? 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. Sacraments Services and Resources Stewardship Education Offices. 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. In this case it makes sense to choose someone from back home. A non-Catholic baptized Christian can participate in the Rite of Baptism as a “Christian witness,” however a Catholic godparent must also be present. The godparents must not be bound by canonical penalty. I'm a mum with 3 young kids on the bumpy road of life, hanging tight to faith in a good God. They will make some big promises in church to support their godchild in their Christian faith for a lifetime. However, if it’s not possible for the godparent to attend the baptism then most churches will allow a proxy godparent to witness the baptism on behalf of the godparent who can’t make it. A Christian witness needs to be a baptized Christian. Is a baptized Christian who could share her or his faith with a child (and later an adult) in conversation or action. Do godparents have to be baptized in the Church of England. Do both godparents have to be confirmed? Then they will need to renounce the devil and confess their christian faith (by saying the Apostles Creed) on behalf of the child along with the parents and sometimes the whole congregation joins in this part. Growing up I had a godparent who I rarely saw as they lived in another state. 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. It's not that we don't like traditions -- quite the contrary; we have a couple of our own we're quite fond of. Children learn by example way more than they learn by being told. The baptism gown. We, on the other hand, do not. The Catholic church also require the godparent to be baptised and confirmed into the Catholic church. However, parents and godparents are required to take instruction, as are individuals being baptized who are more than 7 years old. Learn more about him by reading his Word. My friend just baptized her daughter and they were super strict about everything. Yes, three is the minimum, unless it’s simply not possible to find three. It is most ideal for the godparents/sponsors to be physically present at the baptism since they are taking a significant role in the child's life and are supporting the parents in their commitment to raise the child in the Catholic Faith. It definitely depends on the church. It doesn’t matter if they are parents. The baptism could be rebooked to another date, or you could choose a proxy godparent to stand in on their behalf at the baptism. I’ve been to a catholic baptism where the catholic godparent lived overseas and couldn’t make it to the baptism. Of course all the normal responsibilities of being a godparent can be done from anywhere – prayer and sending gifts/messages. Video messages can be a great way to send a quick message to your godchild, or face-time/video calls. This page explains more. In order to be of sufficient maturity and capacity, the godparent must be at least 16 years of age. Really narrowed down their choices. link to 9 Gift Ideas For Your Goddaughter's Baptism: Beautiful & Personalised, link to 9 Gift Ideas For Your Godson's Baptism: Cool, Unique & Personalised. The sacrament of Baptism not only gives us sanctifying grace: it also makes us adopted children of God and heirs of heaven. I also didn’t want them to feel like I thought they didn’t know what they were doing. If you’re thinking about asking someone who is under 18 to be a godparent, talk to your vicar first. 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. Read on if that applies to you. 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. Our church contacts their church to get these documents. As a new godparent one of the first things you will probably do is choose a gift for your goddaughter to celebrate her baptism. Congratulations on being chosen as godparent! I think most godparents will feel the same way. To help people choose someone with a strong faith most churches require that the godparent is a baptised christian. The non-Catholic must be baptized and must be present with a Catholic godparent at the time of baptism (Pastoral companion for Canon Law 57). It’s an important role that they have agreed to and having the promises and responsibilities written down is important. 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. Ideally they should be confirmed too, but check with the vicar about local policy on this. A godparent should be at the baptism if at all possible. Ordinary Minister of the Sacrament (Priest or Deacon) Also remember that as parents the main responsibility of raising your child with faith in God falls on you as parents. Trust him and everything else will fall into place. I'm the owner of thepuregift.com. It’s a life-long commitment which will involve special times and treats, but much more as well. Do I have to choose godparents if I have my child baptized? They are not just special on the day but special for a child’s life, even when they are grown-up themselves. 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