Practical Guidelines

• The role of sponsor is one of companionship. Faithfully practice your faith.
• Recognize and respect where they are on their faith journey.
• Journey with the candidate, share your own faith story and experience, and listen to their stories, as much as they’re willing to share.
• Be aware that they may be facing opposition from family or friends.
• Affirm the strengths of your candidate/catechumen pointing out ways he or she can grow and become better in the practice of faith.
• Your role is to guide, teach, and explain points brought up during weekly sessions.
• Your candidate may look to you for examples of how to live a life of faith.
• Be aware of how new this experience is to them. The Mass…the liturgy…etc.
• Create the environment for faith sharing
  • Reflect on your own positive companioned experiences. What lessons can you bring to your role as a sponsor?
  • Make the time to talk; Take advantage of informal and spontaneous times.
  • Actively listen; Listen to the small stuff. Listen between the lines.
  • Ask for thoughts and opinions; Don’t interrupt. Let them answer and finish.
• Pray daily for your candidates. Pray with your candidates. Pray for wisdom and help in serving your candidate to the best of your ability.
• Participate in service projects with your candidate.
• Listen to any and all questions your candidate may have and seek understanding together. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” Start and end with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
• Consider meeting your candidate outside of weekly sessions.
• Help your candidate discover their patron saint? Pray specifically for their patron saint to reveal themselves to your candidate. Who’s your saint? Why?
• Consider an inexpensive gift that expresses the meaning of their journey. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
• Be present at the rites.
• Check in with our Director (Joyce Lozano) periodically, especially preceding key milestones.
• Stay in touch. Continue to pray for them.