To be chosen as a godparent is a very special honor. Godparents help parents raise their child to be a dedicated Catholic. A godparent cannot accomplish this unless he/she is a deeply dedicated Catholic himself/herself.
Who Can be a Godparent?
When a godparent lives a Christian life in partnership with their godchild, both of them will experience the great joy of sharing a life of faith. To help ensure this, godparents must meet Canon Law requirements and Diocesan Guidelines:
1. A child must have one godparent, but can have only one godmother and one godfather.
2. Any godparent must be at least 16 years of age (for maturity's sake) and be a practicing
Catholic, and cannot be a parent of the child.
- Inspired by the Gospel and sustained by God’s grace, a practicing Catholic gives sincere
external expression to their interior faith through specific religious, moral, and ethical
behavior, which is in accordance with the teaching of Christ and the Catholic
Church. Despite weaknesses and personal sinfulness, a practicing Catholic decides to
make only those substantive life choices which follow the “Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn
14:6) of Christ.
3. Godparents must have received all three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Eucharist,
and Confirmation.
4. Godparents must live sacramental lives, i.e. attending Mass at least every Sunday, receiving
Communion, making use of the sacrament of Reconciliation frequently
5. Godparents must be registered members of a Catholic parish.
6. Godparents may not be living a life of habitual sin.
7. If married, godparents must either be in a valid Catholic marriage, or their marriage must be
convalidated by the Catholic Church.
8. If single, godparents cannot be cohabitating.
9. Godparents must have the intention of undertaking the ministry of a godparent.
This may seem like a lot of rules, but their purpose is to ensure that the rich and beautiful faith of the Church is passed on to your child in the most loving and authentic way possible.
Can a non-Catholic Christian be involved in my child's Baptism?
A Christian who isn't Catholic can certainly have a strong, positive influence on the faith life of a Catholic child, which is why the Church allows for a non-Catholic Christian to participate in the baptismal ceremony as a witness alongside one godparent (Code of Canon Law #874). The Christian Witness must:
1. be of the opposite gender of the godparent.
2. at least 16 years of age.
3. have already received a Trinitarian Baptism (Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit).
4. be practicing a faith in a non-Catholic, Christian denomination.
5. belong to an ecclesial community.
A Christian Witness needs to understand his/her responsibility in being a faithful Christian example for the child. If a parent or godparent fails in his/her responsibility to raise their child Catholic, the Christian Witness is required to attend Mass every Sunday with the child, take the child to faith formation programs and classes, pray with the child, etc.
However, the primary goal of Catholic baptism is to initiate a person into deep membership of the Catholic Church. It's almost impossible to achieve that goal without surrounding a young Catholic with a diverse community of dedicated Catholics. The godparent represents that Catholic community and is primary among those who set a good Catholic example for the child. Only one godparent is necessary, but having both a godmother and godfather is preferred.
How to be a Godparent
We strongly encourage the godparents and Christian Witnesses to attend the baptism session with the parents so that they are fully formed to undertake the task ahead of them and sign a Commitment form. Being a Godparent is a lifelong privilege, and the class will help you prepare them to do the best job they can. The salvation of the godchild is partially the Godparent's responsibility, so we want to make sure they are fully formed for the task that lies ahead.
There are many ways you can nurture this spiritual relationship and become a special friend to your godchild:
- Pray for your godchild daily.
- Celebrate the anniversary of this holy day of Baptism each year with a visit or a card. As your godchild grows, listen to and share in the struggles and triumphs of living a Christian life and keep yourself informed on Catholic doctrine and values to be able to answer questions as they arise.
- Encourage a consistent life of faith through special cards, letters, or gifts, which celebrate holy events - Christmas, Easter, personal growth events, graduation, first job, and engagement.
- Participate in, or send assurance of prayer, as your godchild receives the other sacraments, particularly, First Communion and Confirmation, which complete initiation into the Church community, and Reconciliation.
- Be supportive of your godchild’s parents in their role as the primary religious educators of their child.
- And most importantly, become a model of Catholic living for your godchild, through daily prayer, virtuous living and active participation in parish life and liturgy, particularly weekly Sunday Mass.