1300 In the Latin rite, “the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: ‘Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti’ [Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.] -Catechism of the Catholic Church 1300

If You Have Been Asked to be a Confirmation Sponsor:

CONGRATULATIONS! This is a wonderful privilege and not one to be taken lightly. We offer the following to you for your consideration.  As a Confirmation Sponsor you are called...

• to witness, by your life, how a Catholic lives in today's world

• to guide in times of doubt, indecision, confusion, to be a good listener, to be ready to give advice as a Catholic adult when asked.

• to be a friend, one who is “there” when needed, one who can be trusted,

• to take an interest in the Confirmation program in which your young friend is involved.

• to get to know the candidate in a new way, as a sincerely interested young Catholic, most precious in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the Church.

• to be ready to publicly vouch for the candidate’s readiness to take on the role of one sent forth to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others by the quality of his or her Catholic life.

If you have been asked to be a Confirmation Sponsor and are a member of St. Paul Parish (and a practicing Catholic who has made your Confirmation), you are required to sign the following Confirmation Sponsor Form and submit it to our office: 

Please note that the Sponsor:

• Must be 16 years old or older
• Must have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist
• Must not be a parent of the one to be confirmed 

Canon (874, § 1, 1) also states that the sponsor must lead “a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.” Therefore, the following persons are not eligible to act as a sponsor:

• Catholic persons married outside the Catholic Church
• Persons who habitually miss Sunday Mass
• Divorced persons who have remarried outside the Catholic Church
• Persons who neglect the religious education of their children