Immaculate
Conception Parish
Prerequisites for Sponsors (Godparents)
Canon 874 - 1. describes the prerequisites for being a sponsor
How is a sponsor/godparent chosen?
A sponsor/godparent must be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister. They must have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function.
How old must I be to be a sponsor/godparent?
A sponsor/godparent must have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause.
What are the other requirements for a sponsor/godparent?
A sponsor/godparent must be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on and they can not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
Can I be the sponsor/godparent of my child?
The sponsor/godparent may not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
Can a non-Catholic be a sponsor/godparent?
A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.