What are Confirmation sponsors for?
The Church sees three roles for Confirmation sponsors: First, as a role-model in the faith. Because of this, the Church asks that a sponsor be at least sixteen years of age, be fully initiated in the Church (has celebrated the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist), and be a practicing member of the Church. He or she does not have to be the same gender as the Confirmation candidate. Second, a sponsor is a companion on the candidate’s faith journey. Ideally, this should/could be one of the candidate’s baptismal godparents. Again, this is encouraged by the Church today — to show the close connection of the two sacraments. And finally, the Confirmation sponsor witnesses for the candidate before the Church. By their presence at the Confirmation celebration, the sponsor publicly proclaims the candidate’s readiness. 3) Why are retreats and service projects required for Confirmation? These are part and parcel of what it means to be a baptized Catholic Christian. These aren’t thi
