Is God Calling You to Serve as a Catechist or Volunteer for Children and Youth or an RCIA Catechist?

Thanks to the many amazing folks who have already stepped up and joined our Faith Formation Catechist Team for children & youth or RCIA Catechist Team for adults?

We ask that you prayerfully consider if God may be calling you to share your time, talent, and faith with and for the  Future of the Church!
 
*Please reach out to the Faith Formation staff below for more information or to sign up. We look forward to serving with you!   

Will You Pray about Becoming an RCIA Sponsor?

“A sponsor accompanies any candidate seeking admission as a catechumen. Sponsors are persons who have known and assisted the candidates and stand as witnesses to the candidates’ moral character, faith, and intention.”
“As they become familiar with the Christian way of life and are helped by the example and support of sponsors, godparents, and the entire Christian community, the catechumens learn to turn more readily to God in prayer, to bear witness to the faith, in all things to keep their hopes set on Christ, to follow supernatural inspiration in their deeds, and to practice love of neighbor, even at the cost of self-renunciation.” 

From the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

 

The Ministry of the Sponsor

The ministry of the sponsor is a ministry of accompaniment.
 A sponsor is not a teacher, not a spiritual director, not an expert.
A sponsor is a living example of what it means to be an ordinary, happy Catholic.
A sponsor supports the candidate through the gift of her or his presence, consistently and intentionally.
A sponsor is a witness of the candidate’s spiritual journey into the Catholic Church.
A sponsor helps the candidate discover the Church as a living, practical, day to day reality.
A sponsor presents the needs of his or her candidate to God daily in prayer.
 

Basic Requirements of a Sponsor

To be a sponsor, you must…

• Be at least 16 years of age.
• Have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist.
• Be someone other than the parent of the catechumen/candidate.
• Be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.
• (Preferably) be a registered member of the parish.
• (Preferably) be someone other than the spouse or significant other of the catechumen/candidate.
• Attend Mass every Sunday, preferably with your candidate
• Attend Sunday morning catechetical sessions, even when your candidate is not present 
• Meet with your candidate at least once every other week for at least 30 minutes
• Pray for your candidate every day
• Check in with the RCIA director at regularly scheduled times and as needed
• Intentionally invite your candidate join and participate in the communal life of St. Helen Catholic Church