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NWR: godparents

itzMSitzMS member
2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
in Catholic Weddings

DH & I are struggling with the godparent situation for our pending offspring due in December.

We're taking the required class in a month to find out more specific info, but obviously would like to ask anyone we would potentially select for a godparent as soon as possible (so they have time to think about it).

I've been exploring our Archdiocese website...and the wording is a bit vague.

We have maybe 3 somewhat practicing Catholic people we could choose from. If they say no...we're kind of at a loss. Not to mention if we have additional children...our pickings would be incredibly slim.

I know that there can be a Christian witness/sponsor, but at least one person absolutely has to be Catholic and confirmed in the Faith.

Are godparents or sponsors at all an absolute requirement?

Any ideas from recent experience?

 

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Re: NWR: godparents

  • monkeysipmonkeysip member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    I'd like to know too.

    We only have one friend who is a practicing catholic.  No family.  And I don't know if that one person would really be interested in being a godparent.  

    We do have some protestant friends that could be sponsors, but I'm worried when we have babies we'll have no godparents :(

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  • mommapizanomommapizano member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    We don't know many practicing Catholics, so I am sure this will come up for us too. I know this came up on some Catholic web forum and many people suggested turning to your priest to ask for recommendations from the parish community since you only need one Godparent. You need someone who would be willing to take on the role and is a good role model/practicing Catholic. Do you know anyone in your parish community that you might consider? Maybe it's an option to talk to your priest?

    FI and I just relocated and had a strong bond to many people at our old parish but we are not established into our new parish but hope to be much more involved soon through Young Adult Ministry and many other opportunities for us to grow in faith together.
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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary

    The tough part is that "dream" of having a longstanding realtionship with a person before naming them a godparent to your child.

    I would feel awkward having someone I just met in Church or received off a list from my priest being the godparent. Almost like a forced relationship. I don't know :-(

     

    I am curious to see what the documentation for "practicing Catholic" are, we do have a few confirmed Catholic friends and I believe DH's siblings are confirmed, but I know for 100% fact that they are not registered with a parish.

    I guess we will find out in a month! I'll post an update.

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  • Calypso1977Calypso1977 member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    you can have just one.  and its perfectly fine for that one to be godparent to multiple children.  there's no rule/law that says you must pick different people for differnet kids.  i am godparent to  my niece and three nephews primiarly for the reasons you state - my sister and her husband had no other logical choices because other than church people, me and my mom, no one in their lives practices the faith.
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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary

    Thanks Calypso.

     

    For anyone curious, I just had to know what to do about godparents (we want to start asking people so badly!)

    So I called our Pastoral associate. She let me know that my Parish doesn't request documentation that the godparent is a member of a Parish, but this policy varies by Parish (aka some require proof of membership, some do not).

    Confirmation is, of course, a non-negotiable.

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  • lindsaynewbride10lindsaynewbride10 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its First Answer

    I kind of have a similar situation. Although we are not yet expecting, H and I have been wondering who we would ask to be godparents. There isn't anyone on my side of the family that is Catholic/someone who I would consider, and there are few options on his side. He has two siblings who are both Catholic, but neither of their spouses are, basically. Sooooo.... of course we'd like to ask people who we are close to, but the pickin's are slim.

     

    Would it be weird if we asked my H's parents? I love them dearly- definitely lucked out in the in-law department, and they are more than "practicing Catholics"- they're very involved in the Church and attend regularly.

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  • Calypso1977Calypso1977 member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    i dont think parents are typically godparents becuase of the age.  in theory, the godparents are supposed to help with the religious upbringing.  because parents in theory die before their children your child's godparents would most likely pass away before you.  so then what would happen if you died young?    as far as your H's two siblings, is it brother/sister?  if so, id simply ask them to be godparents (they usually require one male and one female if you do 2 people).
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  • Riss91Riss91 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    If your in-laws are relatively "young" and in good health, I wouldn't worry too much. They really need to be able to help your child through high school. So, if they are going to be around another 20 years, I would go for it, if they are the "best" options from a Catholic stand point.

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  • amaryann210amaryann210 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    I am the sole godmother of all four of one of my friend's children.  I'm also one of two godmothers for another friend.  You can be a little creative with who you ask, as long as they're a practicing Catholic and willing to take on the commitment. 
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  • catarntinacatarntina member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I picked my parents to be my son's Godparents.

    The church gave me a little bit of a hard time... "Hmm, usually the Godparents are someone closer to your age. Don't you have anyone closer to your age?" "No." "OK, then..."  They asked that question at least 4 times before he was baptized.  I really don't have anyone close to my age, that's a practicing Catholic, and that I know well enough to ask to help raise my children in the Church.  Anyway, DS was baptized and my parents are his Godparents.
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  • Grabows14Grabows14 member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited September 2013
    I couldn't be a god parent because I hadn't done confirmation yet (i was in 8th grade). So yes a god parent needs to be a practicing adult catholic in the eyes of the church. My sister told me I was an honorary godparent though.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    10000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    We are in the same boat. We went through the baptismal prep class, now we just have to decide who to ask to be godparent(s) so I can get the date on the church calendar. It stinks b/c none of our friends are Catholic and we have very few practicing family members and friends. So we are thinking about asking a couple from church whom we have gotten to know well over the past few years and/or DH's cousin and his wife. I just found out the other day that the same people can be godparents to multiple children. Thank God or I don't know what we will do when we have more kids in a few years.
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