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Adults preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism and/or Confirmation and Eucharist) through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) are paired with a parishioner, who accompanies them through the RCIA process. Called sponsors, these companions provide friendship, encouragement, help connect the RCIA candidates with the parish and offer an example of the Catholic way of life.
Sponsors are the bridge between our catechumens and candidates and the rest of the parish. Our priests celebrate the sacraments of the faith and our catechists teach the faith, but our sponsors share the faith personally, energetically. A candidate’s weekly conversations with her sponsor shapes her understanding of what it actually means to be a Catholic. Candidates learn how to worship by going to Mass with their sponsors. They learn to pray by praying with their sponsors. They learn from their sponsors about all the little unspoken things that make up the fabric of Catholic life. A faithful sponsor can make the difference between whether a newly confirmed Catholic feels welcomed by the parish or alienated. And an effective team of sponsors can make the difference between a parish that grows spiritually and a parish that stagnates.
To be a sponsor, you need to be a practicing Catholic. You must be ready to commit your time and attention to your candidate on Wednesday evenings. And you must to be excited to watch your own faith journey deepen as you witness your candidate’s conversion.
I'm interested in being an RCIA sponsor.
Contact Jon Stotts at jon.stotts@ctk-nashville.org or 615-777-8910 with questions.
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