The OCIA Sponsor:
Helping Prospective New Catholics and Confirmandi in their Formation

“Modern men and women listen more willingly to

witnesses than to teachers…”

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The above quote from Pope St. Paul VI’s encyclical on evangelization, perfectly captures the vital role played by the OCIA sponsor in the spiritual formation of our candidates currently working through the OCIA process towards sacramental initiation, full reception, or completion of their Sacraments (Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion) in the Holy Catholic Church.

 

In the OCIA sessions, these souls learn the "what" and the "why" regarding the many aspects of the Faith; the Sacraments, how to read the bible, the story of creation, the fall, and salvation, various prayers and how to pray, the precepts, moral laws, and virtues, and most importantly the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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But the vital role of the OCIA Sponsor is teaching the "how." How does the ordinary Catholic layperson live out his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church on a practical, day-to-day basis?

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The sponsor does this by accompanying a candidate through the process; meeting with him or her regularly, talking about the journey, listening to the challenges, and sharing with the candidate aspects of the sponsor’s own faith journey and personal story. And as this relationship grows, the sponsor affirms the candidate progress, presenting him or her to the priest, or Bishop, and to the gathered assembly at the various OCIA rites celebrated during Lent and Easter.

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The minimum requirements for an OCIA sponsor are:

• Must be 16 years or older. (But preferably someone with lived experience as a Catholic adult for five or more years.)

• Must be a Catholic in good standing (e.g., attends Mass regularly).

• Must have received their own Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation.

• Either unmarried, or if married, his/her marriage must have been performed in a Catholic Church (or marriage been “blessed” (called “convalidation”) by the Church).​

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It is strongly recommended that the sponsor be able to attend most of the liturgical celebrations that mark the Candidate's spiritual progress through the program!

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Please download and complete the Sponsor Attestation Form and return it, as directed at the bottom of the form, by October 31st.

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