Church News February 2009

Bobby Gardner receives Papal Award for his work for Church and Parish

Choosing Godparents

Most parents give a lot of thinking and planning as to who they will invite to be godparents for their baby. It involves all sorts of diplomacy and tact in the circle of family and friends. It is important to attend to all the sensitivities when making up your mind. It is not easy to keep everyone happy! But more important, it is helpful to know what exactly is the role of a godparent in the eyes of the Church, and what specific requirements there are for a god-parent for your child.

The custom of having two godparents, one of each sex, seems to be an established practice — while it is perfectly acceptable to have just a godmother or a godfather. They are required to be members of the Catholic Church and to have celebrated all three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. There is a further requirement that they must be living a life consistent with faith – given their role as a godparent.

Quite simply, this means that they must be seeking to live a life informed by their Catholic faith — with all the struggles that making a decent effort entails. A godparent is not a super-Catholic! But hopefully a godparent is someone who is comfortable with their Catholic identity and is willing to help and support the parents who are handing on this faith to their child.

Obviously, the responsibility of being a godparent is one that requires a level of maturity and responsibility. In the Catholic Church, a person of 16 years is deemed to have reached this level and therefore is sixteen years or older. At the request of the parents, a baptised and believing Christian, not belonging to the Catholic Church, may also act as a Christian witness along with a Catholic godparent.

So, in considering who you ask to be godparents to your child you are conferring a special honour on some person.

A godparent, above all others is being entrusted with the responsibility of participating in this child’s Christian life and education. The privilege offers the opportunity to develop a mutually enriching spiritual relationship with this child.

There are many ways by which this relationship can be nurtured: by celebrating the anniversary of Baptism each year with a call or a visit or some personal contact: as your god-child grows up – by listening and sharing in their little achievements and struggles; by attending certain religious events like Easter and Christmas and keeping family contact; by attending important mile-stones in the faith journey of your god-child like First Penance and First Holy Communion and by being there as sponsor on their Confirmation day is a very special celebration and an event that bonds the relationship as a young person moves into adolescence.

When a godparent takes a remote interest and little contact with their godchild, I am aware how this is remarked on by young adults with deep feelings when they talk and compare their stories and relationships in family and circle of family friends.

It is a growing relationship and so often a young person will confide in a god-parent and‘ be enriched by their listening and support when they face important decisions in their lives. For a godparent the quiet witness of living a Christian life by what you do more than by what you say leaves an imprint and a memory that never goes away. It becomes a light on the path for their future.

Fr. Tony King. Athenry