About This Site
ConfirmationSponsor.com is a resource site provided by the REAL Faith Online program - part of the REAL Values Project - and is focused on supporting Catholic Confirmation Sponsors. However, many of the fundamental strategies and tactics for being an effective Sponsor are applicable to other Christian Confirmation programs. Learn MoreExplore CoursesPart of Something Bigger
REAL Values Project
The REAL Values Project teaches a values-based approach to life through several programs: REAL Faith Online, REAL Youth Ministry, and REAL Leadership. The REAL values are Respect, Engage, Accept, and Lead. These core values create the framework we use to become both true disciples of Christ and exceptional, values-driven leaders.
REAL Faith Online
There is tremendous value in face-to-face interaction, especially within a community of faith, but that’s not always practical during this day and age. REAL Faith Online is creating video-based, self-paced courses, allowing people to continue their faith formation on any device, wherever they have an internet connection. Current offerings include courses for Catholic Confirmation Sponsors and “Living Laudato Si’,” which explores Pope Francis’ important social encyclical on the environmental crisis facing the world today. You can learn more at the REAL Values Project online school.
Sponsor Basics
We answer the most frequently asked questions regarding the basics of being a Confirmation Sponsor.
Reflections
As a Sponsor, you're on a journey of faith too. These reflections can help!
FREE Course
If you're not quite ready to dive in and learn to be a super sponsor, then our mini course will get you started on the right foot!
Level Up to SUPER Sponsor!
Choose from one of our Confirmation Sponsor Crash Courses and get the knowledge, skills, tactics, and resources you need to be an absolutely amazing Sponsor!
REAL Values
Many ministry programs for teens (and even adults) offer hands-on exercises in the classroom but fall short of providing tactics for us to apply and practice in our everyday lives. How can we get better at living the gospel message without consistent, effective practice? The answer I came up with is to give people a clear set of values to measure their actions against. The REAL framework is easy to learn and use, but the impact is absolutely profound!
RESPECT
RESPECT is the foundation for everything that we do. We start by respecting each other. We respect ourselves, our friends, our peers, our communities, and our world – basically, all of God’s creation. If we can’t meet the challenge of showing respect, then we’ll fail the other three challenges!
ENGAGE
ENGAGE is what we do in order to move ahead. We don’t disengage from life… we fully participate! We engage with each other and with the challenges and possibilities that are presented to us. We understand that the more of ourselves we put into something, the more we’ll get out!
ACCEPT
ACCEPT is a word that’s easy to say but hard to live. We strive to accept each other as we are. We want to accept each other because of our differences, not in spite of them. We believe that God made us all unique and loves us all, so the least we can do is accept one another.
LEAD
LEAD is a final challenge because we are called to make a difference in the world. It has little to do with your position or title, and everything to do with how you model the other three values to others and use your influence to promote and achieve better outcomes for everyone.
Keep it REAL
The way to most effectively share the Good News is to reflect the Gospel message in all that we do. So when we choose to live these values every day – RESPECT, ENGAGE, ACCEPT, & LEAD – then we end up Keeping It REAL!
If we are to succeed, we must offer young people a spiritually challenging and world-shaping vision that meets their hunger for the chance to participate in a worthy adventure.
We need to provide concrete ways by which the demands, excitement, and adventure of being a disciple of Jesus Christ can be personally experienced by adolescents – where they tax and test their resources and where they stretch their present capacities and skills to the limits.
– Renewing the Vision, 10-11
Meet Your Instructor
Brandon Jubar, MPS
Brandon has been active in Catholic Youth Ministry since 1985, in volunteer, part-time, and full-time positions. Over the years, he has written hundreds of faith-based articles, led scores of workshops, and over 100 2-day retreats. He earned his BA in Communications from the University of Michigan and his Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University.
Brandon Jubar
Your Instructor
Brandon became active in ministry in 1985 and began his career a few years later. After 17 years of supervising and leading multinational teams in the private sector, he moved into the public sector, where he has spent over a decade in various senior staff positions in a Cabinet-level Federal Agency.
Over the years, Brandon has individually coached and mentored dozens of people in the private and public sectors, as well as in ministry. His peers regularly seek him out for his insight and excellent “people skills,” and he is known for building effective teams that execute at a high level and consistently demonstrate continuous improvement.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sponsor in Catholic Confirmation?
A Catholic Confirmation Sponsor must be a good spiritual guide and mentor, but the Catholic Church has some specific guidelines too!
What should a Confirmation sponsor say?
Although Confirmation sponsors are not catechists, it’s important for them to be fully prepared to discuss the core beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church with their candidates. In other words, you need to be ready to talk about your faith!
Does your sponsor for Confirmation have to be Catholic?
Yes, a Sponsor for Catholic Confirmation must be Catholic. Check out this short post for the basic rules!
Is a sponsor the same as a godparent?
The role of Sponsor is not exactly the same as that of godparent – but they can be filled by the same person!