What should a Confirmation sponsor say?

Ah, that’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?

Well, since Catholic Confirmation sponsors are supposed to help their candidates fulfill their Baptismal promises, you’ll have to learn what those are – and then be willing and able to discuss them with enthusiasm! Confirmation Sponsors should pray regularly with their candidates, attend classes or retreats when invited, and show their candidates how to more fully take part in the life of the Christian community.

Especially when the candidates are young people – in middle school or high school – it’s important for sponsors to be very supportive and encourage their candidates to build the foundation for a strong faith life. Sponsors must therefore be comfortable talking openly and honestly about their own faith journey, with the goal of guiding and mentoring the young candidate.

And 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. These discussions must be faithful to the teachings of the Church. To be blunt, sponsors shouldn’t guess or say, “Well, what I think is…”

HINT: If your candidate asks you a question about the Catholic faith and you aren’t absolutely sure of the answer, then just say so! And then use it as an opportunity for you and your candidate to do a little research.

One great way to brush up on the core beliefs and teaching of the Catholic Church is to take our Confirmation Sponsor Crash Course FULL Version!