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garyb444
Member
| Joined: | Tue Aug 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sacramento, California USA |
| Posts: | 20 |
| First Name: | Gary | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Episcopal, Fundamentalist, SDA, Eastern/New Age/Spiritualism, to Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Aug 28th, 2007 06:00 pm |
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Hi everybody,
I just started RCIA last night. For a brief background, I was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal faith, although church attendance was sporadic after that, and I've been involved in a lot of different spiritual and religious directions since then. I've always been drawn to the Catholic Church. 20 years ago, I was seriously considering joining, but was talked out of it by anti-Catholic Christians who gave me a lot of literature to read, showing how corrupt the Church was. But I'm back again, wanting to join the Church, and this time I've done my own research (thank God for the Internet!) and know that the Catholic Church stands on very solid scriptural ground.
Anway, the funny part is, my wife is Catholic, and she had a lot of anger toward the Church. She hadn't attended Mass in years. She decided to accompany me to Church (to give me support) and wound up getting extremely emotional at Mass, realizing what she has been missing. So we've both been going to Mass for a couple of months now.
I know without a doubt I want to be Catholic. My wife is not sure if she will continue long term. But we both are attending RCIA. They listed her as my sponsor, but she doesn't want that role, because she's not sure of what she is doing yet. So I am looking for a sponsor. We have only been in this area for a short time, so I don't any Catholics I could ask. I did meet the Deacon from the Church I am attending, and I like him. I was wondering if it's OK for a deacon to sponsor someone? They told me that they could assign someone to me, but I don't know if I like the idea of being assigned someone I don't even know.
Anway, thanks for your help. I'm very glad to find this resource.
Gary
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AggieCatholic
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 82 |
| First Name: | Lance | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | United Methodist to Roman Catholic (Anglican Use) |
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Posted: Tue Aug 28th, 2007 10:54 pm |
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Hi Gary,
I would think the deacon would be delighted to be your RCIA sponsor if you asked him. The sponsor's role is very important and it's great to hear you're taking it so seriously. I went against the advice of my RCIA director and chose my then girlfriend as my sponsor and we are no longer together.
Hopefully you'll what you're looking for here and feel free to jump into the friendly discussion.
God Bless!
Lance
____________________
What part of, "Hoc est enim Corpus meum" don't you understand?
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Aug 28th, 2007 11:51 pm |
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garyb444 wrote: I just started RCIA last night.
Welcome to the Catholic faith and to the Coming Home Network, Gary. We're happy to have you with us, and we'll do our best to fill any holes in the RCIA program in your parish. No one can have every fact and figure available at all times, and we've got some incredible members here who can answer just about any question from any faith perspective you can think of.
I know without a doubt I want to be Catholic. My wife is not sure if she will continue long term. But we both are attending RCIA. They listed her as my sponsor, but she doesn't want that role, because she's not sure of what she is doing yet.
I absolutely recommend against having a sponsor who is a spouse or "significant other". Your sponsor should be someone you can speak with confidentially, and you may well want to reveal things you have not told your spouse. In addition, your wife is already involved in your faith journey; a sponsor should be someone else who can share their faith with you. You end up with two prayer partners instead of just one.
The deacon can certainly be your sponsor if he agrees. If he doesn't have time, he might be able to recommend someone to you. Your RCIA sponsor should be someone who is willing to walk the journey with you, sharing their prayers and faith with you. And it must be someone you can trust and feel comfortable with.
Once again, we welcome you to the Coming Home Network and to the Catholic faith.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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garyb444
Member
| Joined: | Tue Aug 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sacramento, California USA |
| Posts: | 20 |
| First Name: | Gary | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Episcopal, Fundamentalist, SDA, Eastern/New Age/Spiritualism, to Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Aug 29th, 2007 02:44 pm |
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Thank you, Lance and Rick. I am glad to be here, and I appreciate the guidance and welcome messages from both of you. Will let you know how it goes with the Deacon.
Gary
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TT17Claret
Member
| Joined: | Fri Aug 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Summerville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 22 |
| First Name: | Tony T | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Aug 29th, 2007 04:07 pm |
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Gary,
Don't be afraid of having someone you don't know assigned as your sponsor. At the very least you'll meet someone new that can support you during your journey. I agree with Rick against having a significant other fill that role. When my wife went through RCIA she was assigned a sponsor, someone we'd never met before and they developed a good friendship. If you sponsor doesn't meet your expectations you'll always have "us" in this forum to fall back on 
Tony T
____________________
Do NOT be discouraged, even Moses started out as a basket case.
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bobijmac
Member
| Joined: | Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Ann Arbor, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 5 |
| First Name: | Bobbie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Salvation Army Pastor, now a lay person, "Charismatic" |
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Posted: Wed Sep 5th, 2007 07:21 pm |
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I don't know anyone at the C church where I attend mass. How do I find a sponsor???:? I plan to attend Inquiry and RCIA at the same time, so I can soak up EVERYTHING. They said it would be OK. The Inquiry leader is a Carmelite and I love all the Carmelite saints (that I know about). I have read Bro. Lawrence for years, Therese of Lisieu, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross... We love intercession and practicing the presence and I feel a real affinity there.
Former Protestant pastor.
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Bobbie
Humility is to seek out the menial job, to welcome unjust criticisms, to befriend those who annoy us, to help those who are ungrateful. --Therese of Lisieux
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Sep 6th, 2007 02:21 pm |
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bobijmac wrote: How do I find a sponsor???:?
Let your RCIA coordinator recommend someone to you, but take the time and make the effort to get to know her. Go out for coffee, take in a movie, etc. Try to develop a relationship that will continue beyond your RCIA experience. You don't need to become BFF, but at least casual friends. That way she will help ease your transition into the Church after your admittance.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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mrsbill
Member
| Joined: | Tue Dec 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | Deltona, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 39 |
| First Name: | Nora | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Lutheran & Baptist backgrounds, currently on the Road to Rome! |
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Posted: Tue Sep 11th, 2007 08:49 pm |
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I absolutely recommend against having a sponsor who is a spouse or "significant other". Your sponsor should be someone you can speak with confidentially, and you may well want to reveal things you have not told your spouse. In addition, your wife is already involved in your faith journey; a sponsor should be someone else who can share their faith with you. You end up with two prayer partners instead of just one.
Really?!? I was kind of hoping my husband could be my sponsor. He has been such a strong guidance to me thus far in my journey, and has a strong grasp on Catholicism (and certainly one of the most Godly men that I know), and he is by far my best friend in this world and there is absolutely nothing I would reveal to another person that I wouldn't reveal to him. He has been there from day one, when I first became interested in making this leap. The past year we have spent studying the RCC together has been great. I am not all that comfortable talking to new people (well, I do OK, on a board like this, just not face to face) and there is NO WAY I would share anything personal about myself with someone I don't know (or have just met). Would you really recommend against him being my sponsor that strongly?
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Racaela Fultz
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 146 |
| First Name: | Racaela | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Nondenominational, will be Catholic Advent 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Sep 11th, 2007 09:09 pm |
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If I'm a candidate, do I still need a sponser? I'm not even doing RCIA - I'm getting private instruction for anything I don't yet know. I'll be joining at Easter Vigil Mass, recieving confirmation and first communion. So, do I need a sponser?
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"To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant" - Cardinal Newman
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 01:49 pm |
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mrsbill wrote: I absolutely recommend against having a sponsor who is a spouse or "significant other".
Would you really recommend against him being my sponsor that strongly?
Yes. If your relationship with your husband is that good and he can share your faith walk with you, you will end up with two "sponsors", the one who will present you to the congregation, and the one you're married to. Sometimes your spouse can know you too intimately to be an effective sponsor, and sometimes you need objective advise that your spouse can't give you. It just works better all around.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 01:53 pm |
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Racaela Fultz wrote: If I'm a candidate, do I still need a sponser? I'm not even doing RCIA - I'm getting private instruction for anything I don't yet know. I'll be joining at Easter Vigil Mass, recieving confirmation and first communion. So, do I need a sponser?
Yes, you need a sponsor for confirmation.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Racaela Fultz
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 146 |
| First Name: | Racaela | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Nondenominational, will be Catholic Advent 2007 |
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 03:35 pm |
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Good, I was hoping so, because I have one in mind.
____________________
"To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant" - Cardinal Newman
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tcvaughn
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Freedom, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 7 |
| First Name: | Tom | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Atheist; Episcopalian; Non-denominational; Charismatic Episcopalian; RCIA |
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Posted: Sat Sep 29th, 2007 05:31 pm |
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I started RCIA in June in California, but am now moving to Pennsylvania, and will be continuing instruction here. So far, no one has really explained the purpose of the sponsor. Can someone please tell what the function and responsibilities are for a sponsor?
Thanks.:?
Tom
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Tom
I am a very old man and my memory has gone. But I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Jesus is a great saviour. - John Newton
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun Sep 30th, 2007 02:38 am |
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tcvaughn wrote: I started RCIA in June in California, but am now moving to Pennsylvania, and will be continuing instruction here. So far, no one has really explained the purpose of the sponsor. Can someone please tell what the function and responsibilities are for a sponsor?
Welcome, Tom.
The sponsor's primary responsibility is to recommend you to the congregation for admission into the Church. It is their job to walk your faith journey with you, and to help the team decide whether to recommend you for acceptance. They take you to parish functions, talk with you and pray with you, recommend you to the bishop at the Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion, and stand with you when you are baptized and/or confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Hopefully, your sponsor will become your friend.
It is also their responsibility to help you to understand things you've missed, and to inform your catechists if part of your faith development is lacking.
If you don't know somone in your new parish, your catechists can recommend someone to stand as your sponsor either temporarily or permanently. If you and your sponsor are not a good fit you can ask for a change.
I hope that clarifies it for you. Please let us know if you have any more questions.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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tcvaughn
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Freedom, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 7 |
| First Name: | Tom | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Atheist; Episcopalian; Non-denominational; Charismatic Episcopalian; RCIA |
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Posted: Sun Sep 30th, 2007 10:43 am |
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Rick,
Thank you for the information. I have a choice of several RCIA programs in the area, and shortly will be choosing one in which to participate. When I decide, I will probably speak with co-ordinator and ask for someone to be assigned.
My wife and daughter are still in California until our house there is sold and they can move here to PA with me. We would all like to be received into the Church together. That is something else I will have to work out with the local co-ordinator and priest(s) as well.
Again, thanks for your help, and I will try to hang out a bit more here on CHN. I faithfully watch and/or listen (via podcast) to "The Journey Home" on EWTN. It has been a great blessing both to me and my wife. I anticipate that this forum will be just as great a blessing.
____________________
Tom
I am a very old man and my memory has gone. But I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Jesus is a great saviour. - John Newton
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garyb444
Member
| Joined: | Tue Aug 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sacramento, California USA |
| Posts: | 20 |
| First Name: | Gary | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Episcopal, Fundamentalist, SDA, Eastern/New Age/Spiritualism, to Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2007 03:28 pm |
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CajunRick wrote: mrsbill wrote: I absolutely recommend against having a sponsor who is a spouse or "significant other".
Would you really recommend against him being my sponsor that strongly?
Yes. If your relationship with your husband is that good and he can share your faith walk with you, you will end up with two "sponsors", the one who will present you to the congregation, and the one you're married to. Sometimes your spouse can know you too intimately to be an effective sponsor, and sometimes you need objective advise that your spouse can't give you. It just works better all around.
Initially I was looking for a sponsor other than my spouse, because she wasn't sure if she wanted that role. But we've talked a lot since then, and she wants to be my sponsor. I relate a lot with Nora, because my spouse and I have tremendous respect for each other and there is very little I wouldn't share with her.
In my parish, spousal sponsors are encouraged - there are at least 4-5 other couples where one is sponsoring the other. And I've met a number of men who are there for support (they've all already gone through RCIA), and I am forming friendships with them, so I definitely have someone other than my spouse to talk to if needed.
Perhaps it's not the wisest choice for everyone, but in my particular situation, I think it will work out just fine. It is bringing us a lot of joy looking forward to this journey together.
Gary
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