St. Francis of Assisi

Parish

  • Home
    • Meet Our Pastor & Team
    • Letters of Good Standing
    • Sacraments
    • Bulletins
    • Annual Reports
    • Parish Pastoral Plan
    • Contact Us
  • I’m New
    • Join Our Parish
    • Stewardship
    • Becoming Catholic
    • Career Opportunities
  • Sign Up Forms
  • Serve
    • Gifts-Works
    • Service
      • Food Drives
      • Shelter Programs
      • Sustainable Garden
      • Gardening & Grounds
      • Jail & Prison Ministry
      • St. Vincent Service Ministry
      • Support Ministries
    • Advocacy
      • Racial Justice
        • Martin Luther King Day
      • Immigration
      • Help for Moms
      • Pro-Life Advocacy
      • Faithful Citizenship
      • Sustainability Project
    • Support Ministries
    • Career Opportunities
  • Giving
    • Online Donation
    • Assisi Center
    • Contribution Statements
  • Parish School
  • Religious Education
    • First Communion Sacramental Prep
    • First Reconciliation
    • Confirmation
    • Classes PreK-8
      • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
    • Vacation Bible School
  • Music & Worship
    • Worship Schedule
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Music Ministry
  • Adult Faith Formation
    • Becoming Catholic
    • Bible Study
    • Current Events
  • Fellowship
    • Small Groups
    • Women’s Faith & Fellowship
    • Men’s Ministry
    • Mom’s Ministry
    • Senior Citizens
  • Service
    • Support Ministries
      • Homebound Ministry
      • Stephen Ministry
      • Help For Moms
        • Pro-Life Advocacy
      • Elizabeth Ministry
      • Tax Help
    • Help For Moms
    • Food Drives
    • Shelter Programs
    • St. Vincent Service Ministry
      • Donations of any items
      • Gardening & Grounds
      • Sustainable Garden
      • Advent Giving Tree & Christmas Re-Gift Box
    • Jail & Prison Ministry
    • Advent Giving Tree & Christmas Gifts
  • Life & Justice
    • Peace & Justice Articles
      • Sustainability Project
    • Pro-Life Advocacy
      • Help For Moms
      • Life
    • Racial Justice
      • Martin Luther King Day
    • Immigration
    • Donations & Almsgiving
      • Lenten Almsgiving
  • Pilgrimages
You are here: Home / Sponsors

Sponsors

What is an RCIA Sponsor?

The tradition of the Church is a living one; it presumes that Catholics, who desire to accept the humbling invitation to become sponsors, live the tradition that they would hand on to others. In an effort to integrate this tradition into the life of prospective church members, sponsors reach out with love and support to provide the seedbed for transformed lives.

An RCIA Sponsor is a Companion
You accompany a person in a proactive sense; you enhance the journey. As one who is walking the Catholic way of life, you help the candidate better understand where they are on their own journey.

An RCIA Sponsor is a Guide
The Holy Spirit is the first and most effective guide in the process. However, you are a type of “veteran” in that you have walked the walk. You have walked the path of the Catholic way of life and are familiar with the territory.

An RCIA Sponsor is a Representative of the Parish Community
Whether you sit with them at Sunday Mass, participate in a service activity together, or just meet at Coffee & Donuts and introduce them to a few other parishioners you know, you are the person who connects the candidate to the parish. You are the friendly face of the parish.

An RCIA sponsor is a Witness
In the 1st Century Church, if someone wanted to join, a community member had to bring the person forward and testify as to that individual’s sincerity and good intention. At St. Francis we do this symbolically at the Rite of Acceptance where the candidate is led into the church and presented by the sponsor. Since the sponsor spends time with their candidate and gets to know them, they are called upon to offer input as to the readiness of the candidate for the next step in the process.

An RCIA Sponsor is a Mentor
Catechumens and candidates learn what being a Catholic Christian is all about from many people, but mostly from their sponsors. The constant challenge for a sponsor is to be open to growth in faith and to putting into practice what that faith means. Nobody expects you to be perfect. A sponsor who can admit his or her limitations and who continually tries to grow is an excellent model. You are not responsible for imparting the teachings of the Church so do not worry if you don’t have all the answers.

Not everyone is gifted in being a sponsor; if you are unsure, the RCIA Director can guide you in assessing your qualifications for this ministry. Build confidence that the way you live your faith can be a positive influence on others. Most importantly, rely on the help of the Holy Spirit.

Being a RCIA Sponsor is a Rewarding and Grace-filled Experience!
Don’t be surprised if you feel like a new Catholic yourself when the time for initiation arrives. If you are a practicing, confirmed Catholic and would like to become a sponsor please contact Kelly Hernandez at khernandez@stfrancisa2.org or 821-2122.

CONTACT US

BULLETIN

MASS TIMES

SIGN UP FORMS

CALENDAR

MAP DIRECTIONS

© Copyright St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Ann Arbor, Michigan · Powered by 501Websites · LOGIN