The role of a Godparent is to set a good Catholic example for your child and encourage your child in their faith journey. It is not an honorary title. Godparents serve a special role and must be selected carefully. It should be someone that lives their faith in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Their role is an important one throughout your child’s life.

 Are there requirements/qualifications for Godparents?
Yes. According to Canon Law:
 

1. A Godparent must be fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. This means they have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation.
 

2. They must be at least 16 years old.
 

3. They cannot be the parents of the child.
 

4. They cannot be bound by any canonical penalty. An example is that if they are married, they need to have been married in the Catholic Church or had a dispensation to get married outside the Catholic Church. They also cannot be cohabiting unless married.
 

5. They attend Mass on the weekends and Holy Days of obligation and regularly receive the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation. This also means they are registered in a parish.

 How many Godparents can I have or do I need?
You only need one Godparent. It doesn’t matter if it is male or female. If you choose two Godparents, then it needs to be a male and female that meet the requirements/qualifications for Godparents. You may not have more than that in the baptismal registry.

Can a divorced person be a Godparent?
Yes, they can as long as they are in good standing with the Catholic Church. To be in good standing they cannot be remarried, or in a serious relationship, unless the previous marriage has been granted an annulment.

 Does a Godparent become the legal guardian if something happens to the parents?
There is a difference between church and state. A Godparent agrees to guide your child in their faith journey. Parents, through a will or other legal means, appoint a “legal guardian” who would take care of your children if you should die.

 What is a Proxy?
A proxy is someone that stands in for a Godparent that is unable to be present at the Baptism ceremony. The proxy will only be noted in the baptismal registry and not on the certificate.
 
What if, later in our child’s life, the Godparents are no longer qualified as Godparents? Can we take them off the baptismal certificate?
The certificate is a record of what took place so the information cannot be changed. You may wish to have some else support your child in their faith journey, but records do not change.

Please contact the people you choose to be Godparents as soon as possible, and ask them to get a letter of good standing from their parish signed by the pastor to be sent to St. Francis de Sales parish office. This letter must be received before the Baptism can take place. If you have any questions, please contact the parish office.