On being a godparent


You are the first catechists that the child will have.  You are to show him how to live a Christian life.  You have the primary task of overseeing his formation as a Christian, a Catholic.  You must be sure to get him to church on Sundays and Holy Days. And, all the while, while he is learning the faith, you must be deepening your own faith, your own devotion to Christ; for how can you impart your faith to another if you don’t nurture it?

Some years ago, I was honored to serve as cantor for the funeral of a deacon who’d also been a high school teacher of mine.  When I told a friend of mine that he’d passed, his response was, “He didn’t just teach me history.  He taught me to be a man”.  So, I say to you, don’t just teach your godchild the facts of the Faith, teach him to be a Christian.

And, if you need help, talk to us, to the priests and deacons.  That’s why they’re there, to help you grow.

In the Matthew 28, our Lord told the Apostles to make disciples of all nations.  And that’s what we are – disciples – students of righteousness, of truth, of Christ!  A child newly baptized is like a sponge, ready to absorb all spiritual truth.  But we adults also can absorb these truths, and we can support others in absorbing these truths – in being true disciples.

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