Godparent Requirements

For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized – child or adult – on the road of Christian life. Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium). The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism. (CCC 1255).

Canonical Requirements

A godparent (also called “sponsor”) plays a pivotal role a child’s life and faith formation. Accordingly, the Church has set forth certain canonical requirements for who may serve as a godparent. A godparent must be at least 16 years of age, a practicing Catholic who has received Confirmation and First Communion, and, if married, must be married within the Catholic Church. Ideally the godparent is present at the baptism, but if this is not possible, a proxy may stand in his or her stead.Parents of the child to be baptized cannot be the child’s godparents, though grandparents, other family members, and friends are welcome serve in this role. The Church requires that each child to be baptized have at least one godparent. Two godparents are encouraged, but the Church also supplies the option that a baptized, practicing Christian of another denomination can stand in the place of a second godparent as a Christian witness.

A Catholic who is not practicing the faith is not eligible to participate as a godparent nor as a Christian witness, as this special role is designated to support the baptized in their growth and understanding of the beauty of the faith.

In the spiritual role of godparents that mirrors the role of parents, there is a place for one male and one female (i.e. there cannot be two males or two females). This applies to godparent-Christian witness pairings as well, though ultimately only one godparent is required for the baptism to take place.

Click here for more information on godparents.

Basilica of Saint Mary Requirements

The Basilica of Saint Mary’s parish office will collect and review documentation of godparent eligibility prior to your child’s baptism in order to ensure that the godparents you have selected for your child meet the canonical requirements set forth by the Church which are outlined in the section above. This documentation is due no later than two weeks before the baptism date.

The godparents and any proxies representing them must request letters or certificates of eligibility from their current parishes, to be delivered to our parish office at 313 Duke Street. This should not be confused with baptism or Confirmation certificates, which are not sufficient to prove eligibility. Photocopies (in addition to the originals in the mail) are encouraged and can be emailed to [email protected]. Parishioners of the Basilica of St. Mary should contact the parish office for this documentation.

Where a Christian witness is involved, the parish office will check to confirm in which denomination the Christian witness was baptized and currently practices. Any person who at any point in his or her life was received into the Catholic Church (either by way of baptism or profession of faith) is not eligible to serve as a Christian witness.

If you have questions or concerns about godparents, please contact the parish office at 703-836-4100, or please continue reading more here.