God calls an RCIA sponsor to walk side-by-side with one of His beloved.

This relationship is one of love, support, and encouragement.

It is built on honesty, communication, vulnerability, and trust.

A Prayer for RCIA Sponsors

God of all ages, you send out your Spirit to touch the hearts of people so that they may believe in You and in Jesus, whom You sent.

Look kindly on all catechumens and candidates as they listen to your voice.

Open their hearts to your Spirit and bring to fulfillment the good work you have begun in them.

As I reach out to welcome new members into the church, make me an instrument of your love.

Teach me to reverence what is holy in others and to be patient with what I do not understand.

Deepen my faith in the gospel and help me to pass it on by good  example.

With those who are hesitant or afraid, let me be a source of  encouragement.

And with those who are weak, let me be a pillar of strength.

I humbly seek the ministry of sponsor and, if I am able to serve, pray that you will continue to guide me and sustain me in welcoming new members into your household.

I praise you through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Let's begin your discernment with a review of the sponsor eligibility requirements:

• A sponsor is at least 16 years of age.
• A sponsor is a fully initiated and active registered parishioner in good standing at a local parish.
  • It is preferable that your sponsor is a part of our St. Francis family as it will be easier for him/her to help you become integrated into parish life here.
• If married, the sponsor’s marriage is recognized by the Church.
• A sponsor has a love for Christ and His Church.
• A sponsor models holiness, sacramental living, Christian charity, humility, and prayer.
• A sponsor has excellent communication and active listening skills.
• A sponsor is prudent and able to keep confidences.
• A sponsor strives to love others as Jesus does.
• Neither a fiancée, spouse, nor parent may serve as a sponsor for his/her loved one.

Remember, although we meet as a family, the RCIA journey is personal and specific to each brother or sister in Christ. Each will proceed at his or her own pace and continue through the process as he or she desires to do so.

We have three groups of people on the RCIA journey with us.

We call our unbaptized brothers and sisters Catechumens throughout most of their journey.

Catechumens who are ready and able to do so will receive their Sacraments at the Easter Vigil on Saturday April 3, 2021. 

We call our brothers and sisters baptized in another Christian faith, Candidates.

Candidates who are ready and able to do so will receive their Sacraments on Divine Mercy Sunday, Sunday April 11, 2021, at the 9:45am Mass. 

We also have brothers and sisters baptized Catholic on the journey with us.

Catholics who are ready and able to do so will receive their Sacraments on Pentecost, Sunday, May 23, 2021, at the 9:45am Mass. 

God calls an RCIA sponsor to walk side-by-side with one of His beloved. This relationship is one of love, support, and encouragement. It is built on honesty, communication, vulnerability, and trust. You are strength for the journey, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will be paired with a brother or sister in Christ

The RCIA calendar provides a full picture of the commitments for the entire RCIA process. We will go through each aspect of the process in more detail below. 

Please download a copy of the calendar and mark these important dates on your personal calendar. Once you know which path the brother or sister in Christ you are sponsoring is on, you will be able to eliminate some of the dates accordingly.

Beginning Thursday, August 27, 2020, and continuing through Thursday, May 20, 2021, catechumens, candidates, and Catholics on the RCIA journey and their sponsors will meet.

We will learn about the Catholic faith, learn how to live as a disciple of Christ, connect with our sponsor, and get to know others in our RCIA and parish families.

Initially we will meet virtually from 7-9pm on Thursday evenings through Zoom until the current COVID in person meeting restrictions are lifted. At that time, we will begin to meet in the center section of the great hall, refreshments will be available for breaks. See the RCIA calendar for the specific dates and times. 

Beginning October 11 and as long as the Church is not open for full attendance at Mass, we will encourage each catechumen and candidate to either attend Mass or watch Mass through YouTube or Facebook Live continuing through Sunday, March 28, 2011.When Masses become open for full attendance and resume the regular schedule then catechumens, candidates, and their sponsors will attend the 9:45am Mass. 

During this time the brother or sister in Christ you are sponsoring will sit with you and your family and you will guide and support him or her to become familiar with the Mass. See the RCIA calendar for specific dates.

If you are sponsoring a Catholic, you are not required to attend the 9:45am Mass (or another Mass) together. However, this is highly encouraged. Most Catholics on their RCIA journey with us are not very familiar with Mass and will need your support and encouragement.

When Mass becomes open for full attendance and resumes regular schedule and continuing through Thursday, April 1, 2021, catechumens and candidates on the RCIA journey will be prayerfully dismissed from the 9:45am Mass after the homily and led to the San Damiano room in the parish center for Breaking Open the Word.

Breaking Open the Word (BOW) is an opportunity to study the Scripture of the day's Mass and discuss how it connects to your life.

Until Masses are open and resumes the regular schedule BOW will be done during the Thursday sessions.

NOTE: Catholics, RCIA sponsors, and guests do not participate in Breaking Open the Word.

RCIA Fall Retreat: Saturday, October 10, 2020 9am - 3pm

Please note: You will be formally matched with the person you are sponsoring at the Fall Retreat. From that moment on, the two of you will participate in all aspects of the journey together. 

RCIA Spring Retreat: Saturday, February 13, 2021 9am - 3pm

You will participate in these important events with the person you are sponsoring.

There will be many special moments along the journey for the person you are sponsoring, and you will participate in these events with him or her.

Once you are paired up at the Fall Retreat, you will have a clearer understanding of the specifics of the journey based on the person you are sponsoring.

For example, if you are sponsoring a Catechumen, there are many, many commitments in addition to our Thursday evenings and Mass on Sunday. If you are sponsoring a Candidate, there are only a few additional commitments. If you are sponsoring a Catholic, there are rarely any additional commitments.

For now, please review the RCIA Calendar for a general understanding of what you are committing to as a sponsor. We will go over the specifics of these moments as we progress.

RCIA Fall Service Project: Sunday, November 8, 2020, 11am - 12:30pm

RCIA Spring Service Project: Sunday, January 31, 2021, 11am - 12:30pm

You and the person you are sponsoring will participate in these service projects together with the rest of our RCIA family.

Sponsor Training:

All sponsors - even those who have sponsored many times - are required to attend one training session. 

Training dates and sign up opportunities will be provided during our first few Thursday sessions.

I grant St. Francis and its employees and volunteers (i) the right to capture my likeness via photographing, filming, taping, and/or other recording whether I am aware or unaware of such activities; and (ii) the unconditional, royalty-free, and transferable right to use the foregoing, as well as my name, image, likeness, and voice, in connection with St. Francis.

I grant permission for volunteers to have access to my contact information for communication purposes.