According to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church:

To be admitted to the role of sponsor (Godparent), a person must:

  1. Be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the one who takes their place or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing this role;
  2. Have completed the sixteenth year, unless a different age has been established by the diocesan bishop or it seems to the pastor or minister that an exception is to be made for a just cause;
  3. Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the Faith and the role to be undertaken;
  4. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;
  5. Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

Therefore, please refer to the following guidelines:

  1. Sponsors/Godparents are active, fully initiated (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) adult members of the Roman Catholic Church.
  2. They must have received the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation to be considered a Godparent. If the person you are choosing is not fully initiated, then that person can be a “Christian Witness.”
  3. They must be at least 16 years of age.
  4. Sponsors/Godparents do not have to be a couple and do not have to be married. However, if married, he or she MUST be married in the Catholic Church.
  5. Sponsors/Godparents must participate regularly at Mass and receive the sacraments. They must have a personal faith in Jesus Christ and live obediently in the values of the Gospel, as well as being a person of prayer.

When choosing a Godparent for your child, it may be helpful to consider the following questions:

  • Is this person actively practicing his or her faith? Does he or she attend Sunday Mass regularly? (If the answer is no, then the Godparent will not be able to effectively help you raise your child in the Catholic faith).
  • Will this person be able to have frequent contact with your child, to get to know your child and have an active role in your child’s faith?
  • Does this person know enough about the Catholic faith to be able to teach your child about it?

Adapted from Call To Celebrate, Harcourt Religion Publishers