St. Michael Parish or St. Mary’s Church

Sacramental Sponsorship Certificate

Please return to: Michael House

c/o Leah Grant

11 Linden Street

Exeter, NH03833

Tel: (603) 772-3916 ext. 12Fax: (603) 778-2243

Full name of child to be baptized:______

Parents’ name of child being baptized:______

Testimony of godparent/sponsor:

In accepting the responsibility of godparent/sponsor, I, ______, truthfully attest to the following qualifications: (godparent/sponsor-print your name)

Sponsor’s Address ______

Phone (_____)______

1.My vocational state of Life is: Married____ Single____

Ordained or Religious____

2.If married, I was married according to the laws of the Catholic Church.Yes____ No____

3.I am at least 16 years of age. Yes____ No____

4.I have received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in the

Catholic ChurchYes____ No____

5.I attend Mass regularly on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and

Receive the Sacraments of the Church regularly. Yes____ No____

If any of the above qualifications are marked “no” please call our Pastor, Fr. Marc at 772-2494 ext. 17. He will advise you on how to proceed to complete the necessary qualifications.

6.Statement of intent:

I understand and accept the responsibilities which I undertake as a godparent/sponsor, and I promise to

guide ______in his/her efforts to live a Catholic life that reflects

(Print Name of Godchild)

the spirit and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, and I am prepared to assist his/her parents in their duty by my support, encouragements and prayer.

______

(Signature of godparent)

Testimony of godparent’s/sponsor’s pastor:

I certify that to the best of my knowledge, this person has met all the canonical requirements of a godparent as listed on the back of this form and is ready to assume the duties and responsibilities thereof.

I am fully aware that, if all the above qualifications are not met with an affirmative answer, I am unable to sign this form.

______

(Date) (Signature of Pastor)

Name and Address of Sponsor’s Parish:

______

______Please affix Parish seal here

______

(See reverse side for Canon Law regarding this declaration)

Sacramental Sponsorship Certificate

Canon Law Requirements

From the Code of Canon Law -Canon 874

  1. To be admitted to the role of sponsor, 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 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

6-Must be a member of a Catholic Church and will need a

letter from their church stating that they are a practicing

Catholic. This letter must have their Church’s seal stamped onto the letter for it to be accepted.

7-A Proxy (someone who stand in) can take the place of the

requested Godparent if they cannot attend due to illness

or travel. Will still need the required papers from the

Godparent in order to proceed.