Sponsors accompany candidates and catechumen through the RCIA process in the last three phases (Catechumenate, Purification & Enlightenment, and Mystagogia).  By Church law, Sponsors need to be fully initiated themselves (Baptized, Confirmed, and Eucharist), if married, in a valid Catholic marriage, at least 16 years of age, and practicing their Faith, (weekly Mass attendance and frequent and regular reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion.  They should also be practicing Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure, and engaging in ministry and evangelization.

• Come to the 9:00 a.m. Mass with your candidate and then attend the sessions after Mass from 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

• Come to the Retreats with your Candidates ... October for the Fall Group... December and April for the Easter Group

• Accompany your Candidates through the Rites of Initiation (Rites of Welcoming, Sending and Election, three Scrutinies, Initiation)

• Attend the 2nd Interview with your Candidate

• Introduce your Candidate to other members of the Parish

• Invite your Candidate to 3 events ... a Parish Social Event, to a Spiritual or Devotional Event, and to a Service project

• Become a good friend and mentor to your candidate answering questions and becoming a bridge between the Candidate and the rest of the Parish community

RCIA Team Members include Catechists who break open the Word with Inquirers, Candidates and Catechumen. They should meet all the qualifications for RCIA Sponsors and be acquainted firsthand with the process of RCIA by having participated in it as a Candidate or Sponsor. they should prayerfully discern this ministry with the RCIA Director. They would become an RCIA Team Member by invitation of the RCIA Director .

Sponsors come every Sunday for the 9:00 a.m. Mass followed by the RCIA Session for an hour after Mass during the period of the Catechumenate (about 30 weeks for about 60 hours.) In addition, Sponsors will meet with their Candidate or Catechumen to help them learn their Catholic Prayers, and invite them to at least 3 events in the parish (Service, Devotional, and Social), attend the Retreat(s) before initiation (6 hours on a Saturday), the Pre-Election Interview, the Rite of Election at the Cathedral, all the Rites in church and the pre-Initiation Rehearsal. (About 28 hours outside of the Sunday morning sessions and the follow-up Mystagogia Sessions after Initiation). The total hours are approximately 89 hours over a 9-10 month period.  

RCIA Team Members would put in time for preparing the Breaking Open the Word Sessions plus the sessions themselves about 4-5 hours a month, occasional Team meetings, about 5 per year, and a workshop each year for a total of about 60 hours per year.

Sponsors are invited to an hour workshop during one of the regular Sunday Catechumenate sessions during which they are briefed on the Role of the Sponsor in the RCIA. Sponsors are encouraged to attend other Adult Formation and R.E. programs offered through St. Paul or the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Is there training for RCIA Team Members?

Prayer Partners

• Remember to pray for your person each week from now until Initiation Day

• Write a Prayer Support letter to your candidate welcoming her/him to the Catholic Church and tell him/her what you have specifically been doing (prayer-wise) over the past several weeks and months as they have been going through the RCIA process.