What is an OCIA Sponsor? Sponsors offer a welcoming presence and a familiar companionship that assists and encourages the Catechumen (a person seeking to become baptized member of the Catholic Church) or Candidate (a baptized Christian seeking full communion with the Catholic Church) through the various steps of the OCIA experience. They may participate with the person they are sponsoring in some of the catechetical sessions, and they stand with the person they are sponsoring at the various liturgical rites. Most importantly, they provide a listening ear, an encouraging heart, spiritual support and a prayerful presence.
Being an OCIA sponsor is both an opportunity to share your faith with others and an opportunity to deepen your own experience of faith. Sponsors do not have to be “teachers” of the Catholic faith. They do have to be fully-initiated Catholics (received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) who would like to be a companion to someone who is becoming Catholic.
We are blessed to be preparing to welcome a number of new Catholics into the Church this Easter season! Please prayerfully consider this invitation to become an OCIA sponsor – the experience may prove to be as inspiring and fulfilling to you as it will undoubtedly be to the Catechumen or Candidate you sponsor! If you are interested or would like more information, please contact our OCIA Team at OCIA@sjspwellesley.org