Q: Just wondering if there needs to be a “sponsor” or “witness for the reception of a minor child? I have a child at my parish who is hoping to receive first communion, but she was baptized Episcopal. It seems that the parents make the profession of faith for the girl – or state that they wish her to be known as Catholic.
A related, but a distinct question: What about for someone in grade 8 who is baptized Methodist – and hopes to be confirmed in March this year at my parish? (I am facing this, too.) His parents are Catholic but had the child baptized UM. For the 8th grader to “become Catholic” (and be confirmed) Seems a sponsor or witness is needed – and the “confirmation Sponsor” could be the “sponsor” for their POF and “Becoming Catholic” – and the profession of faith used at the confirmation mass could be their profession of faith? (And also be their “first communion?”)
How to record in the parish baptismal register? Would both be similar to an adult in the RCIA who was baptized non-Catholic, and makes a POF – and receives catholic sacraments? Or would the baptismal register entry be different for the child under 7 than it would be for the 8th grader? (What about the sponsor line for the child under 7?)
A: Regarding the minor child, I think a sponsor would be a good idea, but there is no legislation requiring it. The reason I say this is that the sponsor at an adult rite of reception is technically the sponsor for reception, not the sponsor for confirmation, although he or she also becomes the sponsor of confirmation a few minutes later. There are then, three types of godparents/sponsors: One for baptism, one for the rite of reception, and one for confirmation. Because the minor child is being received, a sponsor for reception would be appropriate – even though confirmation will come sometime later.
Regarding the 8th grader student, no. He is old enough for the Rite of Reception. So he of his own free will presents himself in church, and the priest who receives him also confirms him. If he is in a confirmation class and wishes to be confirmed with them, the rite of reception should take place at that mass just before the confirmations. First communion follows in the course of the same mass. The 8th grader’s reception is noted in the parish register the same way as any other adult.
The same applies to the certificate. That student gets the same certificate that an adult receives when completing the rite of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church.