June 9, 2019

A Season of Celebrations
        On behalf of the parish families of Saint Alphonsus and Saint Alexis, we congratulate our young people who are celebrating graduations this year. 
        To the graduating class of Blessed Francis Seelos Academy, we are grateful to have shared a role in your education and formation in what is a life long journey of discipleship with Jesus. We recognize that the transition continues in moving from a parish program to a Diocesan regional model of leadership and governance.   We are grateful for your patience in this process and we look forward to collectively building a stronger school with a solid Catholic identity. 
     We also remember with pride our young people who are graduating from high school - the Class of 2019.  Stay close to Jesus, living the gift of the Mass and being a part of the amazing Body of Christ. Live your faith and know God’s presence and love always! (It’s not too late to register to participate in this year’s Baccalaureate Mass and luncheon that will be hosted at Saint Alexis this year.  Please call the Parish Center Office by tomorrow, Monday, June 10.) Finally, to our young people who are graduating from undergraduate studies, your years of studies at college
have in part prepared you for life and set you on a course to celebrate your God given talents and abilities. May you know not only your family’s pride, but God’s pride in your accomplishments.
     Remember that true success is found in putting God first in your life. May you trust the Lord to lead you where you can now best serve His people, knowing that you are His, and He is forever yours. May you grow into your future as an engaged member of the Church. God bless you all!

Choosing Godparents
Rather frequently, questions and controversies arise as to who may serve as a Godparent for the Sacrament of Baptism or as a Sponsor for Confirmation. As a service to all families, I would like to review the guidelines established by the Church concerning Godparent eligibility. These requirements should be
considered before the parents of a child ask anyone to be a Godparent for their son or daughter.
   · The decision as to who should be a Godparent should be based upon who would provide the best example of Catholic living for the child and not merely for reasons of friendship or to please family members. The Godparent is chosen not as an honor for the Godparent, but for the well-being and faith development of the child.
   · In order to be a Godparent for Baptism or to serve as a Sponsor for Confirmation, an individual must be a practicing Catholic, at least 16 years of age, and have received the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. If this person is married, then the marriage must be a valid, sacramental marriage (one recognized and blessed by the Catholic Church)
   · The potential Godparent must be registered in a Catholic parish and able to obtain from his or parish a letter of eligibility to be a Sponsor. 
   · Only one Godparent is required by Church (Canon)law. The Godparent may be a man or a woman. However, if two Godparents are selected (the more common practice), then there must be one man and one woman chosen. In other words, a child cannot have two men or two women serve as Godparents.
   · In extraordinary situations when two Catholic Godparents cannot be found, then one person who was baptized in another Christian denomination (i.e.
Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, etc.) may serve as a Christian Witness. However, former Catholics who have left the Church for another Christian
denomination are not permitted to serve as a Christian Witness.
Since Baptism is the foundational sacrament in the life of a Catholic, great care should be taken in deciding who serve as a Godparent. The guidelines listed
above are meant to assist parents in making a reasonable decision as to to who will fulfill this important role in their child’s life.  These requirements are That of  the universal Church (Canon Law). Therefore, individual priests are not at liberty to dispense from them.   I hope this information will be helpful in bringing clarity and understanding before asking individuals to serve as a Godparent or Sponsor for your child’s Baptism or Confirmation.   Thank you.