Last night I was asked to be a sponsor for a candidate in our RCIA program at church.  I am overjoyed at the opportunity.  This is something I have prayed about for the past 4 months and was very thankful when I was asked.  After returning home I had some time to think about it and was suddenly overwhelmed with the idea.  While my journey to the Church has been a long one, I was just confirmed this past year.  I know that God is leading me to this though and will provide the tools I need through His Grace.  A friend asked me what I thought was the biggest challenge and reward to being a good sponsor.  I thought about it for a minute and responded, “A constant life of prayer is both the greatest challenge and reward.”  I am an analytical thinker, but this is a situation when my own thought process is not what I should trust.  I must go to God and let His grace work through me as He sees fit.  I’ll be praying for the candidates, the other sponsors, and the entire RCIA team daily.  What a great gift we receive when we are given the opportunity to share our faith in such a personal manner.  May God work through us and the candidates lives through this year.  May we all grow in faith, compassion and understanding as we make this walk together.

A Prayer for Sponsors of the RCIA

God of all ages, you send out your Spirit to touch the hearts of people
so that they may believe in You and in Jesus, whom You sent.

Look kindly on all catechumens and candidates, as they listen to your voice.

Open their hearts to your Spirit and bring to fulfillment
the good work you have begun in them.

As I reach out to welcome new members into the church,
make me an instrument of your love.

Teach me to revere what is holy in others,
and to be patient with what I do not understand.

Deepen my faith in the gospel, and help me to pass it on by good example.

With those who are hesitant or afraid, let me be a source of encouragement.

And with those who are weak, let me be a pillar of strength.

I humbly accept the ministry of sponsor
and pray that you will continue to guide me
and sustain me in welcoming new members into your household.

I praise you through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

I found this prayer found at St John LaLande Church’s website.