“I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.(LK 3:16) Within the liturgical formality of the Sacrament of Baptism we are granted exceptions from the form due to circumstances. Several times over the years I’ve been called by a local hospital to baptize a newborn whose physical condition is precarious. Using precious little water—and at times an eyedropper—I baptized the vulnerable newborn with holy water, three times dropping a minute portion of water on the forehead with the Trinitarian prayer. On the opposite end of life, I have been called to a care center at the bequest of a sincere Catholic resident who strongly desired his roommate to be baptized. His roommate’s health was declining to the point he was no longer cognizant. He was persistent—the Catholic resident—in fact, insistent that his roommate at one time agreed to the Sacrament. For the Sacrament to take place, the family had to be notified to receive their permission. On a weekday evening, the room partially darkened and the good Catholic resident seated next to his roommate’s bedside, the baptism took place. As the ‘godparent’ the resident placed a Scapular on his roommate’s chest. A day or two later the roommate died. One encounter concerning baptism I was not prepared for. In the first parish I served as associate pastor in Sioux City, greeting individuals after Mass, a woman came up to me with a sincere question. Her young daughter was baptized a few years back and now the mother was concerned about one of the godparents. Apparently the godparent in question was leading a life that was—in the mother’s eyes—not conducive to a moral lifestyle and certainly not a good mentor for her daughter. So her question that I was unable to answer immediately: “Could she pick a different godparent for her daughter to be recorded officially in the church records?” When I was informed that the official information recorded in the Sacramental Records could not be changed, the mother decided to choose another godparent for her child whom would remain an active part of the family’s lives. For many of us our godparents are no longer living. But from time to time it is good to reflect back on their character and how indeed they have affected our faith and ‘belonging’ to the Christian community. Grandma Wingert and Uncle Joe, my godparents, have long since died but in some manner their presence and character has had an affect on my life though I may not fully understand. Katie Tejada, a Catholic author and consultant, rightly reminds us, “the godparent-godchild relationship is one that has the potential to be life-giving and transformative for both the child and you.” Katie goes on to reflect on the role of a Catholic godparent from her perspective as a mother and a godparent. “Of all of the beautiful relationships in life, there is something about the one between a godparent and godchild that is especially tender. Unlike family relationships, it’s a bond that doesn’t depend on biology. Oftentimes aunts, uncles, and cousins serve as godparents, but family friends or respected members of one’s faith community can fill the role just as well. Finally, the godchild-godparent relationship is one that is centered entirely on faith. The explicit purpose of godparents, as stated in the Baptism liturgy itself, is to help the child’s parents in raising their son or daughter in the faith. It’s an honor, as well as a tremendously serious obligation. Your role as a godparent begins on the day of your godchild’s baptism, when you join their parents at the baptismal font, make a promise to help the parents in their duty as Christian parents, and recite the baptismal promises on behalf of the baby. As your godchild ages, be there for them. Many godparents choose to give their godchildren Christmas and birthday gifts (if you go this route, think about giving faith-inspired gifts, like a Nativity for Christmas or a piece of religious art), or you might make a habit of having seasonal or annual one-on-one dates with your godchild. If your respective locations don’t allow for in-person connection, consider writing your godchild a letter every year on their Baptismal anniversary or birthday. The specifics of how you choose to be involved in your godchild’s life matter less than your consistent and positive presence. Last but certainly not least, keep your godchild and their parents in your regular prayers. You can do this in whatever way suits you: light a votive candle for them at your church, call their face to mind as you say a decade of the rosary, mark their baptismal anniversary and go to daily Mass that day with them in mind, or name them in your nighttime prayers. How you pray for your godchildren doesn’t matter, so long as you do it! Being a Catholic godparent is an honor and an obligation.” And your godparents; how have they affected your character and faith, (often in ways we may not fully understand)? God Bless, Fr. Tim FYI: “The Church does not dispense the sacrament of baptism in order to acquire for herself an increase in membership but in order to consecrate a human being to God and to communicate to that person the divine gift of birth from God.” (Bars Urs Von Balthasar)