ANNULMENTS

Persons who are divorced & who have a desire to find out the status of their former marriage in relation to their membership in the church are highly encouraged to consider a confidential conversation with Fr. Neil    

Call to make an appointment

440-734-2414

BAPTISMAL SPONSORS

A child who is to be baptized is to be given a sponsor (godparent) who, together with the parents, is to present the child at Baptism and help the child lead a Christian life.

1.  Only one sponsor is necessary.  If there are two, one must male and the other female.

2.  A sponsor must have completed the 16th year, be a baptized Catholic who is confirmed and has received the Eucharist.  A sponsor must lead a life in harmony with the faith, be registered in a Parish, participate in Mass weekly and receive the Sacraments regularly.  If married, the marriage must be recognized as valid in the Catholic Church.

3.  A Baptized Christian of another faith may substitute for one of the sponsors as a Christian witness as long as their is one Catholic sponsor.

4.  A Catholic who has joined another religion may not act as a sponsor.

5.  A Catholic who is not practicing her/his faith may not act as a sponsor.

Sponsors, unless St. Clarence Parishioners, are to obtain a letter of recommendation to be Sponsor, and submit it to your office at least one week prior to the date of Baptism.

CONFIRMATION SPONSORS

Sponsors at Confirmation represent the believing Catholic Christian Community.  Thus it is required that they be practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church, who have themselves received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation and have reached the age of 16, and are not the father or the mother of the one receiving the sacrament.

If they are married, they must have been validly married in the Church.  The Code of Canon Law states they must lead...."a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken....and will help the Confirmandi to lead a Christian life in harmony with Baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it."  The Confirmation Sponsor thus must be someone who regularly worships with a Catholic Christian Community.

The chosen Sponsor must obtain a sponsor certificate from their home parish, where they are registered and practicing members.

If you volunteer with children, you are required by the Diocese of Cleveland to receive VIRTUS (child abuse) education and awareness training.  Regardless of previous training in sexual abuse awareness and prevention, all diocesan volunteers and employees must receive and read the "Policy for the Safety of Children In Matters of Sexual Abuse" and the Standards of Conduct booklet and sign and return the forms to your Parish Office. 

Also required is a 3-hour Virtus Training session entitled "Protecting God's Children for Adults" & a one year program of bulletin updates either online or through the mail.