We Filipinos regard godparents as close family members who share responsibilities and obligations to their godchildren as their own. (Aside from Catholics, some Christian denominations, Protestants, Hindus, and Jews also have godparents.)
During baptism, godparents profess faith for the godchild. They stand as sponsors. ( The term sponsor came from the Latin word ‘ spondure’ which means – to promise.) As such, their roles are not easy. They are perceived to play important roles to their godchildren. Like parents, they are spiritual guides, role models and providers of emotional ( and even financial) support.
Through the years , godparents’ roles have become minimal. May the oath/the promise that godparents take during the Sacrament of Baptism not meant to be broken…a promise to help raise a good child and treat him as family so that he will live a beautiful life with God in his heart.
Thanks for sharing this information. I havent seen my god children for many years now. They communicate with me though over facebook
Becoming godparents is indeed a commitment we confess not only before the child’s parents but also before God. Even if we are separated by distance from our godchildren, it would be good to remember them even in prayers. The only problem I guess is that if they are too many to mention and you can’t even remember them. Ha ha. Well, a general prayer may also be good. God knows.
it is really quite a life-long commitment that is why i find it amusing when some parents would pick a sister or a brother’s friend or some acquaintance to be the godparents of their children. that is why when it is my turn to pick for my son, i only chose those whom i can share my deepest, darkest secret, knowing full well that i can entrust them with my own child, too 😀
In my family, we choose our relatives as the principal sponsors (ninong/ninang) so we can be sure that our child will still see their godparents in the future.
Have a great day.
kat