OT- Baptism speech!!

[Subrbnmommy]

This is completely off topic. My cousin asked my husband and I to be Godparents to his third child. Even though we were both raised Catholic, my DH & I are not religious. My cousin is more religious than us and he is aware of our religious views.
He just called me to inform me that my Husband and I have to do a speech on the significance and responsibility of being godparents.
We have no idea what to say.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you!

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

My husband is Catholic and my sister has been our chosen Godparent for our children, she never made a speech nor was it suggested to us that she should

Is this during the ceremony or at the reception they are requiring him to do this?

Our chosen Godparents just had to recite that they would help raise the children in the faith and show them moral direction

We're in the UK though, maybe it's different here?

 

[mjkacmom]

Never heard of that! For my 1st child, my sister was Godparent, a very lax Catholic. I made out a list of essay questions that I told her she had to present to the priest. She was like "you've GOT to be kidding me," but did it anyway. You should've seen her face when, before we left for the church, I ripped them up, and told her it wasn't good enough.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

Never heard of that! For my 1st child, my sister was Godparent, a very lax Catholic. I made out a list of essay questions that I told her she had to present to the priest. She was like "you've GOT to be kidding me," but did it anyway. You should've seen her face when, before we left for the church, I ripped them up, and told her it wasn't good enough.

ohh my goodness I nearly choked laughing at that

I have to say my sister was a fabulous choice for Godparent- she's the only one of the three my children see anymore and is the only one I know would actually raise them as we want rather than as other people think (despite the fact to raise my kids, my way she'd have to change alot of her own ways for them i know and trust she would)

 

[Subrbnmommy]

My husband is Catholic and my sister has been our chosen Godparent for our children, she never made a speech nor was it suggested to us that she should

Is this during the ceremony or at the reception they are requiring him to do this?

Our chosen Godparents just had to recite that they would help raise the children in the faith and show them moral direction

We're in the UK though, maybe it's different here?

We've never heard of that either and we have 4 other god kids. For the others, all we had to do was show up and buy a gift.

Never heard of that! For my 1st child, my sister was Godparent, a very lax Catholic. I made out a list of essay questions that I told her she had to present to the priest. She was like "you've GOT to be kidding me," but did it anyway. You should've seen her face when, before we left for the church, I ripped them up, and told her it wasn't good enough.

Too Funny!!!


We have no idea what to say, don't know if it's at church or reception.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

My DBF and I are Godparent's to his sister's youngest and we didn't make a speech, I don't know what I would have done if we did. I don't think it's required because there were several other baptisms going on at that same time and no one else made a speech.

But we did the same as the PPs, showed up, took pictures and bought a gift.

Hmm, I would just say how blessed you are to be this child's Godparent and you promise to the parents that you will try the best you can and to thank them for you choosing you two as it is a special honor. Or something close to that....

 

[Pumbaa_]

I went to Baptism 'orientation' class last night with my DB and DSIL

There is no speech required. Is it something they want at the after party? At the actual baptism, it is all about the priest/deacon

 

[Mrs D]

This is completely off topic. My cousin asked my husband and I to be Godparents to his third child. Even though we were both raised Catholic, my DH & I are not religious. My cousin is more religious than us and he is aware of our religious views.
He just called me to inform me that my Husband and I have to do a speech on the significance and responsibility of being godparents.
We have no idea what to say.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you!

What religion is the child being baptized into? We are Lutheran and no one has to really say anything. We do read along with the Pastor and congregation; it's basically the Nicene Creed. But that's it. I'd ask some more questions so you can be prepared.

 

[sk!mom]

If you're uncomfortable and don't know what to say, how about calling him back and declining the speech request.

or

Google it, I did and a few ideas, appropriate poems and such came up, didn't bother to read them but you could probably find something.

 

[emh1129]

All three of our children have been baptized in our Catholic church and I've never heard of such a thing. I wonder if maybe that varies from parish to parish? Or as a previous poster suggested, maybe they were planning for you to say something at the reception?

 

[TexasBee]

Another Lutheran and we *definitely* don't do that!

 

[Subrbnmommy]

I asked my cousin for more info on the speech. THe priest is his wife's godfather. So, my cousin and his wife can add elements to the ceremony (I've never heard of that either). So, as godparents they want us to say why were honored to be chosen and what we hope to accomplish.

As pp suggested I'm googling the topic.

Thanks

 

[lntsmom]

We don't even do eulogies! Why would we do a speech at a baptism? Pull out your Catechism of the Catholic church, xerox the page on baptism, and read it aloud, lol! Look for stuff by CS Lewis and CK Chesterton if you want apologetic info about baptism.

Why in the world does your family want this to be about you instead of about the actual ceremony? In reality, the godparents' only roles for as long as any of us have been alive is to represent the community...once mortality rates in pregnancy dropped to modern standards there was no need to have a back-up-parent waiting in the wings.

Are your relatives typically anal? If so, I guess I'd just humor them. However, if this all seems to be turning into a dog and pony show instead of a religious ceremony you might consider backing out!