Maintaining good records can be beneficial in a variety of ways. People sometimes have a need to consult important paperwork, such as birth certificates, social security cards and mortgage contracts, and the ability to organize such documents effectively can make it easier to handle those situations when these records are needed. Important documents should be kept in a safe, easily accessible place, and the same can be said for educational documents and religious certificates.
Parents need to access their kids’ records during Communion and Confirmation season. Completing early sacraments is often a prerequisite to participating in those that come later in life. Catholic children who do not attend a Catholic school will need to be enrolled in faith formation classes in order to receive Holy Communion or to be confirmed in the church. In addition, they will need to provide proof that they are practicing members of the faith.
For example, many churches and religious educational organizations require copies of baptismal certificates for children to be eligible to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation. These same certificates may be necessary later in life as well, most notably when men and women want to get married in a church.
Parents may want to store their kids’ religious documents in a folder. This makes it easier when kids become adults and must prove that they have completed the sacraments. Keep these items in a secure place, such as a home safe or in a safety deposit box. If these documents are lost and need to be replaced, it can take time to contact the parish or church where sacraments took place.
Godparents or those serving as Confirmation sponsors may also need to produce certain documents. Churches typically require documentation from godparents and sponsors to verify that they are practicing members of the faith and will guide the children they are sponsoring accordingly. Sponsors may find they will need to provide a letter from a pastor or priest verifying their attendance at church and status as an active participant. Copies of sacramental certificates may also be required. Knowing these requirements in advance helps everyone participating in sacraments to be prepared for what is expected of them during this religious journey.