Request a Letter of Good Standing

We often receive requests to sign a statement that a certain individual is a practicing Catholic and eligible to serve as a Godparent, Confirmation Sponsor, or to receive some Sacrament in a Catholic Church where they are not registered. This is referred to as a Letter of Good Standing.

Unfortunately, what I sometimes notice is that the person who requests my signature:

• has not registered in our parish,

• has no record of any stewardship or involvement in the parish,

• is not known to anyone on the parish staff, or,

• has moved to another area or just arrived from another area and has no record of being involved here or there.

These issues make it impossible for me to testify to something that I am not sure is true.

Therefore, IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED AN ACTIVE PARISHIONER IN GOOD STANDING of OUR LADY OF THE GULF and would like to receive validation of this, we would need you to:

• Register, if you are not sure if you are registered, ask the parish office.

• Become involved in some parish program or activity.

• Fulfill your obligation to participate in Sunday Mass and Holy Days and either use your envelope or online giving so that your financial contribution may be tracked, and we may also send you a statement for your charitable deduction.

• If you are an adult child of parents in the parish, register yourself here, or wherever you attend Mass. Annually, we remove children 25 or older from our database.

• If you come from another parish and would like us to offer a Letter of Good Standing for you, once again, register and please bring some statement from your previous parish that you were a practicing parishioner there.

• Finally, if you move, register in the parish at your new location, and notify us that you have moved.

The purpose of these Letters of Good Standing, is to show that we value the example and commitment of godparents and sponsors, and it is hypocritical to stand up for someone when you either do not believe or practice what you profess. It would be also hypocritical of me to sign a letter stating that someone is an active and practicing Catholic if I am not sure that they are.

Finally, please note that our parish registrations are used only by our parish and the diocese. In no way do we share the information you give to us with any outside organization.