Catechumen:  A person who has never been Baptized in any Christian faith.

                        Candidate:  A person who has been Baptized in the Christian faith (either
                                             Catholic or Protestant) and intends to join the Catholic Church.
                                             The Catholic Church recognizes all Christian Baptisms and
                                             therefore will not re-Baptize individuals that decide to enter
                                             the Catholic Church.

Confirmation Candidate:  A person who has been Baptized and received First Eucharist
                                             (first Communion)  in the Catholic Church and wishes to
                                             complete their initiation by receiving the Sacrament of
                                             Confirmation.

                            Sponsor:  A Catholic who journeys through the RCIA process with a
                                             Catechumen or Candidate.  They are not necessarily experts on
                                             Catholic teachings.  First and foremost, they should be a friend to
                                             the Catechumen or Candidate.  They are asked to attend RCIA
                                             functions along with their Catechumen or Candidate.  A sponsor
                                             is someone with whom the Catechumen or Candidate feels
                                             comfortable discussing their own faith journey as well as
                                             matters that pertain to the RCIA.

                        Godparent: A practicing Catholic chosen by the Catechumen to stand as
                                             a witness to the spiritual growth and morals of the Catechumen.
                                             A Godparent can be the same person as whom sponsored the
                                             Catechumen during the RCIA process.  At least one Godparent
                                             must be chosen before the Easter Vigil.