Requesting 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 we sometimes notice is that the person who requests a signature:

• is not registered in our parish,
• has no record of any stewardship or involvement in the parish either at all or for an extended period,
• 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 the pastor to testify to something that he is not sure is true.

Therefore, if you need a letter of good standing testifying that you are considered an active parishioner in good standing of St. Richard, we will need you to:

• Register at St. Richard, if you are not sure if you are registered, ask the parish office.
• Fulfill your obligation to participate in Sunday Mass and Holy Days. So, we know you are attending kindly either use your envelope or online givingthat way we may also send you a statement for your charitable deduction. It can be anything, just let us know you are here.
• Become involved in some parish program or activity.
• If you are an adult child of parents in the parish, register yourself, 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, please register and either bring some statement from your previous parish that you were a practicing parishioner there or just share their information with us so we can call them.
• 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 us to sign a letter stating that someone is an active and practicing Catholic if we are 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.