23 people attended.
Sponsorship is a critical element of Via de Cristo, and does not end when you drop off or pick up your candidate. The process of sponsorship begins long before a candidate even gets asked: first with prayer, then with connection. You should have already begun making and being a friend before that friend can be brought to Christ and then a Via de Cristo.
While sponsorship for a candidate includes other responsibilities like planning transportation, providing for personal comforts, and palanca, the focus of sponsorship is creating and sustaining a relationship. That is ultimately what builds community. Just gathering participants in order to have a larger group misses the point.
In considering a candidate for the weekend, use the resources provided by your secretariat. Talk to members of your secretariat and your spiritual leaders if you have any questions about whether your friend is ready to experience a Via de Cristo retreat. If the answer is yes, help mentor them beyond their weekend. Serve with them. Group with them. Be there for that person as they navigate their role in the 4th Day.
Blog post by Tracy Baker
