10 - Question: How to translate Sponsor Couple ® ministry into Spanish?

Question: How to translate Sponsor Couple ® ministry into Spanish?         October 2009

From: Maria Covarrubias   [Director of Office of Catechesis, Diocese of San Bernardino]
Hi Cami,  The translation for sponsor couple we have used in San Bernardino is "pareja apadrinadora."  This is the closest term in Spanish that we have gotten to the meaning of the term in English…. Peace and blessings,  María  
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From: Cami J. Licea [Professional translator who works for HEB Company in San Antonio TX]
María:  Hi! Thank you for your response. Is your suggestion to always use 'pareja apadrinadora' or do you sometimes use 'padrinos'? If you're using both, are you using them interchangeably, or is there a specific instance where you use one versus the other?......Cami
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Hi Cami,  I have been reflecting a lot about these terms, and the meaning of sponsor couple in English.  They are not really padrinos - they accompany. I know that I told you previously to use "Pareja apadrinadora"  because that is what it was used by my consultant in translating some handouts for us and Fr. Rob.

Last January, when I did the training for Sponsor Couples in Spanish here in my diocese, I had to really explain what the terminology "Padrinos" meant in this case, because the this word "padrinos"  has a meaning of becoming family, commitment and closeness.

I remember that during the presentation back in January I felt more comfortable saying "pareja acompañante"  for sponsor couples. Because to me that is exactly what these couples do. They accompany couples in their journey of marriage preparation-

Also if look at the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA), the people going through this process have two different people accompany them. One is the sponsor that shares the journey with them and the Godparent that stand beside the candidate at the moment of receiving the sacraments.  So based on this. I think that the term "Sponsor Couple" in translation equal "pareja acompañante." ……     María
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María,    I’ve been researching and thinking about your suggestion regarding ‘pareja acompañante.’ I am very wary of that term since it is so often used in conjunction with things such as escort services. I discussed this with a friend of mine who is from Columbia, trying to find someone to bounce ideas off of. She agrees that ‘padrinos’ probably isn’t the best choice, but we both agreed that ‘pareja apadrinadora’ is preferable to ‘pareja acompañante.’ Another term we were considering is either ‘pareja consejera’ or ‘pareja orientadora.’    I don’t know that we’re going to come up with anything that seems absolutely perfect, but I would stay away from anything with possible negative connotations or association.   What do you think? ……  Cami
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Cami,  Taking into consideration your last comments and my catechetical perspective, I have been consulting with other people here in the office and we all agree that "pareja apadrinadora" is the best term for sponsor couples.   Peace and blessing,  María

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María, We’ll go with that then. "pareja apadrinadora".     Thank you for all your help!....  Cami