Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation of the Catholic Church, along with Baptism and the Eucharist. It bestows the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens the faithful to be a powerful witness to God’s love and might in word and deed.  

“Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the ‘character,’ which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1304)

During confirmation, a priest or a bishop lays his hands on the candidate and anoints them with Chrism, a holy oil meant to symbolize the spreading of “the aroma of Christ” (2 Cor 2:15).

The St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish Confirmation Program prepares a young adult to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Like all parishes in the  Archdiocese of Los Angeles, we offer a Two-Year Program, which includes spiritual formation, days of prayer, retreat days, service to those in need and a fuller participation in the parish life by attending  Mass together.  

All Baptized young adults in grades 9 through 12 are invited and welcomed to attend our program, meetings and outings.  If a youth is interested in having a deeper understanding of their faith and is already Confirmed,  they are welcome to attend.  We often have social events which provide a wonderful means for our young adults to interact with one another in a fun and safe manner. We also offer the opportunity for young adults to plan appropriate events or outings, provided they are approved by our Pastor and fit the guidelines of the Archdiocese.  We take our commitment to providing a safe atmosphere for young adults very seriously and make sure all our chaperones, volunteers and helpers are  Virtus  trained and fingerprinted.  

The process of preparing for  Confirmation is a grace filled opportunity to strengthen one’s faith and learn more about the  Church and our specific community.  It is important that each teen in our parish knows they are invited and warmly accepted into our program.  

PLEASE NOTE: For those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion must be completed.

To inquire about our parish Confirmation Program contact our Confirmation/Youth Ministry Coordinator Dianne Eusebio by phone at 818.986.8234 or by email at [email protected].

I was baptized in a different Christian denomination. Do I need to be baptized again before being Confirmed?
No. Catholics acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin. If you were baptized validly in a different Evangelical Christian faith tradition, you will be received to  enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, then you will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. This is usually done during the Easter Vigil, after the completion of the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) program.
 

Didn’t I already receive the Holy Spirit during Baptism? What happens in Confirmation?

Yes, we receive the Holy Spirit during Baptism. During Confirmation, the soul of a baptized Christian is imprinted with the permanent seal that sets you apart as a Christian forever. “Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: 

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, ‘Abba! Father!’;

• it unites us more firmly to Christ; 

• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; 

• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;

• ​​​​​​​it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1303)

What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Receiving these gifts at Confirmation equips the confirmand to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ and the Gospel.