St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Parish Religious Education Program

Confirmation Preparation Guide

2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPIC PAGE

DRE Letter………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Sacrament Preparation Information………………………………….. 4

Archdiocesian Guidelines for Reception of Sacraments …….. 4

Reception of Sacraments for Catholic School Students ……… 5

Sacrament date, time, bishop and retreat …………………………. 6

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS ………………. 6

- Confirmation Data Form ………………………………………………6

- Sponsor’s Certificate of Eligibility ………………………………. 6

- Chosen Saint Paper ………………………………………………………6

- Request for Pastor’s Approval……………………………………… 7

- Confirmation Service Project ………………………………………. 7 & 8

A Body of Knowledge …………………………………………………………. 9

Teachings, Practices, Precepts of the Catholic Church ……….. 9

The Beatitudes…………………………………………………………………… 10

The Corporal Works of Mercy …………………………………………… 10

The Spiritual Works of Mercy ……………………………………………..10

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit ……………………………………….10

The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit …………………………………… 11

The Theological Virtues …………………………………………………….. 11

How to Assist Your Child with Preparation ……………………….. 11

Not the End but A New Beginning …………………………………….. 11&12

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem R.C. Church

1410 Almshouse Road; Jamison, PA 18929

Telephone: 215-343-3139

Dear Parents andGuardians,

I am delightedto welcome you to this sixth and special year in your child’s religious education. This is the year when allyour children have learned over the past 5 years culminates in confirming their Roman Catholic faith and pledging to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ forever.

It is a year focused on preparation for the receptionof the Sacrament of Confirmation through which your children will receive the Holy Spirit whom the Lord sent upon the apostles on Pentecost. Confirmation completes the grace we receive in Baptism and seals this grace through thegifts of the Holy Spirit.

This year’s curriculum has been designed using the “Confirmed in the Spirit”programfrom Loyola Press. It is a complete and flexible multicomponent sacramental preparation that invites, welcomes, and nurturesCatholic children as they grow in faith.

As parents, you must be involved throughout this year in leading and guiding your children with their religious studies and being an example of a committed Catholic. I implore you to devote the same or more time thanyou do for their extracurricular activities in their school or in the community’srecreational programs. The time you devote to their religious studies is invaluable in helping them to grow in their love and knowledge of God.

The Sacrament of Conformation is neither a rite of passage nor a milestone that signifies the end of religious education. Rather, it is a gift from God to assist the children on their life’s journey. This guide has been prepared as a resource for your use throughout the year and contains pertinent information.

Should you have questions please do not hesitate to contact your child’s catechist, our PREP staff or me.

+ May the Holy Spirit lead, guide and protect you and your family.

Deacon Joe

Deacon Joseph T. Owen, MA

Director of Religious Education

SACRAMENT PREPARATION INFORMATION

1)Archdiocese of Philadelphia Policy for the reception of sacraments;

  • A student must attend two consecutive years of Religious Education in order to be eligible to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Penance), Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.
  • Each parish within the Archdiocese prepares their own sacramental program within the guidelines promulgated by the Archdiocese.
  • Children are required to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) in the parish in which their family is registered.

2)St. Cyril of Jerusalem Policy for the reception of sacraments:

  • Children must be baptized
  • Family registration in St. Cyril of Jerusalem parish is required
  • Parents should be active participants of their Catholic faith and regularly attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
  • Students exhibiting chronic absences, lateness, or who is a persistent discipline problem may have their reception of the sacraments deferred until the following year or later.
  • Each family will receive a booklet explaining the sacraments preparation procedures.
  • Parents’ participation in the preparation process is critical and they are expected to assist their children with the preparation materials sent home as well as to attend parent meetings.
  • Preparation for the reception of a sacrament is a time of prayerful reflection and discernment. A participant’s desire to receive the sacrament is reflected in his or her positive attitude toward the preparation process. Thus proper attendance and behavior are expected.

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA GUIDELINES FOR RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENTS

  1. Reception of the Sacrament: The Sacraments of First Reconciliation (Penance), First Eucharist (Communion) and Confirmation are ordinarily to be received in one’s ownparish church. Children attending a consolidated school, regional school, a neighboring parish school or religious education program, therefore, should receive their First Penance, First Communion and Confirmation in their own parish church rather than in the church of the host parish that is providing the school facility for their Catholic Education. (Archdiocese of Philadelphia. August 14, 2006)
  2. Age for the Reception Sacrament: “The ages for reception of First Holy Communion* and Confirmation will remain at the ages currently utilized in the parish.” (Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Nov. 20. 2012.)

Therefore, the reception of the Sacrament of First Holy Communion will be in PREP Level 2 and the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be in PREP Level 6.

Catholic school students will receive the sacraments in the grade year designated by the
parish elementary school they are attending BUT the reception of the sacrament must be at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish.

*although not specified in this directive it is understood that the reception of First Penance follows mandates for First Holy Communion

CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ST. CYRIL’S PARISHIONERS ATTENDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS – To be submitted to the PREP Office no later than January 30, 2016

  1. Confirmation Data Form– to be completed by parent – provides pertinent information about the candidate, e.g. baptismal date and parish, candidates chosen confirmation name, sponsor’s information, etc.
  1. Candidate’s Baptismal Certificate (unless baptized at St. Cyril of Jerusalem)
  1. Sponsor’s Certificate of Eligibility from their current parish (unless a parishioner of St. Cyril of Jerusalem
  2. Letter of Request for Pastor’s Approval - Letter from candidate addressed to Monsignor Powell requesting to be confirmed ( see item 4 – Request for Pastor’s Approval on page 7)

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS –

  • Attend a Confirmation Retreat either at St. Cyril’son Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.ORat the Catholic School where the candidates attend.
  • All candidates and sponsors are required to attend the Confirmation practice on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

NOT REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO ST. CYRIL’S PREP OFFICE – (Follow school policy)

  • Chosen Saint Report
  • Service Project, Service Journal and Service Project Summary

2016 SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament of Confirmationwill be celebrated at St. Cyril of Jerusalem on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. The celebrant will be the Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.

Bishop McIntyre was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1992 for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and consecrated a Bishop on August 10, 2010.

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CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PREP STUDENTS

All candidates are required to complete and submit the following to the PREP office no later thanJanuary 30, 2016.

1.CONFIRMATION DATA FORM – to be completed by parent – provides pertinent information about the candidate, parents, and sponsor.

  1. SPONSOR’S CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY – a certification of the individual’s active participation in the Roman Catholic Faith and meets the following requirements to be a sponsor:
  1. Is sixteen (16) years of age
  2. Is a practicing Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation
  3. Is willing to perform the duties of a sponsor and is approved by the candidate’s parents
  4. Is not the father or mother of the candidate
  5. Is true to Church teachings and doctrines
  6. Is free from all impediments of canon law to fulfill the office of sponsor
  7. Submits a “Sponsor’s Eligibility Form” from their current parish. Note: not required if sponsor is a current parishioner of St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish.
  1. CHOSEN SAINT REPORT – each candidate must choose a confirmation name, which is usually the name of a saint. The candidate is required to identify the chosen saint, write a brief biography of the saint and give a reason for being canonized a saint and explain why this particular saint was chosen. The format for the paper is: typed, 8 1/2 x 11” white paper, Times New Roman, Font 12, double spaced, no less than 250 words. Handwritten papers will not be accepted.

Saints Resources:

-Book - - Butler’s Lives of the Saints” – Fr. Alban Butler

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  1. REQUEST FOR PASTOR’S APPROVAL –it is the right and responsibility of the pastor of a parish to assure that each candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation is eligible to receive the sacrament. As such, each candidate must submit a typed letter to the Reverend Monsignor Robert Powell stating who they are, explaining why they are eligible, what the sacrament means to them, and request the pastor’s approval to be confirmed. The letter is to be addressed to:

Reverend Monsignor Robert Powell
Pastor
St. Cyril of Jerusalem R.C. Church
1410 Almshouse Road
Jamison, PA 18929

Submit to the PREP office…do not mail.

  1. SERVICE PROJECT – As part of the preparation process, we are asking you as a parent or guardian to assist and lead your child with performing acts of service that will teach them how to do as Jesus did when he served people when he walked the earth. The learning objective is to increase their sense of empathy and their involvement in helping people who may need assistance with the routine activities of life. They will become more compassionate, caring and loving to all people as a result of serving others.

Each candidate must complete four (4) service projects of their choice. The activity should demonstrate the candidate actually helped someone in need and in some way made a difference in a person’s life. The project is not hours based or quantifiable but rather is resulted oriented.

SUGGESTED SERVICE IDEAS:

  • Participate in school related projects that benefit the less fortunate, military, homeless, etc.
  • Participate in food, clothing, and fundraising drives
  • Make gifts for orphanages, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Write cards or letters or visit a senior citizen or disabled person who is homebound
  • Volunteer at a hospital, library, nursing home, child care facility
  • Help a disabled elderly neighbor with household or outside chores
  • Participate in St. Cyril’s programs such as “Living Stations”, Vacation Bible School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word
  • Parents/Guardians should contact various organizations to seek opportunities for their children’s service project
  • Should an opportunity surface through the PREP office, e.g. “The Kolbe Fund” you will be notified of the specifics for the project.

NOT ACCEPTABLE SERVICE IDEAS:

  • Performing chores required by a parent within or about your home
  • Babysitting, mowing grass, yard work, washing cars, etc. for a fee
  • Assisting in any aspect with any type of school or community sports programs (Special Olympics excluded)
  • Assisting a sibling with homework
  • Altar server, school safety, helping teacher organize or move classroom, etc.
  • Activity performed for convenience rather than satisfy a need
  1. SERVICE PROJECT SUMMARY – each candidate will record and report on their four (4) service projects as follows.

Service Journal - The candidate is to record their experiences of performing a service project in their service journal upon completion of a project. Below are listed a few items to be included:

  • Who was served?
  • Where were they served?
  • Describe the activity and what was accomplished?
  • Did the act make the individual feel better or benefit for the act?
  • How did you feel about doing the service?
  • How would you rate the experience on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest?
  • What did you learn if anything, about the experience?

Service Project Summary – each candidate will prepare a two page summary for the four (4) service projects they completed. The paper must be typed, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12pt. and address the following points:

  • Description of the projects completed, what, when where, for who
  • How did you feel about the services you performed?
  • How has this service experience prepare you to receive confirmation?
  • How do you see service being a part of your life in the future?
  • What did this experience teach you about you?
  • What do you think God wants you to learn from this experience?

A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE…

After 5 years attending St. Cyril’s parish religious education program; parents teaching in the home; lessons taught by the catechists; and weekly participation in Sunday Mass… your children should be knowledgeable in the foundational prayers and practices of the Roman Catholic Faith.

The following are several prayers and practices your children should know:

Committed to Memorization:

  • The Sign of the Cross
  • The Lord’s Prayer
  • The Hail Mary
  • Glory be to the Father
  • Apostles Creed

CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS - the following are the teachings, practices, precepts, commandments, etc.

that a candidate for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation should be able to articulate:

THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH (rules governing Catholic behavior)

1. Participate in Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation

2. Confess our sins at least once a year

3. Receive Holy Eucharist at least once a year during the Easter season
4. Observe the days of fast and abstinence
5. Provide for the needs of the Church

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS (an outward sign instituted by God to give grace)

Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation > Sacraments of Initiation
Penance and Anointing of the sick> Sacraments of Healing
Holy Orders and Matrimony > Sacraments of Mission

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (Summary and Statement of God’s Law)

  1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
  4. Honor your father and mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

THE BEATITUDES(inspires and directs us to help others and become true followers of Jesus Christ)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

Feed the hungry Visit those in prison

Give drink to the thirsty Shelter the homeless

Clothe the naked Bury the dead

THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

Help (correct the) sinners

Teach the ignorant

Give advice to the doubtful

Comfort those who suffer

Forgive injuries. Be patient with others

Pray for the living and the dead

THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (completes and perfects the virtues of those who receive them)

WISDOM - helps us know how God wants us to live.

UNDERSTANDING - helps us be aware of all that God has taught us through Jesus, the Bible, and the Church.

KNOWLEDGE - helps us to know that God is more important than anything in life.

COUNSEL - helps us to make good decisions.

FORTITUDE- helps us to be strong when faced with problems.

PIETY - helps us to love and respect God as our Father

FEAR OF THE LORD - helps us to be filled with wonder and be thankful for all that God creates.

THE TWELVE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (are perfections the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory)

  1. Charity 4. Patience 7. Generosity 10. Modesty
  2. Joy 5. Kindness 8. Gentleness 11. Self-control
  3. Peace 6. Goodness 9. Faithfulness 12. Chastity

THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES (infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of living in a relationship with the Holy Trinity)

FAITH – thevirtue by which we believe in God and believe all He said and revealed to us

HOPE – the virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and trust in Christ’s promises

CHARITY – (aka: LOVE) the virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake and

our neighbor as ourselves.

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HOW Y0U CAN ASSIST YOUR CHILD WITH THEIR CONFIRMATION PREPARATION:

  • Participate in Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation with your family
  • Pray for your child’s spiritual growth every day
  • Be actively involved in the Confirmation preparation of your child.
  • Make PREP activities a priority over school and community extracurricular
    activities
  • Encourage your child to reflect and thoughtfully consider the decision to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
  • Be Christ like in thought, word, and deed
  • Introduce the act of praying within the household especially before and after meals, at difficult times, periods of uncertainty, times of thankfulness, etc.
  • Live a life as if everything depends on God…because it does

NOT THE END…BUT A NEW BEGINNING

This year concludesyour children’s elementary religious educationand is the beginning of their adolescent
years where they will experience life through different eyes, think in different ways, and have different experiences both good and bad. It is a time for you and for your parish to facilitate this transformation of your children and to support, encourage, and walk with them on their continued journey of life and faith. This is a time to provide an effective, meaningful and enticing teenage faith formation program.