ADULT CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

"They spent their time learning from the Apostles, and were  like family to each other.    —Acts of the Apostles 2:42

All baptized Catholics who have received their First Communion, but have NOT received the Sacrament of Confirmation, are invited to attend these classes! Classes are held on Thursday evenings (along with those in RCIA) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Parish Office building located at 510 North El Molino Street) and on Saturday mornings (along with those in RCIA) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., (including some Masses on Sunday), from September through May (also in the Parish Office building at 510 North El Molino Street).  Click HERE for the 2023-2024 calendar.  Click HERE for a registration form (this is the same form used by those registering in RCIA).    Email the form back to Florence Goh at stcreligioused7@gmail.com. The first class for Thursday evenings will be September 14; the first class for Saturday mornings will be September 16.

Students will also need to purchase the following texts:  1) New American Bible, 2) Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the 3) *The Spiritual Gifts Handbook (*The Spiritual Gifts Handbook is available for sale in the office).

The goal of the Adult Confirmation Preparation Process is to prepare active Catholic adults to receive the Sacrament and to deepen their faith and that of the Parish community. Confirmation Candidates will share their personal stories and will more clearly identify and understand how God is working in their lives. Through this process they are then presented with opportunities to come to a deeper realization of their faith and ways to live it out in the context of the parish community. The Confirmation celebration will be Regional, meaning that at the ceremony you will be joined by candidates from other parishes in our Archdiocesan region.

The following Confirmation Guidelines are modeled on adult education principles, and encourage full and active participation of all involved.

Procedures and Requirements

A. Candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are:

  • Adults who participate in Sunday Liturgy and the sacraments. Ordinarily, such candidates should be 21 years of age and older. However, candidates who are high school graduates, but not yet 21, may be part of the Adult Confirmation process upon recommendation by their parish priest. Requests for this should be made in writing to the Regional Bishop.

  • Baptized and have received First Eucharist. Note: Candidates who were baptized in Latin America should make sure that they were not confirmed at the time of baptism.

  • Required to show proof of Baptism by submitting a recent certified copy of their baptismal certificate along with their registration form. If for some serious reason a baptismal certificate is not available, e.g., the church was destroyed, a sworn statement from a witness to the Baptism can be provided. This statement should be signed by the pastor.

  • Required to attend all sessions that are offered.

  • Encouraged to use their Baptismal name when choosing a Confirmation name—or they may choose a saint's name.

B. Guidelines for the selection of a sponsor

  • Candidates are responsible for selecting a qualified sponsor and, as requested by the catechetical team, making sure that the sponsor participates in the preparation process.

  • Only one sponsor is necessary for Confirmation. Sponsors do not have to be the same gender as the Confirmation candidate.

  • If possible, Sponsors should be one of the Baptismal godparents.

  • Sponsors may not be the father or mother of the person being confirmed (see canon 874, 1)

  • Sponsors must be at least 16 years old and already confirmed.

  • Sponsors must be active, practicing Catholics (i.e. attending Sunday Mass and receiving the sacraments on a regular basis)

C.  Parish Responsibilities

  • Candidates will be interviewed by the Pastor or his designee prior to the Preparation sessions in order to determine potential Adult Confirmation candidates.

The following topics are likely to be included in the Adult Confirmation sessions—each of which will be approximately two to two and one-half hours in length. Candidates will also take part in an Evening of Prayer or a Retreat.

  • Images of God: Scripture/Revelation

  • Jesus the Christ: Scripture

  • Church: The People of God, Church as Sacrament

  • Sacraments: Sacramentality, Sacraments of Initiation

  • Morality: Conscience Formation, Christian Decision Making

  • Sin/Reconciliation: Sacrament of Reconciliation

  • Called & Gifted: Christian Vocation, On-going Spiritual Growth, Liturgy

D.  Confirmation Follow-Up

After the Candidates are confirmed, they will meet with a parish staff member to discern their ongoing formation and participation in our Parish community.

If you would like to enroll in our Adult Confirmation Program, please contact the office at (626) 282-2744, Ext. 0.