General Introduction

About St. Cyril of Jerusalem

St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish was founded in 1949. How the name of its patron was selected is explained in this excerpt from the letter written by Timothy Cardinal Manning, then Archbishop of Los Angeles, to the parish on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, “Twenty-five years ago when Jerusalem was in anguish through war and division and strife, Cardinal McIntyre wished to signify the concern of the Church for the Holy Places and for their distressed peoples. This he did by placing the new parish in the Valley under the patronage of St. Cyril of Jerusalem.’

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was born in the early part of the fourth century. While nothing is known about his early life, it is possible that his family lived in Caesarea. He became a cleric in the Church of Jerusalem and was raised to the deaconate by Macanus of Jerusalem. About 342 A.D., he was ordained priest by Bishop Maximus, famous as a confessor in the persecution of Diocletian.

Bishop Maximus died in 348 A.D. and our Saint succeeded about two years later. St. Cyril never wavered in his adherence to the orthodox and Catholic faith, for which, as the second ecumenical council observed, he suffered several times as a confessor. It appears that he played a leading role in the First Council of Constantinople in the 380’s.

St. Cyril’s fame rests on his great Lenten, pre-baptismal Catechesis, which is a plain, noble, eloquent and highly Biblical exposition of the Creed, Illustrious for his defense of the Catholic Faith and honored as a Doctor of the universal Church, St. Cyril died in Jerusalem about the year 387. His feast is celebrated on March 18th.

Mission Statement
St. Cyril of Jerusalem is a Catholic School serving pre- kindergarten through eighth grade children of the parish and Catholic community. The school provides an affordable education in a safe environment where a child can mature intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically.  The school seeks academic excellence; maximum use of its technological resources to intellectually challenge students and a high level of parent and community involvement.  Spiritual and moral values and respect for self and others are fostered, thereby enhancing the development of life skills necessary for success as a Christian adult.

School Philosophy
St. Cyril School’s faculty and staff acknowledge our Baptismal call to be positive agents who reflect the Gospel of Christ to our students.  We recognize that parents are the primary educators of their children and we strive to educate the total child in partnership with them.  We provide a challenging program that instills Catholic teachings traditions and practices.  Our Schoolwide Learning Expectations reflect this philosophy.