• 
¿Zo+J-ra.fori\< lx> of ClUrliltcin QoeJrine 

- ytia.*«*.! of-pa-fisW C . . . 
JO* ) ee/. As A (p&2>! 1 

MANUAL 

OF THE PARISH 

CONFRATERNITY OF 
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 



PRAYERS BEFORE MEETINGS 

Leader: In the name of the Father f and of the Son, etc. 
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and 
kindle in them the fire of Thy love. 
Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created; 

All: And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 

Leader: Let us pray. 

All: O God, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful * 
by the light of the Holy Spirit; * grant us in the same 
Spirit to be truly wise, * and ever to rejoice in His 
consolation. * Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Leader: Immaculate Mother of God, 

All: Pray for us. 

Leader: Prayer in honor of St. Pius X: 

All: O Jesus, Divine Teacher, who filled the soul of St. 
Pius * with zeal to feed Thy little ones with the bread 
of truth, * and were pleased when he revived the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine * to dispel the dark-
ness of ignorance of divine things: * grant, we pray,, 
that we may be inflamed with desire to teach others * 
and to prepare well by prayer and study. * May the 
teaching apostolate, O Lord, * through the interces-
sion of St. Pius, Pope and catechist, * be extended and 
intensified throughout the Universal Church. Amen. 
In the name of the Father -f- and of the Son, etc. 



Organization 

and 

Promotion 

of 

C C D 

Act iv i ty 

for 

Priests, 

Religious, 

Seminarians, 

and 

the Laity 

MANUAL 
OF THE 

PARISH 
CONFRATERNITY 

OF 

CHRISTIAN 
DOCTRINE 

Tenth and 

Revised Edition 

DEUS EST H 

The National Center 

CONFRATERNITY OF 

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 

N. C.W. C., Washington 5, D. C. 

For additional copies: 

CONFRATERNITY PUBLICATIONS 

508 Marshall St., Paterson 3, N. J. 



Nihil obstat: 
FRANCIS J . CONNELL, C . SS. R . 

Censor Deputatus 

Imprimatur: 
+ JAMES A . M C N U L T Y , D . D . 

Bishop of Paterson 

October 27, 1961 

TENTH AND REVISED EDITION ( C C D - 1 7 7 / l ) 

THIRD PRINTING, 1 9 6 2 

COPYRIGHT 1 9 Î 7 , 1 9 3 9 , 1 9 4 0 , 1 9 4 1 , 1 9 4 4 , 1 9 4 6 , 1 9 4 8 , 1 9 5 0 , 1 9 5 4 , 1 9 6 1 

BY THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, WASHINGTON, D. C. 

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

THE SEAL OF THE CCD 

In the insigne of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, the 
Blessed Trinity, the greatest mystery of the Christian religion, is 
represented by a cross of three colors: red, white, and blue. These 
are symbols at once of religion and of patriotism. The words 
DEUS EST have been chosen as the motto of the CCD, since faith 
in the truth of the existence of God is the primary and basic 
necessity for salvation. The book in the design represents the 
catechism, open to all who seek Christian knowledge and life. 
The insigne is the work of the artist Pierre de Chaignon la Rose, 
a noted authority on heraldry. It was executed at the request of 
the late Archbishop Edwin V. O'Hara and approved by him in 1938. 

Osackufißrf 



THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 

BISHOPS* COMMITTEE 

Most Rev. Charles P. Greco, Chairman 

Most Rev. Robert E. Lucey, S. T. D. 

Most Rev. John J. Carberry, S. T. D. 

Most Rev. Joseph P. Dougherty, D. D. 

Most Rev. Joseph M. Gilmore, S. T. D. 

Most Rev. Joseph T. McGucken, S. T. D. 

Most Rev. Sidney M. Metzger, S. T. D. 

Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D. D. 

Most Rev. William P. O'Connor, D . D . 

Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D . D . 

Most Rev. Christopher J. Weldon, D. D. 

Most Rev. John J. Wright, D . D . 

NATIONAL CENTER 

Rev. Joseph B. Collins, S. S., Director 

Rev. Francis J. Connell, C. SS. R., Censor 

Very Rev. Msgr. William J. McCoey, Assistant Director 

Rev. Russell Neighbor, Associate Director 

Rev. William B. Greenspun, C. S. P., Co-ordinator for the 

Apostolate of Good Will 

Miss Helen Quinn, Executive Secretary 

Miss Barbara Ottinger, Assistant Secretary 

MANUAL COMMITTEE: 

Rev. Joseph B. Collins, S. S., Chairman 

Most Rev. Walter W . Curtis, S. T. D„ Bridgeport 

Rt. Rev. Msgr. John K. Clarke, Los Angeles 

Rev. David J. Coffey, Providence 

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Georges Levasseur, Lafayette in Louisiana 

Rev. Raymond A. Lucker, St. Paul 

Very Rev. Msgr. William J. McCoey 

Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Wodarski, Hartford 

I I I 





CONTENTS 
PAGE 

INTRODUCTION 1 

PREFACE 4 

CHAPTER 

1 W H A T IS THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRIS-

TIAN DOCTRINE? 6 

O R G A N I Z A T I O N 

2 T H E PARISH EXECUTIVE BOARD 15 

3 T H E PARISH U N I T 2 4 

4 SUGGESTED CONSTITUTION OF THE C O N -

FRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN D O C T R I N E 

FOR A PARISH U N I T 3 3 

5 SPIRITUAL FORMATION 3 8 

ACTIVITIES 

6 FISHERS OF M E N ( H O M E VISITORS) . . . 4 7 

7 CONFRATERNITY HELPERS 5 6 

8 LAY TEACHERS 6 3 

9 SCHOOLS OF RELIGION 6 9 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF RELIGION 7 4 

HIGH SCHOOL OF RELIGION 7 8 

SUMMER SCHOOL OF RELIGION 8 1 

CORRESPONDENCE COURSES IN RELIGION . . . . 8 7 

SPECIAL CLASSES IN THE RELIGION SCHOOL . . . 9 1 

1. KINDERGARTEN OF RELIGION 9 1 

2. THE GIFTED CHILD 9 1 

3. THE BLIND OR DEAF CHILD 9 4 

4. THE RETARDED CHILD 9 6 

V 



ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM 

CHAPTER PAGE 

10 RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION CLUBS 101 

11 PARENT EDUCATORS 118 

12 APOSTOLATE OF GOOD W I L L 126 

13 T H E DIOCESAN OFFICE 145 

14 NATIONAL CENTER OF THE CONFRATER-

NITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 147 

APPENDICES 

1 INDULGENCES AND PRIVILEGES 150 

2 NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF 
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 154 

3 DOCUMENTS OF THE HOLY SEE 161 

4 CEREMONY FOR RECEPTION OF MEMBERS IN THE 
CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 169 

5 Provido sane Consilio: Decree of the Sacred 
Congregation of the Council, " O n the Better 
Care and Promotion of Catechetical Instruc-
tion," January 12, 1935 173 

CHART OF THE PARISH U N I T OF THE CONFRATERNITY 

OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE between 93 and 94 

V I 



INTRODUCTION 
BY MOST REV. CHARLES P . GRECO, D . D 

CHAIRMAN, BISHOPS' COMMITTEE, C C D 

The new, revised edition of the MANUAL OF THE PARISH 
CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE is a fitting 
tribute to the fine traditions of the past, and it marks a 
new era in the history of the Confraternity in the United 
States. A brief quarter-century ago the bishops of Amer-
ica established the National Center to assist them in pro-
moting and organizing the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine in their respective dioceses. At that time the 
late Archbishop O'Hara, whose pioneering spirit led this 
great movement, saw the need for a booklet that would 
serve as a guide for priests and others in forming and 
developing the Confraternity in the parishes throughout 
the country. Thus, the MANUAL OF THE CCD was born. 
Its growth, indicated by the ten editions and even more 
numerous reprintings, reflects the time-tested experience 
and hard-won development of the CCD in our country for 
the past twenty-five years. It has been the guide, coun-
selor, and friend of countless priests, religious, lay men, 
and lay women engaged in Confraternity work ever since. 
It has spread the message of the CCD apostolate through-
out the world. It has earned heartening commendations 
from the Holy See. In truth, the MANUAL was and still 
is the "Bible" of the Confraternity. 

This new edition of the MANUAL makes no substantial 
changes in the familiar pattern of CCD organization. It 
does, however, emphasize certain important factors for 
training lay leaders and for their spiritual formation: 
the former through the Parish Executive Board and the 
latter through the Apostleship of Prayer, official medium 
of spiritual formation in the CCD. Archbishop O'Hara 
enlarged upon the necessity of adequately trained and 

1 



spiritually vigorous workers in the Confraternity when 
he wrote: 

"Our Lord spent three years in preparing the Twelve 
Apostles. All who today would share in the apostolate 
must be prepared in doctrine and formed in spiritual moti-
vation. For the preparation of the lay apostle there must 
be: (1) instruction in the Gospel of Christ and its applica-
tion to our own social life; (2) a deepening of the sense 
of vocation to serve in the apostolate." 

The task which the Confraternity faces today is far wider 
and more insistent than it was when the first MANUAL 
appeared. The organization was a stopgap, a holding 
operation awaiting completion of the Catholic school 
system. Today our parochial schools, through shortage of 
teachers and facilities, have not kept pace with the grow-
ing Catholic population; yet the Catholic children and 
youth who are denied a Catholic education have a right 
that it be provided. This is the special work of the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine. To supply this educa-
tion, the Confraternity must bend all its efforts. It must 
establish units of well-trained teachers in efficient cate-
chetical centers. On this worthy objective of the CCD 
let me quote my predecessor, the late beloved Bishop 
Brady: 

"The excelling importance of the Confraternity can-
not be denied. No shepherd worthy of the name can 
afford to ignore or be indifferent to this tried ¡means for 
defending and increasing the faith of his flock. There are 
three groups in that flock: the children safe in the parish 
school, those without the Catholic school, and the vast 
number of adults. The CCD reaches out to embrace these 
two latter groups, whose need is great, whose souls are 
athirst. The tight little unity of these three groups in a 
splendid cause is a stout defense against the wolves that 
threaten from without." 

2 



In our emphasis on the CCD elementary and secondary 
schools we must not sell short the ever-expanding adult 
religious education through the media of discussion clubs 
and the Parent Educator program, which basically offers 
adult education to the parents. No parish can afford to 
leave uncultivated this rich ground for preparing a better-
informed and more alert laity. The excuse, "All our chil-
dren are in Catholic schools," even if literally true, can-
not equate with the leakage in our ranks due to the 
pressure of secularism and the attacks, open and veiled, 
upon the Catholic standard of morality. The very ex-
istence of the lay apostolate, which our Holy Father Pope 
John XXIII has called "almost the eighth sacrament," 
presupposes a firmly trained, even an elite, lay mentality. 
Nor must we forget those of our brethren outside the 
fold of Christ's Church. I agree with the writer of the 
paper published in proceedings of the I960 CCD Work-
shop,1 when he asks: "What is the future of the Apos-
tolate of Good Will? It is the present While we 

wait for our own' to receive full knowledge of the Faith, 
we are allowing many 'might-have-beens' to stand waiting 
at our gates." The missionary instinct of every good 
Catholic can be exercised in its fullness through the Apos-
tolate of Good Will. 

May this new edition of the MANUAL be an even more 
powerful force than the previous editions in bringing 
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to many CCD-
less places in our country and far beyond its borders. Its 
main purpose — to furnish a modern, complete, practical, 
official text on the nature, organization, and operation of 
all phases of the CCD in a parish — will then be fully 
achieved. 

1 Religious • Education through the CCD: "Future Exploration and 
Implementation of the Apostolate of Good Will" (Washington, D. C , 
Catholic University of America Press, I960), pp. 96, 101. 

3 



PREFACE 

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL 

I. The Manual of the Parish Confraternity of Chris-
tian Doctrine is designed primarily to assist the 
Parish Director in familiarizing present and po-
tential members with the details of the Confrater-
nity program. 

II. SPECIAL USES 

1. TEXT FOR A TRAINING COURSE ON THE C C D f o r 

use in parishes, schools, seminaries and other institu-
tions — to teach beginners and to train even experi-
enced workers in the nature, divisions, and operation 
of the parish unit of the C C D . When the MANUAL 
is utilized for this purpose, the prospective members, 
arranged in group formation, with text in hand, fol-
low a leader in this way: Begin to read the first 
chapter, paragraph by paragraph. After each im-
portant idea, stop and allow discussion based on 
the following points: ( l ) What does this say? 
(2) What does it mean? (3) How can it be car-
ried out? (4) What obstacles may be encountered? 
How can they be overcome? 

2. SOURCE BOOK FOR THE. C C D — its' organization 
and activities. 

The MANUAL should be known thoroughly. The 
answers to 'practical questions and problems in all 
phases of CCD operation will be found in its pages. 
The Appendix is a treasury of documents on the can-
onical foundation of the entire CCD program. It 
should be referred to constantly. 

4 



III. AUTHORIZATION 

On August 15, 1939, Bishop Edwin V. O 'Hara , Chair-
man of the Episcopal Committee of the CCD, wrote 
in the preface of the second edition: 

"This MANUAL deals almost exclusively with the work 
of the parish Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, but it 
everywhere presupposes the supervision of the work by a 
Diocesan Director appointed by the Ordinary." 

5 



Chapter 1 

WHAT IS THE CONFRATERNITY 
OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE? 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

DEFINITION AND AUTHORITY 

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine is the Church's 
official parish society devoted solely to the religious edu-
cation of all children and youth not enrolled in Catholic 
schools, and of adults, both Catholic and those outside 
the fold. It is established "in every parish by local Or-
dinaries," according to Canon 711:2: 

"Let the Ordinaries provide that the Confraternities 
of the Blessed Sacrament and of Christian Doctrine be 
established in every parish, which, when legally erected 
by the Ordinary, ipso facto are aggregated with the Arch-
confraternities erected in Rome by the Cardinal Vicar." 

NATURE 

The Confraternity is a lay organization which utilizes all 
the resources of a parish in spreading the knowledge of 

Definition and Au- Canonical Estab-
lishment 

Membership 

Motivation 

Theology of the 
Lay Apostolate 

thority 

Nature 

Eligibility 

Purpose 



Christ and His Church among those who have not the 
opportunity or privilege of complete religious education. 
It is the ideal vehicle of Catholic Action, in which every 
man and woman can participate. It embodies, by every 
test which can be applied, the essential principles of gen-
uine Catholic Action: it is official participation in the 
apostolate of the Church; it has for its objective the total 
apostolate; and it depends for its leadership on the laity. 

The heart of the CCD is the parish unit. For an over-all 
view of the organization, see the chart, Parish Unit of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, the center spread of 
this MANUAL. 

ELIGIBILITY 

Every member of the parish is eligible for enrollment in 
the CCD: men and women, the learned, the untrained; 
the adult, the child; the old, the young; the rich, the poor. 
Even with this wide membership there is no overlapping, 
no overorganization, because in each division there is a 
distinct type of activity. There is work for all, because 
it is never completed. 

PURPOSE 

The ultimate aim of the CCD is the Christianization of 
society in all its parts — the total apostolate. Its program 
of religious education emphasizes the application of re-
ligious principles to daily life at home, at school, and at 
work. Under the guidance of the priest Director, the lay 
officers and members of the parish unit are organized and 
trained to carry out the twofold purpose of the Confra-
ternity, which is identical with that of all Catholic Action, 
as pointed out by St. Pius X in the encyclical 11 Firmo 
Proposito (June 11, 1905): 

"It is plainly necessary to take part individually in a 
work so important, not only for the sanctification of our 

7 



own souls, but also in order to spread and more fully 
open out the Kingdom of God in individuals, families, 
and society, each one working according to his strength 
for his neighbor's good." 

CANONICAL ESTABLISHMENT 

1. The first and essential condition for organization of 
the parish CCD is the canonical, or legal, establishment 
of the Confraternity by decree of the Ordinary of the 
diocese, either directly, to each parish in particular, or 
generally, ordering CCD establishment throughout the 
diocese. Once this is done, the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine in the parish is aggregated ipso jure with the 
Archconfraternity in Rome and its members are eligible 
to gain the indulgences granted by the Holy See to all 
who carry on the CCD work. If, however, this canonical 
establishment is all that is done, the parish CCD is merely 
a "paper program" — ineffectual in helping the Church. 
The mind of the Church, obviously, is not only that the 
CCD be organized but that it function. 

2. Read (pp. 33-37) Suggested Constitution of the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine for a Parish Unit, upon 
which the following directives are based. 

3. Each Confraternity unit shall be designated by the 
name of the patron of the parish in which it exists. 

4. The Confraternity is not to be identified with or sub-
ordinate to any other society in the parish. The co-opera-
tion of all the societies of men, women, and youth of the 
parish should be sought by the Confraternity in carrying 
out its unified program of religious education under the 
direction of the pastor. 

MEMBERSHIP 

The only requirements for membership in the Confra-
ternity of Christian Doctrine are these: 

8 



1. Enrollment in a register of the CCD, as required for 
the gaining of the spiritual privileges and indulgences; 

2. Participation in the CCD program through personal 
work (Active or Aggregate members) or through sup-
port by prayers and financial assistance (Associate mem-
bers). (See pp. 24-25 for definition of membership.) 

3. Attendance at meetings at specified times under the 
supervision of the Director. 

MOTIVATION 

In order to master this MANUAL and thus understand the 
scope of the CCD apostolate, potential members should 
realize the absolute necessity of the Confraternity's carry-
ing out the work which has been officially assigned to it 
by the Church. Only through motivation can the will 
accept sacrifice and self-dedication. Such motivation must 
be both natural and supernatural. Each member must 
realize the dire needs of his parish and the fact that 
priests and Religious cannot do the work alone. Let him 
consider how many families or homes there are within 
the boundaries of the parish. How many souls. How 
many Catholics. How many irregular marriages. How 
many Catholic students in public schools. A potential 
lay apostle must have a sense of duty with regard to the 
practical way of loving his neighbor as himself for the 
love of God. In a word, "I am desperately needed to 
carry on the work of Christ: I am His hands, His feet, 
His eyes, His words." 

THEOLOGY OF THE LAY APOSTOLATE 

A proper understanding of the vocation to the lay apos-
tolate requires careful study of a number of separate but 
intimately related doctrines which form the basis for lay 
activity. These doctrines are: the MYSTICAL BODY OF 
CHRIST, t h e PARTICIPATION OF THE LAITY IN THE PRIEST-

9 



HOOD OF CHRIST, a n d t h e SACRAMENTAL CHARACTERS OF 

BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION — all conceived as theo-
logical principles constituting the foundation for the 
apostolate of the laity. 

No member of the Mystical Body of Christ, however 
humble his station, should be content merely to receive 
the influx of supernatural life which comes to him from 
the Divine Head; he has the mission to collaborate in 
the growth of the Church and in its spiritual activities. 

The Call to Action in the Mystical Body 

The members of the Mystical Body are united to their 
Head, who is Christ. But it is not a static union. It is an 
active, corporate union. All the members together work 
for the good of each and for the spread of the redemptive 
apostolate of the Head. This demands action. Action 
follows life. Thus wrote Pope Pius XI: 

• "The Christian life is not individual to you, but you 
must communicate it to others . . . . It is thus that you will 
exercise the apostolate to which you aspire, the apostolate 
in all its forms, by your words, your activity, your edify-
ing l i f e . . . . 1 One member should help the other. None 
can remain inactive. Each receives; each ought to give in 
his turn. Now, every Christian receives the supernatural 
life which circulates in the Body of Christ, this abundant 
life which is Christ and which He came to bring upon the 
earth. And consequently, every Christian ought to pour 
out this life upon others who do not possess it, or who 
possess it only in appearance."2 

1 Address to the Young Catholic Workers of Belgium, Aug. 26, 1933. 
Documents Catholiques, 30, p. 565. 

2 Letter to Cardinal Carejiera, Nov. 10, 1933, AAS (1934), Series II, 
1, p. 629. 

10 



The call to action in the lay apostolate, as an effect of 
membership in the Mystical Body of Christ, was sounded 
time and again by Pope Pius XII. Suffice it to quote: 

"We desire that all who claim the Church as their 
Mother should seriously consider that not only the sacred 
ministers and religious, but also other members of the 
Mystical Body of Christ as well, have the obligation to 
work hard and constantly for the upbuilding and increase 
of the Body."3 

The Priesthood of the Laity 

The permanent character of the priesthood of Christ and 
the exalted nature of the special priesthood of ordained 
ministers in the Church do not preclude the existence of 
a true priesthood of the laity in the particular sense of 
an active lay participation in the priesthood of Christ. 
Such participation follows from the doctrine of the Mys-
tical Body, since lay Christians are members of Christ 
the Priest. 

This lay participation in the priesthood of Christ is a true 
activity in that it is directed to divine ~ worship in the 
Church, especially the great liturgical action of the Mass. 
Here is as real a participation (though of a different 
order of reality) as that of the ordained priesthood. 
Here the laity are actual co-sharers with the ordained 
priest in offering and gaining the fruits of the Holy 
Sacrifice. The participation is limited to divine worship; 
to claim more is not warranted. Nevertheless, the doc-
trine of their common priesthood with that of Christ in 
His Mystical Body does add tremendous stature to the 
Christian lay man and lay woman; and it affords a power-
ful and stimulating motivation for the lay apostle in all 
forms of his activity. 

3 Mystici Corporis, No. 98. 

11 



The Characters of Baptism and Confirmation 

The characters of Baptism and Confirmation imprinted 
on the soul make each recipient a partaker in the priest-
hood of Christ, and assign to each some measure of the 
apostolic task of bringing the Faith and the grace of 
Christ both to those within and to those without the 
fold — always, of course, under the leadership and guid-
ance of the Popes and bishops. 

The sacramental character or seal brings about the de-
grees of membership in Christ's Mystical Body: for the 
baptized, initiation into the spiritual life; for the con-
firmed, maturity to perform apostolic actions; for those 
receiving Holy Orders, ordination to acts of the official 
ministry. It thus determines how far one can participate 
in the life and functions of the Mystical Body, and con-
sequently in the priesthood of Christ. It may be said, 
therefore, that in a certain sense the sacramental char-
acter of Confirmation correlates and reassembles the basic 
elements of the lay apostolate. In other words, through 
membership in the Mystical Body, the lay man participates 
in the priestly work of Christ by means of the characters 
of Baptism and Confirmation — the former for liturgical 
worship and the latter for Catholic Action in the lay 
apostolate. Thus armed with a twofold spiritual power, 
the militant Christian, through the Holy Spirit coming 
to him in Confirmation, is made a lively witness of the 
faith of Christ, a CHRIST-BEARER with the good news of 
salvation. 

The Apostolate of the Laity 

It was with this thought of the apostolate of the laity 
in mind that St. Peter wrote to the lay members of the 
Church, "You are a kingly priesthood." And it was on 
the basis of the same doctrine that Pope Pius XI sum-
moned the laity of the Church to Catholic Action. 

12 



The word "apostolate" comes from "apostle" — one who 
is sent, one who has a mission, a definite work to per-
form. Thus, Christ our Lord gave to the twelve men 
whom He had chosen a mission to teach all nations and 
to spread His Kingdom throughout the world. In a true 
sense, Christ at His Incarnation took upon Himself from 
His heavenly Father the mission to redeem the world. 
It was a participation in His own divine mission that 
Christ entrusted to the Apostles. 

The work of the lay apostolate has continued to exist 
in the Church throughout the centuries to the present 
time. The hierarchy of the Church, carrying out the mis-
sion given to the Apostles, the Pope, bishops, and priests, 
cannot by themselves do all the work for souls. They 
must have the help of the laity. We thus arrive at a 
workable definition of the lay apostolate: the activity of 
lay men and lay women who are called upon by the 
hierarchy to help in the mission for souls which Christ 
gave to His Church. 

One could observe that the definition given above for the 
lay apostolate applies also to Catholic Action. This is, 
as we shall see, correct. The classic definition of Cath-
olic Action given by Pope Pius XI is "the participation 
of the laity in the apostolate of the hierarchy." In this 
general sense, it is correct to say that the lay apostolate 
and Catholic Action are identical; or more precisely, that 
Catholic Action is a form of the lay apostolate. 

Corollary: The CCD and the Lay Apostolate 

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine occupies a defi-
nite place in the apostolate of the laity. This can be 
gathered from the teaching of Pope Pius XII on the sub-
ject. The special field of the CCD is the teaching of 
religion. For this task it was established in the sixteenth 
century. Since its first beginning in Rome in 1560, it 
has been a lay organization. St. Pius V approved it in 

13 



1581, and gave it the status of a mission mandated or 
commanded by the Church. St. Pius X, in 1905, ordered 
that it be established in every parish; this directive is 
Canon 711:2 of the Code of Canon Law. To exercise 
its apostolate, the CCD must be canonically erected by 
the bishop in his diocese. It is, therefore, a lay organiza-
tion officially mandated to assist the bishops and pastors 
in their work of teaching religion in the special fields 
reserved for Confraternity activity. 

Similarly, the CCD is Catholic Action: "the participation 
of the laity in the apostolate of the hierarchy." In his 
address to the Second World Congress of the Lay Apos-
tolate,4 Pius XII pointed out the nature of Catholic Ac-
tion as capable of embracing all those lay activities which 
enjoy the mandate of the hierarchy to collaborate in its 
mission. The CCD is Catholic Action, therefore, the mo-
ment the bishop establishes it in his diocese. In virtue 
of its nature as a mandated organization in every parish, 
and furthermore, because of the national Bishops' Com-
mittee of the CCD with its approval of the CCD pro-
gram, the CCD in the United States is in a strict sense 
an apostolate of the laity in the form of Catholic Action. 
The members of the CCD, when spiritually trained and 
formed for their apostolate of teaching, are apostles in 
that great movement of lay action which began with the 
first collaborators of the Twelve in the work of fulfilling 
the mission given to them by Christ. 

4 Guiding Principles of the Lay Apostolate: Address of Pope Pius XII 
to the Second World Congress of the Lay Apostolate, October 5, 1957 
(Washington, National Catholic Welfare Conference). 

14 



ORGANIZATION 

THE 
PARISH EXECUTIVE BOARD 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

The organization of a Parish Executive Board is of vital 
importance for a thriving, apostolic CCD unit. There-
fore, the Parish Director will carefully select potential 
members for indoctrination and training and the eventual 
formation of a board. This board will consist of: 

The priest Director and ten lay leaders: 

Officers — President, Vice-pres ident , Secretary, 

Chairmen of — Teachers, Fishers, Helpers, Discus-
sion Clubs, Parent Educators , and 
Apostles of Good Will 

These members must work together as a team to give 
permanence and continuity to the parish CCD program. 

Chapter 2 

Nature 

Purpose 

Function 

Duties of Officers 

Term of Office 

Training 

Meetings 

NATURE 

Treasurer 

15 



A parish unit cannot endure or produce the spiritual fruit 
to be expected from its six-point program of religious edu-
cation unless it is headed, animated, and governed by well-
informed, zealous, and apostolic officers. To carry on 
CCD activities indefinitely without an Executive Board 
means, sooner or later, unavoidable deviation from genu-
ine Confraternity standards. Having the obligation to 
convey to others MOTIVATION, INFORMATION, DIRECTION, 
the board members acquire the conviction and the de-
termination essential to spiritual leadership. 

PURPOSE 
The purpose of the Executive Board is to act as an over-all 
committee for advising, planning, and executing the Con-
fraternity work in the parish. At the beginning of a unit, 
as each division of activity is taken up, responsibility for 
its effectiveness rests upon the entire Executive Board. 

FUNCTION 
The members of the Executive Board function as a unit 
under the Director's guidance in co-ordinating the CCD 
education program. A well-trained, active board gives 
stability and continuity to the organization. A full board 
is essential in planning the scope and method of the Con-
fraternity program. Even if there is not a recognized need 
for Helpers or Apostles of Good 'Will, for instance, at the 
outset of the parish unit, nevertheless the chairmen of 
these divisions become informed and thus prepared to 
meet needs that will arise as the program develops. When 
the Confraternity is organized in autumn or winter, its 
initial work is usually the development of the adult reli-
gious Discussion Clubs or organization of the CCD School 
of Religion, or both. When it is organized in the spring, 
the Summer School is usually the first undertaking. Each 
board member has an equal responsibility with every other 
member, no matter which office he holds, because the en-
tire board functions as a team, under the priest's guid-

16 



ance, to co-ordinate and promote the total program of 
parish CCD religious education for all Catholics not at-
tending Catholic schools. In many cases, the board re-
vitalizes a parish by bringing lay men and women of 
talent and zeal to work together with their Director 
for the cause of Christ. By sharing knowledge, experi-
ence, and insight, members gain an over-all view of the 
program. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS 

1. The Priest Director: 

The Director of the parish Confraternity unit is the pas-
tor or a priest appointed by him. The Director is the 
head of the Parish Executive Board in both its spiritual 
and its temporal organization. Moreover, he is the prin-
cipal authority for its operation; he acts under the super-
vision of the Diocesan Director of the CCD, who repre-
sents the Ordinary of the diocese; and shares his re-
sponsibility with the other members of the Executive 
Board. For the Confraternity unit, he is essential and 
irreplaceable. His chief duty is that of spiritual forma-
tion and motivation of the CCD members that they may 
become true apostles, able and enthusiastic in carrying 
on the mission entrusted to them. 

The priest Director's organizational duties: he 

a. Secures from the diocesan office the CCD literature 
that is available. 

b. Calls a general meeting of the parish unit as indi-
cated on page 27; or calls a meeting of those whom 
he has selected as potential officers and division Chair-
men, who with him will form the Executive Board, to 
discuss the literature and plan the program for the 
organization meeting of the parish Confraternity. If 
the latter plan is followed, the ideal is to select 20 

17 



tentative members for training and later to appoint 
10 of these to the board. The remainder will be of 
service as charter members, each in the membership 
division of his choice. In making his selection, the Di-
rector looks for lay men and women who are: practical 
Catholics, natural leaders with sound practical judg-
ment, congenial persons of different age groups and 
social conditions, persons who are potential apostles. 
Some Directors deem it wise for married couples to 
share responsibility on the board. (In older, well-estab-
lished, experienced units, a Director may allow the 
election of board members and a greater degree of self-
government.) 

c. Plans, with the board, the program for the parish 
organization meeting. This should include: 

1) a presentation of the Confraternity program, 
showing how it is organized and the work of each of 
the divisions of Active and Aggregate membership; 

2) an open discussion with questions answered by 
the organizer — either the Director or the President; 

3) an exhibit of CCD materials, visual aids, etc. 

4) enrollment of members according to the division 
of membership in which each wishes to work (en-
rollment forms are usually supplied by the diocesan 
office or may be ordered from Confraternity Publica-
tions, 508 Marshall St., Paterson 3, N. J. — form 
CCD-185); 

5) announcement of the place, day, and hour of 
the first meeting of each division of the Active mem-
bership, and the next general meeting of the Con-
fraternity. 

d. Arranges with the Chairmen for the training of 
each of the Active divisions. 

18 



2. The President: 
a. Co-ordinates and unifies the work of the board, 
particularly of the division Chairmen. 

b. With the Director, prepares the agenda, calls and 
presides at meetings of the Executive Board and the 
parish Confraternity. 

c. Arranges a Discussion Club for Executive Board 
members, to meet weekly for six or eight weeks and 
use this MANUAL as a text for studying and reviewing 
Confraternity objectives and activities to meet parish 
needs. 

d. Provides officers and division Chairmen with IN-
STRUCTIONS supplied by the diocesan office. 

e. Prepares all annual CCD reports for the parish and 
the diocese. 

f. Where a mission is attached to the parish, assists 
the Director in the development of the Confraternity 
there; and possibly the selection of a full board or at 
least Chairmen of the six CCD activities, who may 
meet with the Parish Chairmen of these divisions to 
learn methods of procedure. 

3. The Vice-president: 
a. Assists the President in promoting Confraternity 
activities in the parish. 

b. Takes the President's place in case of his absence 
or inability to function. 

4. The Secretary: 
a. Gives notice of board and general meetings of the 
Confraternity and keeps the minutes of these meetings 
(see Suggested Constitution, Art. V) . 

b. Maintains an up-to-date classified membership rec-
ord of the entire parish unit — Active, Aggregate and 
Associate members. 

19 



c. Attends to all CCD correspondence as directed by 
the President, maintains the CCD file of letters and 
literature issued by the diocesan office and all other 
correspondence of the Confraternity. 

d. Prepares and/or types parish Confraternity news 
stories for the local or diocesan paper when requested 
by the Director or President to do so. 

e. Types the President's activity reports, etc. 

5. The Treasurer: 

a. Solicits Associate members, who are classified ac-
cording to their annual contribution as: contributing 
members ($1.00), supporting members ($2.00), sus-
taining members ($5.00 or more), and special mem-
bers who contribute their prayers and sufferings. There 
are no dues; all contributions are strictly voluntary. 

b. Plans, with the co-operation and approval of the 
entire board, for the raising of needed additional funds 
when a parish fund is unavailable or those collected 
from Associate members are insufficient. (Since the 
services of Active members are voluntary, the expenses 
of the Confraternity may be kept to a minimum.) 

c. Disburses funds as instructed by the President or 
in payment of bills approved by the Director or Execu-
tive Board. 

d. Keeps an exact record of all money received and 
expended, and submits an annual financial report to 
the Executive Board. 

6. The Chairman (of each separate activity): 

Recruits workers, organizes and supervises their activity 
according to plans outlined for the diocese and parish and 
in co-operation with other board members (see under 
"Organization" in each activity chapter herein). 

2 0 



TERM OF OFFICE 

The officers of the Parish Executive Board are appointed 
for a one- or two-year term and may succeed themselves 
once. Individuals may be retained on the board if rotated 
to a different position. The use of co-chairmen is recom-
mended so that "understudies" are being trained continu-
ally. Members of the board who are not active should 
be replaced by parishioners better qualified for the office, 
with special preference given to those possessing qualities 
of natural leadership. 

January is recommended as the time to inaugurate a new 
Executive Board, although September is often designated. 
If the new board begins in January, it will have time to 
become familiar with the parish situation, prepare for 
the Summer School of Religion, and plan more efficiently 
for the fall program. If it takes office in September, con-
tinuity through the summer is often lacking, and the fall 
program suffers from lack of preparation. 

TRAINING 

It is essential that members of the Executive Board, since 
they will assist the Director in planning and guiding the 
CCD's extensive program of religious education in the 
parish, receive thorough training for their mission. It 
must be not only a technical preparation but doctrinal 
and spiritual as Well. A good portion of every training 
session, as well as of the later regular monthly meetings 
of the board, should be devoted to the spiritual forma-
tion of the members. 

The Director usually obtains the assistance of the diocesan 
CCD Director in giving the six-week basic, over-all view 
of the CCD — its nature, function, and scope — to the 
15 or 20 persons from among whom he will then select 
10 to be on the Executive Board with him. He arranges 
for the latter to meet with him for two hours weekly 

21 



for six to eight weeks — to read, discuss, and master this 
MANUAL; to see its application to the parish; and to be 
stimulated and motivated to do this important work for 
Christ and for souls. Parish Executive Board Kits con-
taining A Preparatory Course for CCD Parish Executive 
Board Members (CCD-176), this MANUAL, and other 
organizational literature are available from Confraternity 
Publications, 508 Marshall St., Paterson 3, N. J. 

There are two successful methods in use for training the 
board members: 

11 Prior to each weekly meeting, a section of the MANUAL 
is assigned for advance study by all board members. Each 
officer and Chairman is thus prepared to present the chap-
ter and literature related to his field and is ready to pro-
mote consequent discussion. He should think and speak: 
in terms of his particular responsibility; of needs and prob-
lems in general; of those unique to the parish; and of pro-
posed solutions and plans to activate and develop the work 
progressively. 

In the course of the meetings which follow, each mem-
ber makes a presentation of his field or division of the 
CCD program. Following several such presentations, the 
presiding officer asks for a discussion of the proposals. 
Jointly the members make and consider recommendations. 
In this way each of the persons responsible explains and 
develops the MANUAL for a specific CCD activity. Every 
board member thus acquires a basic understanding of his 
work and some experience in presenting it, while the 
entire board obtains a general knowledge of the whole 
MANUAL and its application to parish needs. 

2. The more usual way for training the Executive Board 
is based on the Catholic Action technique. This is a group 
activity wherein chapters of the MANUAL are read aloud 
at the meetings and discussed and THOUGHT OUT by each 

2 2 



one. Then the group considers or JUDGES the relation-
ship of the particular chapter to parish needs. In conclu-
sion, a decision is made to ACT on the proposal or ob-
jective of the chapter. (See "How to Use This Manual," 
pp. 4-5.) 

MEETINGS 

After the six weekly initial training sessions, the Execu-
tive Board should meet monthly with the priest Director 
for free and informal exchange of ideas on work done or 
proposed. Without this monthly meeting of the board, 
the parish CCD unit will die out. 

Flexible Agenda for Monthly Board Meetings 

1. Prayers before Meetings (see inside front cover of 
this M A N U A L ) . 

2. Minutes of previous meeting. 

3. Written reports of officers and Chairmen on work of 
previous month. Discussion of plans and solving of 
problems for the development of the program. 

4. Announcements. 

5. Spiritual motivation by Director (may precede or 
follow 2-4 above). 

6. Prayers after Meetings (see inside back cover of 
this M A N U A L ) . 

The work of the Secretary will be facilitated if a standard 
loose-leaf notebook is used, with the agenda items already 
typed on the page. 

Attendance at CCD Deanery Meetings 
Each member of the parish CCD Executive Board attends 
(or arranges for a substitute to represent him at) CCD 
deanery or interparochial meetings, retreats, or days of 
recollection. 

2 3 



Chapter 3 

THE PARISH UNIT 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature 

Parish Director 

Objectives 

Training of Active 
Members 

Associate Members 

„ , T , . Catechetical Sun-Before Launching , 
« L A D w n n w n m 

NATURE 

The parish unit of the CCD is made up of the Executive 
Board and the Active, Aggregate, and Associate members. 
The Executive Board has been treated fully in the pre-
ceding section. See also the center chart of this MANUAL. 

The Active members are all those who work with the 
pastor in the teaching of Christian Doctrine, either in the 
School of Religion, or in the adult religious education 
program, namely: Religious Discussion Clubs, Parent 
Educators, and the Apostolate of Good Will. 

The Aggregate members are the pupils, students, and 
adult laity who regularly receive religious instruction in 
the CCD program. 

the Program 

Parish Organiza 
tion Meeting 

Enrollment in CCD 
Register 

CCD Calendar 

Facts To Keep in 
Mind 

Rural Parish Unit 

24 



The Associate members are those who contribute to the 
support of the CCD program by their prayers and/or 
financial offerings. 

THE PARISH DIRECTOR 

The Confraternity is not something apart from the priest 
and completely in the hands of the laity even though it is 
a lay organization; for a priest, through vocation, ordina-
tion, and assignment by his bishop, has the care of souls. 
Therefore, he is essential and irreplaceable in and for the 
Confraternity. The laity work for and with him; they aid 
him in already existing work, which he would be unable 
to do without their co-operation. Either the pastor or a 
priest appointed by him is head of the parish unit as 
Director of the Executive Board. His work is treated in 
the foregoing section on the board. 

OBJECTIVES 

The principal objectives of the Confraternity, as set forth 
in the Suggested Constitution of a Parish Unit of the CCD 
which follows, are to provide a religious education ( l ) 
for all Catholic children who do not attend Catholic 
schools, and (2) for all adults in the parish. These ob-
jectives are carried out by the six main divisions of its 
Active and Aggregate members: for the work of formal 
religious education, by Teachers, Fishers (Home Visi-
tors), and Helpers; for the adult education program, 
by Discussion Club Leaders and members, Parent Edu-
cators, and Apostles of Good Will. 

BEFORE LAUNCHING THE PROGRAM 

1. The formation of the Parish Executive Board and the 
careful training of its members are first steps in setting 
up a parish CCD program. Here is the place for the 

25 



laity to assume the duties and responsibilities of leader-
ship. Once a dynamic Executive Board is functioning, 
the CCD objectives will be carried out with greater force 
and effectiveness. 

2. One of the first activities will be a careful survey to 
locate those in need of religious education and to secure 
information for use in planning a total Confraternity 
program. Following is the outline of a 

Suggested Survey: 

a. What is the number of people in the parish ? 

b. What is the number of Catholics in the parish ? 

c. What percentage of those in (b) faithfully assist 
at Mass? 

d. What percentage of the weak members have any 
contact with the Church or her societies? 

e. What is being done to bring the weak members 
closer to the Church? 

f. What is the approximate number of Catholic chil-
dren in the parish who attend non-Catholic schools? 

g. What provision is there for their religious educa-
tion? 

h. What proportion of these children are currently re-
ceiving religious education? 

i. Are there sections within the parish where the dis-
tance from church makes it difficult for children to 
attend religion classes? 

j. Could suitable places near the public school be found 
in which to assemble these children for weekday reli-
gion classes ? 

k. Is there any systematic plan of visiting the homes 
of children whose parents are indifferent? 

26 



1. What plans could be made to bring children of in-
different parents to Mass? 

m. What plans could be made to organize the CCD 
Religious Education program for adult parishioners? 

PARISH ORGANIZATION MEETING 

The Director calls a meeting to interest every parish-
ioner in participating in the Confraternity apostolate. All 
of high school age and over (except where high school 
students are trained in the Junior Confraternity program) 
should be invited and urged to attend in order that they 
may have a clear understanding of the total program. 
There is no financial obligation. The meeting should re-
ceive good advance publicity from the altar, through the 
press, posters, telephone calls, etc. 

(In some areas it has proved beneficial, before holding a 
parish meeting, to select, train, and motivate the members 
of the Executive Board. The parish meeting will follow. 
Another procedure is to organize the parish unit first, with 
the Executive Board coming later as an outcome of the 
general parish meeting.) 

The parish meeting can be closed with formal reception 
and enrollment of new CCD members (also automatically 
enrolled in the Apostleship of Prayer), renewal of prom-
ises by members previously enrolled, and Benediction. 
The Ceremony for Reception of Members (CCD-166) 
will be found in Appendix 4 of this MANUAL. 

The ceremony of formal canonical establishment of a 
parish unit of the CCD takes place in the church and is 
presided over by the Most Reverend Ordinary of the dio-
cese or his representative, the Diocesan Director. Enroll-
ment of members may follow this ceremony. See Hand-
book for the CCD Parish Director (CCD-165) for the 
order of the ceremony. 

2 7 



ENROLLMENT IN THE CCD PARISH 
REGISTER 

To gain the CCD indulgences, a person must have his 
name written in a register; although names can be added 
at any time, the opportune time is at a general parish CCD 
meeting during the parish observance of Catechetical 
Sunday. One enrollment in the CCD is sufficient for life, 
irrespective of change of parish. 

TRAINING OF ACTIVE MEMBERS 

The preparation of all CCD workers is a necessary and 
important part of the parish organization plan. Training 
makes members aware of the reason for their apostolic 
activity by presenting parish needs, and the materials and 
methods by which these needs can be met. It assures an 
efficient parish CCD unit. 

Teachers are trained according to diocesan standards and 
usually in courses provided by the diocesan office of the 
CCD (see Chapter 8) . However, the Confraternity makes 
available two 12-hour courses: Introductory Course for 
CCD Teachers (CCD-191) and Course for Confraternity 
Teachers in Service (CCD-192). Neither is a substitute 
for the 30-hour course, but they serve as useful prelim-
inary refresher or review courses when needed in a parish. 

Short, six-lesson, 12-hour training courses for Fishers, 
Helpers, Discussion Club Leaders, Parent Educators, and 
Apostles of Good Will are available from Confraternity 
Publications. These may be given by the respective Chair-
men on the Executive Board under the guidance of the 
Director, if there is not -a diocesan training program for 
these members. 

28 



ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 

Those members of a parish who cannot take an active part 
in the Confraternity program but who wish to contribute 
toward its support, shall be admitted as ASSOCIATE MEM-
BERS through the ordinary ceremony of reception and 
enrollment. This support to the work of the active mem-
bers can be twofold: spiritual and financial. The very 
fact of membership in the Confraternity makes an As-
sociate member a contributor to the spiritual support of 
the program. The Executive Board should realize that 
spiritual support is essential from all members, "for with-
out prayer we can do nothing," and that the principal 
contribution from Associate members is spiritual support. 
Therefore it should be an important effort of every CCD 
unit to enlist this needed help and to find sources of 
Associate membership. Some suggestions are: 

1. parishioners who attend novenas, espe^lly the per-
petual novenas; 

2. elderly and sick parishioners; 

3. members of other parish societies; 

4. parochial school children, who usually are taught to 
say the Morning Offering daily, and elementary and 
high school children in CCD classes. 

It is important that the program for Associate members 
be guided, and this is easily accomplished through as-
sociation with the Apostleship of Prayer, especially by 
using the intention of the Morning Offering as a basic 
guide or prayer purpose. More specific intentions could 
also be recommended by the pastor for the Confraternity 
work in his parish. These could be announced through 
the parish bulletin, by teachers, in sermons, etc., and their 
importance explained to members. For example, Associate 
members participating in a continuous parish novena could 
be asked to pray for the spiritual awakening of the parents 

29 



who do not send their children to the classes provided for 
their religious education, and a continuing progress re-
port of accomplishment could be announced. 

Where Associate members help defray the expenses of 
the parish CCD unit, i. e., for texts, visual aids, supplies, 
they are classified according to their annual contribution 
as CONTRIBUTING, SUPPORTING, SUSTAINING. 

ANNUAL CATECHETICAL SUNDAY 

Once the parish unit has been established and is organized 
and functioning, the Executive Board should plan for the 
annual Catechetical Day observance, as part of the dio-
cesan observance of the feast of Christian Doctrine, which 
is ordered by the Sacred Congregation of the Council in 
the decree On the Better Care and Promotion of Cate-
chetical Edmation, January 21, 1935 (CCD-88) (see Ap-
pendix 5 of this MANUAL) : 

"In order that the mind of the Christian people may be 
directed to religious education, let a Catechetical Day 
be established in each parish, if this has not already 
been done. On this day, let the feast of Christian Doc-
trine be celebrated with as much solemnity as possible. 
On this occasion: 

"a. Let the faithful be called together in a parish 
church and, having received the Holy Eucharist, 
pray to obtain greater fruit of divine teaching; 

"b. Let a special sermon be preached to the people on 
the necessity of catechetical education, in which 
parents will be warned that they should teach their 
children and send them to the parochial catechism 
classes; remembering the divine command: 'Take 
to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. 
Drill them into your children* (Deut. 6:6-7). 

3 0 



"c. Let books, pamphlets, leaflets and other things of 
this kind suitable for the purpose be distributed 
among the people; 

"d. Let a collection be made for the promotion of cate-
chetical works." 

It is well to consult the Diocesan Director for the date 
and details of the celebration of Catechetical Day. 
Also see leaflet, Program for a Parish Catechetical Day 
(CCD-89), CCD membership envelopes (CCD-185), and 
membership certificates (CCD-187 or 219). 

CCD CALENDAR 

A calendar of CCD events issued by the Executive Board 
each year not only helps all the members to plan activities 
in advance, with adequate preparation, but avoids con-
flict with affairs scheduled by other parish societies. In 
drawing up a calendar, it is well to consult with the pastor 
and the heads of the other societies, as well as with the 
diocesan office, which usually publishes a diocesan CCD 
calendar. For uniformity, the parish should observe the 
diocesan dates for major events, as Catechetical Sunday, 
the opening of the School of Religion, etc. 

FACTS TO KEEP IN MIND 

1. For best results, the organization of the CCD in the 
parish should be gradual. The initiation of one or two 
activities is more practical than an attempt to introduce 
the full program at the time the parish unit is canonically 
erected or begins to function. 

2. The planning for each activity should begin at least 
one month in advance; the respective Chairmen need to 
meet with their workers, make sure that all have had train-

31 



ing, assign their duties, obtain materials, texts, etc., and 
arrange for needed classrooms and meeting rooms. 

3. Training classes each year to prepare new workers for 
their respective duties are of primary importance. In these 
classes, keep in mind the needs of the parish. 

4. Short refresher courses or classroom demonstrations 
for Teachers, in advance of the opening of the School 
of Religion and/or Summer School programs each year, 
are invaluable. 

RURAL PARISH UNIT 

The same basic principles which guide the establishment 
of a city parish CCD unit apply in general to the estab-
lishment of a rural unit. Therefore, the rural parish is 
not treated separately in this MANUAL except under the 
"Discussion Club" and "Apostolate of Good Will" sec-
tions, where differences are noted. 

32 



Chapter 4 

SUGGESTED CONSTITUTION 
OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF 
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 
FOR A PARISH UNIT 

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder 

them, for such is the Kingdom of God" (Mark 1 0 : 1 4 ) . 

Canon 711:2 — "The local Ordinaries will see to it that 
in every parish there be established the Confraternities of 
the Blessed Sacrament and of Christian Doctrine." 

Provido sane Consilio — "In every parish, besides the 
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, the Confrater-
nity of Christian Doctrine, as the most important of all 
others, must be established in accordance with Canon 
711:2, and it should embrace all who are capable of 
teaching and promoting catechetical instruction, espe-
cially teachers in the schools and all who are skilled in 
the science of teaching children." 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Name 

Objectives 

Membership 

Officers and Organ-
ization 

Meetings 

Annual Events 

33 



ARTICLE I — Name 

The name of this organization shall be The Confraternity 

of Christian Doctrine of 
Parish 

(City) (State) 

ARTICLE II — Objectives 

The objectives of the parish Confraternity shall be: 

1. Religious education of elementary school children not 
attending Catholic schools, in school year and Summer 
School classes, correspondence courses, and in special 
classes. 

2. Religious education of Catholic youth attending non-
Catholic high schools, in a CCD High School of Religion. 

3. Adult religious education through: 

a. Discussion Clubs; 

b. The Parent Educator division which helps fathers 
and mothers teach religion in the home. 
c. The Apostolate of Good Will for the instruction of 
non-Catholics in the teachings of the Catholic Faith. 

Where not cared for by other agencies, the following 
activities may be undertaken by the Confraternity: 

1. Retreats for children and youth; 

2. Religious education of immigrant and migrant workers 
and their families; organization of clubs and classes for 
these groups; 

3. Religious education of retarded and handicapped chil-
dren; 

4. Religious education of both young and adult Catholics 
in secular institutions, such as hospitals and prisons; 

34 



5. A religious program in missions on Sundays and holy-
days of obligation when a priest is not present to cele-
brate Mass; 

6. Organization and maintenance of a parish library. 

ARTICLE III — Membership 

Section 1. ACTIVE members. Men, women, and youth of 
the parish who are willing to take an active part in the 
work of the Confraternity, by serving at least one hour a 
week or fifty hours annually, shall be enrolled in one or 
more of the divisions whose duties are described below: 

a. TEACHERS conduct classes in the Elementary and 
High Schools of Religion and in Summer Schools. 

b. FISHERS ( H O M E VISITORS) make systematic surveys 
of the parish; recruit children for religion classes; check 
on absentees; recruit members for the adult education 
program during visits to homes. 

c. HELPERS provide facilities for conducting religion 
classes and discussion clubs; transport teachers and 
pupils; assist in preparation of material for school year 
and Summer School classes; supervise the parish Con-
fraternity library; collect and distribute literature; and 
perform other duties as directed. 

d. DISCUSSION CLUB LEADERS and members conduct 
or participate in Religious Discussion Clubs for adults. 

e. PARENT EDUCATORS promote the teaching of reli-
gion in the home by distributing PE leaflets and con-
ducting Parent-Educator Discussion Clubs. 

f. APOSTLES OF GOOD W I L L assist in presenting the 
Faith to those outside the fold and reclaiming lapsed 
Catholics. 

Training courses for the preparation of workers shall be 
held as needed, by each of the division Chairmen, under 
the supervision of the Director. 

3 5 



Section 2. AGGREGATE members. The pupils, students, 
and adult laity who regularly receive religious instruction. 

Section 3. ASSOCIATE members. Members of the parish 
who cannot take an active part in the Confraternity pro-
gram but wish to assist it by their prayers and sacrifices, 
and who also contribute to its support, shall be admitted 
as Associate members. They may be classified, according 
to their annual contribution, as Contributing, Supporting, 
Sustaining, or Special members. 

Section 4. ANNUAL ENROLLMENT. New members shall 
be enrolled in the CCD register each year. One enroll-
ment suffices for life. Enrollment also in the Apostleship 
of Prayer, the official means for the spiritual formation of 
CCD members, will take place at the same time, using 
the same official register of the local unit of the CCD. 

Section 5. Members shall pray daily for the interests of 
the Confraternity. They shall receive Holy Communion 
at least once a month. They are urged to follow the spir-
itual program of the Apostleship of Prayer (see Chap-
ter 5). 

ARTICLE IV — Officers and Organization 

Section 1. The Director shall be the pastor, or a priest 
appointed by him. 

Section 2. The Director shall appoint the following offi-
cers: President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, and 
a Chairman for each of the six divisions of Active mem-
bership named in Article III, Section 1. They shall hold 
office for one (two) year(s) and are eligible for reap-
pointment at the discretion of the Director. 

Section 3. The Director, the 6fficers, and the Chairmen of 
the divisions of membership shall constitute the Execu-
tive Board of the parish Confraternity. 

3 6 



ARTICLE V — Meetings 

Section 1. The Executive Board of the Confraternity 
shall meet once a month. Special meetings may be called 
at the discretion of the board. 

Section 2. General meetings of the entire Confraternity 
membership shall be held semiannually or at least an-
nually at the call of the Director. 

ARTICLE VI — Annual Events 

Section L On a day appointed by the Ordinary, a Cat-
echetical Day or Confraternity Sunday shall be celebrated 
annually as the feast of Christian Doctrine. 

Section 2. The feast of the Patron Saint of the parish 
CCD shall be ce lebra ted each year with a religious 
observance. 

Section 3. On an announced day each year a Requiem 
Mass shall be offered for deceased CCD members. 

37 



Chapter 5 

SPIRITUAL FORMATION 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Necessity 

CCD Rule of Life 

Spiritual Motives 

CCD Prayers 

Summary of Indul 
gences 

Apostleship of 
Prayer 

Source of Christian 
Spirit 

NECESSITY 

The teaching of religion is the particular field of the Con-
fraternity apostolate. But the Confraternity is more than 
an organization with this as its purpose; it is also a spir-
itual society whose work of spreading knowledge of the 
Faith is dependent upon and conditioned by the religious 
motivation and spiritual training of the workers. In vir-
tue of his Baptism and membership in the Mystical Body 
of Christ, the Christian's primary objective in life is his 
personal sanctification, and membership in the CCD as-
sists him in its attainment. The teaching of Christian 
truths is the external outcome and effect of the spiritual 
life of the CCD worker. 

The traditional form of the Confraternity since its infancy 
in Milan and Rome in the sixteenth century has been that 
of a spiritual apostolate made up of lay people who dedi-
cate themselves to teaching religion as a work of charity 
and, therefore, essentially for the love of God and neigh-

38 



bor. Devoted adherence to a spiritual rule of life on the 
part of Confraternity members has always been consid-
ered important.1 

The formation of the members of the CCD, then, rests 
upon three basic principles: 

1. Indoctrination and thorough understanding of the doc-
trine of the Mystical Body of Christ and the integration 
of this knowledge into one's private life in the form of 
motives and convictions; 

2. The full significance of the liturgy with emphasis on 
the Sacrifice of the Mass; 

3. A personal program of spiritual practices.2 

Both of the latter provisions are incorporated in the Apos-
tleship of Prayer spiritual program. 

The practical working out of this threefold objective 
in spiritual formation is incumbent upon the Director 
through the Executive Board: in programs, and by means 
of study and discussion as devised by the Director in the 
adult education program of Discussion Clubs and Parent 
Education. The indoctrination should systematically ex-
tend over a period of years to include the Active, Aggre-
gate, and even the Associate members of the parish unit 
of the CCD. 

Corollary to this, the practical day-by-day working of the 
parish unit is sparked and energized by the spiritual dy-
namism of its Active members. To be of lasting benefit, 

1 Joseph B. Collins, Spiritual Formation in the CCD (Paterson, N. J., 
Confraternity Publications, 1952), pp. 85-95 (o. p.) . 

2 Conclusion of Seminar at CCD Workshop on Spiritual Formation 
held at Catholic University, June 16-27, 1961. 

39 



an organization, be it ever so efficient, must necessarily 
be motivated by personal holiness, by the spirit of 
charity, and by a readiness to sacrifice in the cause of the 
apostolate. 

All CCD workers have a common calling or vocation in 
the building of the Mystical Body. However, not all have 
it in the same way. Consequently, the rule of life must 
have a defined minimum standard, within practical reach 
of the whole membership: flexible enough to answer indi-
vidual needs, yet insisting on the element of prayer and 
sacrifice as fundamental to CCD work. The CCD worker 
must grow and be one with Christ, especially in sacra-
mental action. The life of the Confraternity worker is 
essentially a sacrifice, offered in and with Christ in honor 
of the Father, in teaching, helping, and fishing for the 
salvation of souls. 

In explaining this program of spiritual formation to 
members of the CCD, a very important point to be con-
sidered is the fact that it is a highly indulgenced program. 
A summary of these indulgences can be found at the 
end of this chapter and a complete list in Appendix if 
Material for spiritual formation in the CCD may be ob-
tained from the Parish or Diocesan CCD Director. 

THE CONFRATERNITY RULE OF LIFE 

From its beginning in this country, the Confraternity has 
provided for a spiritual rule of life. The members, on 
their reception into the CCD, are urged "to pray daily for 
the interests of the Confraternity. They shall receive Holy 
Communion at least once a month." It is pointed out to 
them that in the work of teaching, since it is a vital part 
of the lay apostolate, Confraternity members must be spir-
itually informed and formed. The formation should be 
methodical, vigorous, and based on a clear, supernatural 
plane. 

4 0 



The very fact of faithful membership in the parish CCD 
program is itself an additional means of spiritual forma-
tion. The labor and effort, the study and sacrifices, re-
quired of the Teacher, Fisher, Discussion Club Leader, 
etc., demand the practice of charity, patience, zeal, and of 
many other virtues. This is spiritual training in a high 
degree. Prayer is a necessary preparation for and ac-
companiment of every task. Faithful attendance at the 
monthly meetings of the Executive Board and semiannual 
gatherings of all the members as enjoined by the Confra-
ternity statutes also provides spiritual training. Besides 
strictly business details, these meetings can be devoted in 
part to a spiritual talk by the Director or by a priest dele-
gated by him. The spiritual life of CCD members is also 
greatly enriched and their convictions are strengthened 
through participation in retreats, days of recollection, and 
other religious observances, which include the annual 
feast of Christian Doctrine, or Catechetical Day. 

THE APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER 
A more formal and systematic means of spiritual forma-
tion is offered to all Confraternity members through the 
Apostleship of Prayer. The way was opened for the Con-
fraternity to share in the rich treasury of prayers and good 
works of this world-wide society by the following words 
of Pope Pius XII: 

"We desire with all Our heart that all those who are 
engaged in the external works of the apostolate should 
join the Apostleship of Prayer and be imbued with its 
spirit. This holds for the clergy and laity, men and wom-
en, who are in 'Catholic Action' or who assist in the apos-
tolate of the hierarchy in other associations."3 

3 "The Apostolate of Prayer and the Apostolate of the Laity": Ad-
dress of Pope Pius XII to National Secretaries and Regional Directors of 
the Apostleship of Prayer, Sept. 27, 1956, quoted in The Spiritual Forma-
tion of CCD Members (CCD-180; Paterson, N. J., Confraternity Publica-
tions, 1959), pp. 53-57. 

41 



The Holy Father declared that the Apostleship of Prayer 
does not conflict with other societies, but joins itself to 
them in such a way that it penetrates them, renewing and 
strengthening them to new supernatural life and action. 
Here was the implicit call of the Holy Father for the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine to train and inform its 
members spiritually in the Apostleship of Prayer. 

Enrollment of Members in Apostleship of Prayer 

Members of the CCD and of the Apostleship of Prayer 
must be enrolled in a register to gain the indulgences. 
One register may be used for members of both. If the 
Parish Director so desires, he may have the names under 
two columns: one for the CCD and one for the Apostle-
ship of Prayer. 

The diocesan director of the Apostleship of Prayer will 
name the Director of each parish CCD unit to be the par-
ish director of the Apostleship of Prayer in that CCD 
unit. This will automatically make his successors in that 
CCD parish unit also parish directors of the Apostleship 
of Prayer. The Parish CCD Director is named director of 
the Apostleship of Prayer primarily to provide the spir-
itual formation offered to CCD members. 

Way of Life — Chief Practices: 

The sp i r i tua l way of l i f e offered through the CCD 
Apostleship of Prayer consists briefly in the following 
practices: 

1. Make the Morning Offering. 

2. Renew the Morning Offering frequently. 

3. Make a daily offering of self in union with the Sacri-
fice of the Mass; attend Mass frequently during the week. 

4 2 



4. Receive Holy Communion in reparation on First Fri-
days and, if possible, weekly or daily. 

5. Recite the rosary or at least a decade of the beads 
daily. 

6. Try, if possible, to make an annual retreat. 

The Morning Offering is made for the intentions of the 
Sacred Heart of Jesus; that is, out of devotion and love 
and service to the Sacred Heart. The Apostleship of 
Prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart are inseparable. 
This devotion to the human Heart of Jesus as the symbol 
of divine love and in reparation for the sins of mankind 
is one of the highest expressions of religion, a most effec-
tive school of charity and bond of unity among Christians. 
It fulfills the obligation of every Christian to offer repara-
tion to the Heart of Jesus. The chief purpose of the 
Apostleship of Prayer is the devotion to the Sacred Heart. 
In many places it is still known as the League of the Sa-
cred Heart. 

The practices which promote this devotion to the Sacred 
Heart are: the act of consecration by individuals, families, 
groups; celebration of the feasts of the Sacred Heart and 
of Christ the King; and reparation through the Holy 
Hour and Holy Communion, especially on First Friday. 
Therefore, "through ardent devotion to the Sacred Heart, 
which is the very soul of the Apostleship of Prayer, the 
faithful are drawn to an intimate union with Christ 
The Apostleship of Prayer is the most perfect form of the 
Christian life" (Pius XII ) . 

The first duty of members of the Apostleship of Prayer is 
devotion to the Sacred Heart expressed in the offering of 
self daily in the Morning Offering. 
Second, members of the Apostleship of Prayer are asked, 
not merely to recite certain prayers, but to make the daily 
offering of their lives and acts, and to live it. To live the 

4 3 



Morning Offering means to avoid sin, to resist temptation, 
and to practice virtue. To live it means also to renew the 
Morning Offering during the day: prayer, work, joys, suf-
ferings. This includes the offering up of the work of die 
Confraternity in which one is engaged, with its labors, 
trials, and consolations. 

SOURCE OF THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT 

When St. Pius X said that the "primary and most indis-
pensable source of the Christian spirit is our participation 
in the Mystery of the altar," he meant that the Holy Sac-
rifice of the Mass is the very heart of divine worship, the 
point of contact between God and man, the most direct 
source of spiritual formation and apostolic power. Upon 
the altar, Christ in person together with the members of 
His Mystical Body perpetuates, through a silent but most 
real and efficient apostolate, what He did on Calvary. 

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass should be the power plant 
of apostolic energy. Through learning more and more 
how to live the Mass, CCD apostles will find the secret of 
a more fruitful apostolate. Through the Morning Offer-
ing,, often repeated, at least mentally, during daily occu-
pations, the lay apostle will be led gradually to a greater 
appreciation and love of the Mass. It was such love which 
gave the early Christians the courage to be martyrs for 
the Faith. 

SPIRITUAL MOTIVES FOR JOINING THE CCD 

(These and similar motives can be meditated on with 
spiritual profit.) 

1. Our Lord commissioned the Church to teach (Matt. 
28:19; Mk. 16:15). 

2. We are members of the Church "which is indeed His 
Body" (Eph. 1:23). 

4 4 



3. Whatever we do for another, our Lord rewards as 
done to Himself (Matt. 25:40). 
4. "God wishes all men to be saved and to come to knowl-
edge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). 
5. "Be always ready with an answer to everyone who asks 
a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15). 

6. The Church needs the CCD. 

7. Your bishop and your pastor want the CCD. 

8. A great number of people of all ages need religious 
instruction (cf. statistics in your parish, your diocese). 

9. "My brethren, if any one of you strays from the truth 
and someone brings him back, he ought to know that he 
who causes a sinner to be brought back from his mis-
guided way will save his soul from death, and will cover 
a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19-20). 

CCD PRAYERS 

There are no set prayers obligatory on CCD members. 
The prayer-program of the Apostleship of Prayer is 
strongly recommended. Also, there are special CCD 
prayers for use before and after meetings, which incor-
porate many spiritual motives for CCD work. A copy of 
these prayers is found on the inside of the cover of the 
MANUAL. 

SUMMARY OF INDULGENCES GRANTED TO 
THE CCD 

A Plenary Indulgence may be gained under the usual 
conditions: 

1. by all the faithful on the day of enrollment in the 
Confraternity; 

2. by each and every member: 

a. on the day of the principal feast of the unit; 

45 



b. on the feasts of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Epiph-
any, Ascension, Corpus Christi, Annunciation, Immac-
ulate Conception, St. Mary of Tears (patroness of the 
Church of the Archconfraternity — Jan. 14), St. Jo-
seph, Sts. Peter and Paul, All Saints, St. Charles Bor-
romeo, and St. Robert Bellarmine. 

A Partial Indulgence can be gained by members who 
are at least contrite in heart: 

1. 10 years if they go out from the city and teach cat-
echism in small towns or in the country; 

2. 7 years if: 

a. they have confessed and received Communion on 
the day and in the place where the CCD is established; 

b. they go about the city to bring men, women, and 
children to religious instruction; 

c. once a month, if having confessed, they receive 
Holy Communion; 

d. if, being priests, they give a sermon or religious in-
struction in a church or an oratory of the CCD; 

3. 3 years if they accompany the body of a deceased mem-
ber to the cemetery or attend the funeral of such, and pray 
devoutly for the soul of the departed; 

4. 300 days if: 
they piously see to it that children, servants, and others 
are present at catechism class; 
they visit sick members; 
they attend the exercises or meetings of the CCD, or 
processions that are held with the approval o f ' t he 
bishop; 

5. 100 days if, publicly or privately, they teach catechism 
on days other than Sundays and feast days. 

46 



A C T I V I T I E S 

"Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" 
(Mark 1 : 1 7 ) . 

NATURE 

Fishers of Men are Active members of the parish unit who 
recruit children and youth for the Schools of Religion, 
promote attendance thereat, discover potential participants 
for the Religious Discussion Club and Parent Educator 
programs, keep the parish survey up-to-date, seek inter-
ested non-Catholics, fallen-away or indifferent Catholics, 
and make known to them the opportunities for religious 
education within the CCD program, especially in the 
Apostolate of Good Will. The pastor carries out, through 
the CCD Fishers, a vital part of his responsibility for the 
spiritual welfare of all his parishioners. 

(Home Visitors) 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature 

Indulgence 

Organization 

Preparation 

Duties 

Suggestions 

4 7 



INDULGENCE 

One indulgence among the many granted by the Holy See 
to Confraternity members applies especially to Fishers: 
"Seven years if they go about the city to bring men, 
women, and children to religious instruction" (cf. Indul-
gences Granted to the CCD, Appendix 1). 

ORGANIZATION 

The Chairman of Fishers, a member of the Executive 
Board, has charge of this division of the parish unit. He 
or she consults with the Director on ways and means of 
recruiting Fishers and of exercising the other duties re-
lating to this division, and arranges for regular meetings 
for these members of the CCD, weekly if necessary. Both 
men and women are eligible as Fishers. Men, however, 
are especially recommended. Catholic high school stu-
dents have been used successfully to recruit public school 
students for religion classes. They should be instructed 
in methods and assigned to a specific area of work. 

PREPARATION OF FISHERS 

The initial step is to have the prospective Fishers attend 
the general meetings of the parish Confraternity unit in 
order to obtain an over-all picture and a clear understand-
ing of its purpose and organization. The Confraternity 
makes available a six-lesson training course, Suggested 
Course for Confraternity Fishers of Men (CCD-197), 
which, if not conducted on the diocesan level, is given by 
the parish Chairman of Fishers. The course points out in 
detail the duties of members of this division of the CCD, 
as well as the procedures and techniques of fishing and 
how to adapt them to local needs. In a parish where Reli-
gious are taking a census, the Chairman may call upon 
them to give helpful supplementary instructions and sug-
gestions to the Fishers. 

4 8 



Motivation and spiritual formation through prayer and 
sacrifice (see Chapter 5) should be the foundation of the 
training of Fishers. These apostles can be true instruments 
of grace for many souls. A parish Fisher may be the first 
messenger of Christ to knock at the door of a non-Cath-
olic home, or the magnet that draws the fallen-away 
Catholic back to the Church through personal association, 
discussion, and proper understanding of her teachings. He 
may be the means of ensuring stronger Catholics tomor-
row because of adequate instruction received today. The 
Fisher is a real Christ-bearer. 

DUTIES OF FISHERS 

"Go out into the highways and hedges, and make them 
come in, so that My house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). 

Pariah Survey 

Fishers are usually assigned to the districts or sections into 
which the parish has been divided. A map of the parish 
showing the location of every street and avenue is useful 
in blocking out areas and making assignments. Within 
these areas Fishers make a systematic door-to-door visit to 
every family living within the parish boundaries.1 What 
is called the Fishers' Census results from this intensive 
survey. Special efforts should be made to locate families 
who have recently moved into the parish and those whose 
names do not appear on the parish or school records. In 
making these visits, the immediate objective of the Fisher 
is to interest: 

1. Catholic elementary school pupils who do not attend 
Catholic schools, in enrolling for school year and 
Summer School religion classes; 

1 In localities where there are national parishes without boundaries, 
Fishers of various parishes should co-operate in pooling their efforts so 
that no one will be missed. 

49 



: 2. Catholic high school students who do not attend 
Catholic schools, in enrolling for the High School of 
Religion; 

3. Catholic students in secular colleges, out-of-school 
youth, men, women, and non-Catholic members of 
mixed marriages, in participating in the adult religious 
education program; 
4. Non-Catholics, whose names they will turn over to 
the Apostles of Good Will in order to make the Church 
known to them. 

Once made, this survey will be kept up-to-date if the 
Fishers are zealous and vigilant. The Fisher informs every 
family of the spiritual opportunities offered by the parish 
church: time and place of religious services, religion 
classes, Discussion Clubs, information or inquiry classes, 
and meetings of parish societies. Each person with whom 
contact is made should be invited to take part in the reli-
gious life of the parish. This is important especially in 
large city parishes where the turnover is great and there 
are many new arrivals. On visits to non-English-speaking 
families, the Fisher should take along an interpreter. The 
Fisher's visits should be cordial, friendly, and brief. He 
must keep in mind that his office is to win souls for Christ. 
He will use every charitable means to win over even the 
most indifferent individuals. 

Where there is not a diocesan or parish census form 
available for use in making this survey, the Chairman of 
Fishers, with the assistance of members of his committee, 
should draw one up to meet local needs. After approval 
by the board, it could be mimeographed and used on a 
trial basis before being printed for permanent use in the 
parish. In parishes where a family survey has already 
been completed, the names and addresses of families in 
which elementary or high school pupils are found should 
be recorded on Religious Instruction Registration Cards 
(CCD-226). 

50 



Fishing for Confraternity Classes 

Before starting to recruit pupils for school year or Summer 
School religion classes, the Fisher should be familiar with 
the programs, plan of presentation for the various classes, 
and above all their objectives and value. He can awaken 
interest by showing some of the textbooks to be used and 
some of the developed projects. The Fisher should leave 
a card giving the place, day, and hour of the opening of 
classes for each prospective pupil. The successful Fisher 
draws upon his knowledge of local conditions to deter-
mine the best means of attracting the indifferent child to 
these very important classés. 

The Fisher may explain the purpose of the visit by saying: 
"I am from . . . . parish. Fa the r . . . . , Director of the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine, has asked me to call on 
you. Father invites all public school pupils of elementary 
or high school age in his parish to attend the religion 
classes to be held at 

Prospective pupils should be enrolled on registration cards 
supplied by the local Confraternity. A separate card 
should be kept for each pupil not attending the parochial 
school. High school pupils should be listed separately, 
and by their respective grades. 

Promoting Attendance at Catholic Schools. In par-
ishes where there are accommodations in the parish 
school, the Fisher should overlook no opportunity to 
give discreet encouragement to Catholic school attend-
ance. He should be able to give practical information 
about the parochial school and its distinct advantages. 
The Fisher should be guided in this matter by the 
priest Director of the CCD and the local Catholic school 
principal. A well-organized Summer School of Religion 
held in a Catholic school building often results in the 

51 



enrollment of some of the pupils in the Catholic school 
the following term. The enrollment of parents of pub-
lic school pupils in the Parent Educator program of 
the CCD often motivates them to send their children 

• to Catholic schools; and conversely, sometimes indif-
ferent parents are reached and become interested 
through their children who are enrolled in Confrater-
nity activities. These are two of the many good effects 
of work done by the Fishers. 

Follow-up Visits 

Fishers keep in touch with absentees in order to promote 
attendance in the Schools of Religion. Follow-up visits 
should be made when necessary: friendly yet serious in 
character. A personal visit is more satisfactory than a 
telephone call. Postcards also are effective means as a 
"change of pace." The priest Director should be con-
tacted for advice when a parent or parents refuse to be 
responsible for sending children to classes. 

The first call frequently does little more than establish 
a friendly contact. Other visits will be needed to enroll 
children and adults in Confraternity activities, and many 
return calls may be necessary to obtain successful results 
in arousing the interest of indifferent, lukewarm, or nom-
inal Catholics. 

Information of a confidential nature must be reported to 
a priest of the parish and recorded in a separate file. 
Where a family needs material help, the name should be 
given to the pastor, who will take steps to notify the 
proper agencies. 

Sometimes it is necessary for a Fisher to take children 
to the first or even to several religion classes, or to accom-
pany adults to Discussion Club meetings. 

52 



Recruiting CCD Members 

Fishers are unquestionably an important part of every sec-
tion of the CCD. One personal visit to sell a program 
or gain information is much more productive than many 
public announcements or letters. Not all Fishers, however, 
are called upon to do the same kind of work; within the 
Fisher committee, consequently, there will be a variety of 
activities and techniques of approach. Fishers must be 
prepared and on the alert to meet the constant need of 
building up the ranks of CCD membership. They should 
know and understand the work of each CCD division and 
be able to recognize the qualities necessary for the workers 
in each. This kind of fishing may be seasonal (depend-
ent on the activity about to be undertaken) or accidental 
(information gained in fishing for students, etc.). 

Distribution of Literature 

Fishers assist the Helpers in the redistribution of Catholic 
literature. During their visitation of homes they learn 
of persons from whom this may be collected, and supply 
a list of names and addresses to the Chairman of Helpers 
in order that it may be picked up. Fishers also find both 
Catholics and non-Catholics who wish to receive such 
literature. They then request of the Helpers the particular 
types needed and distribute them personally at the time 
of their follow-up visits. 

On all their visits, Fishers should be prepared to furnish 
information regarding the diocesan paper and should' 
encourage families to subscribe to it and to develop the 
habit of reading it. 

Fallen-cnvays 

In seeking to reclaim the fallen-away or negligent Cath-
olics, Fishers should understand that there are those who 

53 



have left the Faith through weakness or material attrac-
tions, and those who have turned from the Faith because 
they were never sufficiently instructed. Every effort should 
be made to get these latter to attend parish inquiry classes 
and/or a religious Discussion Club. 

Non-Catholics 

If the Director so wishes, he may train Fishers to assist 
in the program of the Apostolate of Good Will, wherein 
they play an essential part in a successful campaign for 
souls. In their visitations, Fishers make known the parish 
inquiry classes and supply the Chairman of the Apostolate 
of Good Will with a list of the interested non-Catholics 
they have encountered. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR FISHERS 

1. Before making a visit, the Fisher should try to learn 
the name of the householder. It may often be had from a 
mailbox, a neighbor, or some other source. People like to 
be addressed by name. 

2. The Fisher should speak distinctly and courteously at 
all times. He may explain the purpose of his visit by 
saying: "I am from (name your parish) Confraternity of 
Christian Doctrine. May I ask if any Catholics live here?" 
If the answer is "yes," he should ask the general questions 
on the family card; if "no," he should ask the questions 
"For non-Catholics only." There may be occasions when 
it will be well to explain that his visit is not connected 
with finances. 

3. The Fisher should keep registration cards and literature 
under cover until he has won the object of his visit. 

4. After filling in the card, the Fisher should try to 
ascertain the names and religion of neighbors not yet 
visited. 

5 4 



5. Where no one is at home, the eard should be marked 
"Call back." On the next visit to this address, a different 
time of the day should be tried. Evening is often oppor-
tune. 

6. Literature related to the purpose of the visit should be 
left with the person contacted. It should not be placed 
in mailboxes. There is a federal law against doing this. 

7. Fishing should be done in pairs when possible. 

8. The first requisite for a Fisher is a kindly, sympathetic 
attitude and sincere personal interest. Thus equipped, one 
easily wins both parents and children. The Fisher is 
ostensibly collecting information, but the real purpose of 
the visit is to bring people to the knowledge and practice 
of religion. 

9. The Fisher should learn to judge human nature and to 
make his method of approach flexible. Every home visited 
will be different from every other home, with different 
situations, different personalities, different opinions. 

10. The Fisher should always keep in mind the impor-
tance of his mission. The best-organized and best-staffed 
school or adult program will fall short of its objective 
unless the Fisher has achieved success in bringing chil-
dren, youth, and adults to instruction. Experience shows 
that Fishers generally are well received, because they are 
representatives of the pastor. 

55 



Chapter 7 

CONFRATERNITY HELPERS 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature Preparation 

Organization Duties 

"Greet. . . my helpers in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 1 6 : 3 ) . 

NATURE 

Helpers are CCD apostles who, by their zeal and per-
severance, perform the many and varied tasks without 
which the rest of the parish CCD activities could not suc-
cessfully function. Here is the place for those persons 
who, for one reason or another, are not in a position to 
teach or to engage in other activities of the local unit. 

ORGANIZATION 

The Chairman of Helpers, a member of the Executive 
Board, attends all its meetings, and takes part in the dis-
cussion and planning of the activity program of the vari-
ous Helper subcommittees. Specifically, this Chairman 

1. Studies the parish CCD calendar and anticipates future 
projects for Helpers; 

2. Recruits members for this division of the CCD; 

3. Arranges the training course for Helpers if not pro-
vided on the diocesan level; 

56 



4. Calls meetings of Helpers; 

5. Organizes subcommittees to take care of duties out-
lined below; 

6. Swings these groups into action when the need arises. 

PREPARATION 
Helpers should attend the general meetings of the parish 
CCD unit to obtain an over-all picture and a clear under-
standing of the purpose and organization of the CCD. A 
six-lesson training course, Suggested Preparatory Course 
for Confraternity Helpers (CCD-189), is available, and 
if it is not offered on a diocesan basis, should be given by 
the parish Chairman. A very important part of the Help-
ers' preparation can be obtained by enlisting the services 
of men and women in the parish who are professionally 
employed in the fields of art, public relations, printing, 
etc., to give talks and demonstrations on "how-to-do-it" 
techniques in making posters, charts, handbills. 

DUTIES 

In most parishes, Confraternity Helpers find almost un-
limited opportunities for consistent service. They may 
undertake the following work: 

CCD Records 

Keep the following records up to date: 

1. parish CCD membership — Active, Aggregate, and 
Associate — under direction of the Secretary: 

a. School year and Summer School enrollment; 

b. Discussion Clubs; 

c. Parent Educator groups; 

2. telephone numbers of club members who are to be 
notified in advance of meetings; 

57 



3. non-Catholics interested in future inquiry classes, 
etc.; 

4. lists of persons qualified to assist the CCD in 
specific ways. 

Transportation 

A sub-chairman of the Helpers' Committee should be 
appointed to contact car owners and arrange for them 
to call for: 

1. adults needing transportation to CCD meetings, 
Discussion Clubs, etc.; 

2. children needing transportation to and from Con-
fraternity classes in both the school year and Summer 
School programs; 

3. old or infirm persons to attend Mass or devotions. 

Art and Office Services 
There are in most parishes professional artists, writers, 
secretaries, and clerical workers who are anxious to use 
their talents in the cause of the Church. Such persons 
could be located at the time the parish survey is made, 
and asked to write, type, mimeograph; make posters and 
handbills to publicize meetings, classes, programs; mail 
notices to parents of children absent from Confraternity 
classes; make or obtain visual aids for Teachers. A special 
division of office service should be responsible for making 
publicity and promotion aids. These Helpers should use 
the modern business methods of advertising and promo-
tion to present the CCD to both parishioners and the gen-
eral public as "the choicest field of Catholic Action." A 
principal approach is through well-timed, attractive, pro-
fessional posters and well-designed fliers. 

58 



Elementary Religion Classes 

In areas where there is a shortage of teachers and the 
number of public school children necessitates large classes, 
there is a place for Helpers in the classroom. Persons 
who feel unqualified to enter the teaching apostolate are 
able to give invaluable aid by taking over for the Teacher 
important and time-consuming activities. They can: 

1. Be responsible for physical setup of the classroom; 
2. Be at the religion center well before class time, to 
assist the Teacher in having materials in readiness; 

3. Check attendance — preferably by diagram or chart 
method (the same diagram may be used to check 
prayers as the pupils learn them, etc.); 
4. Make up an absentee list to be given to the Chair-
man of the Fishers' division; 

5. Hear and check the required prayers of pupils in-
dividually; 
6. Assist in special classes for handicapped children by 
drilling in the required prayers, etc.; 

7. Assist the Teacher in the correction of homework 
or classwork; 
8. Help in the distribution and actual development of 
project materials, etc. 

Gradually the Helper should be encouraged by the 
Teacher to acquire actual teaching experience, by: (1) 
testing to determine how well the subject matter has been 
grasped by the pupils; (2) telling religious stories; (3) 
presenting doctrine, with the approval and assistance of 
the Teacher. 

High School Religion Classes 

The Helper may profitably assist the parish Director in 
his Confraternity program for public high school students 
in the following ways: 

59 



1. Plan and conduct (as hosts, recreation directors, 
chaperons) social hour activities which may be or-
ganized in connection with the High School Religion 
program; 

2. Carry out details of Confraternity-sponsored projects 
such as high school retreats, recollection days, Com-
munion breakfasts, parties, sports. 

Special Work for Summer Schools 
In addition to the above services, which Helpers may 
render Teachers in all School of Religion programs, are 
the following, which are specific to Summer Schools: 

1. Assort salvaged materials, place them in separate 
boxes or large manila envelopes, and label each con-
tainer; 

2. Assist the Teacher in carrying out the project tech-
nique. Consult with the Chairman of Lay Teachers 
about the number of children enrolled and learn what 
specific projects are to be developed. Material should 
be provided according to enrollment needs. 

Development of a religion project, such as a booklet, 
gives the pupil an opportunity to work at his own pace 
and ability, and provides concrete exemplification of the 
abstract doctrines. 

Sitter Service 
Helpers care for preschool children while parents are at-
tending Mass, meetings, days of recollection, Discussion 
Clubs, or participating in other CCD activities. 

Redistribution of Literature 
Collect from members of the parish for redistribution: 
Catholic papers, pamphlets, magazines, books, and other 
available forms of Catholic literature, for Fishers and 
Apostles of Good Will to distribute according to local 

60 



need in hospitals, railroad and bus stations, charitable 
and penal institutions, and to remail to nominal Catholics. 
Notwithstanding the traditional allocation of this work 
to the Helpers, in some parishes the members of the Apos-
tolate of Good Will mail new and selected used litera-
ture to non-Catholics. 

Not every piece of Catholic literature is appropriate for 
distribution to non-Catholics. A priest or his appointee 
should examine all material collected, to assure its suit-
ability. All literature should be clean and folded. Soiled 
or torn magazines and newspapers make poor messengers. 
Publishers of suitable inexpensive leaflets and pamphlets 
on Catholic doctrine are listed in Chapter 12, pp. 141-142. 

A Parish Confraternity Library 

A good working library is a valuable asset to a CCD 
parish unit. It should be supplied with current religion 
books and be serviced by Helpers. (For CCD book lists, 
see The Family Book Shelf — PE-38 — and Reference 
Lists at the back of each manual of A Confraternity Re-
ligion Course.) 

Salvage 

Salvage the following materials for use in religion pro-
jects (the Chairman of Helpers should designate a place 
where they may be sent) and ask all members of the par-
ish to bring or send: 

1. Religious pictures, especially colored ones, from 
magazines, greeting cards, calendars, etc. 

Use: small pictures for projects, large pictures to 
develop visual materials for teachers. 

2. Paper — silver, gold, all colors, from envelope lin-
ings; wallpaper; samples and leftovers from paper 

61 



dealers; cards and booklet covers; used manila en-
velopes. 

Use: mounting pictures, making miniature vest-
ments and sacred vessels; booklet covers. Keep 
colored papers assorted in separate envelopes. 

3. Cardboard, beaver and wallboard. Request leftovers 
from dealers. 

Use: plaque and picture mountings; miniature al-
tars, shrines, churches. 

6 2 



Chapter 8 

LAY TEACHERS 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Need Organization 

Indulgences Training 

The art of teaching is a vocation. It calls for aptitude 
and training as well as consecration; hence it is a special 
kind of vocation. All Catholics receive at Confirmation 
special graces to participate in the apostolate. Those 
who teach in the Confraternity program are acting as 
fully responsible members of the Mystical Body of 
Christ — for their own good and the good of society. 

In the Motu Proprio establishing the Catechetical Office 
at the Sacred Congregation of the Council, Pope Pius XI 
declared: "We cannot omit recommending most warmly 
to all associations of Catholic men and women that they 
assist in conducting religious instructions in their parishes; 
and thus by helping the clergy in this kind of ministry, 
which is more holy and necessary than any other, they 
deserve the gratitude of the Church." To these words, 
let us add those of Pope Pius XII spoken to Teachers of 
Religion at Rome in 1950. They apply to all CCD Teach-
ers and to the entire teaching apostolate of the Confrater-
nity for both youth and adults: 

NEED 

63 



"We are happy to give Our approval to all engaged 
in teaching, and We praise you highly for the immense 
labors which you have expended all over the world to 
enlighten and inform youth with the riches of wisdom 
and with knowledge of Christian Faith, and, moreover, to 
fortify those of more advanced years with this same in-
struction to the great benefit and progress of the entire 
Church of God. 

"Because of the lack of sufficient priests, it is neces-
sary and most urgent that men and women of the laity be 
selected each year and that they be prepared and organ-
ized to teach religion." 

INDULGENCES 

Members of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine who 
are at least contrite of heart can gain a partial indulgence 
of 300 days if they attend the exercises or meetings of 
the Confraternity, and 10 years if they go out from the 
city and teach catechism in small towns or in the country. 

A plenary indulgence is granted to all the faithful who, 
for approximately a half-hour, or not less than twenty 
minutes, devote themselves at least twice a month to 
teaching or learning Christian Doctrine. 

For the conditions under which the many indulgences 
granted to CCD members may be gained, see the section 
on Indulgences (pp. 150-153). 

ORGANIZATION 

The Chairman of Teachers 

Carries out the directives of the Parish Executive Board 
in recruiting and training lay Teachers of religion and in 
organizing and conducting the parish School of Religion 
in both school year and Summer School programs. 

64 



Duties: 

The Chairman 

1. Recruits Teachers; 
2. Arranges for the training of prospective Teachers, 
on either a diocesan or a parish level; 

3. Calls meetings of Teachers in advance of each opera-
tion; 
4. Manages the parish School of Religion: 

a. selects time and place for classes 
b. selects course of studies (under advice of the 
Director) 
c. specifies teaching materials, aids, and texts 
d. assigns classes to Teachers 
e. alerts the following Chairmen, well in advance, 
of the type of collaboration needed from their divi-
sions for each branch of the school: 

1) Fishers, for: recruiting and registering for 
classes 
maintaining attendance 

2) Helpers, for: Teachers' aids 
transportation services 
records 
baby-sitting in homes of Teach-
ers 
making p r o m o t i o n a l posters, 
visual aids, awards, etc. 

Qualifications of Teachers 

Essential qualifications to consider in recruiting lay Teach-
ers are that the prospective Teacher: 

1. give good example as a practical Catholic; 
2. have zeal for God's glory and his neighbor's welfare; 

3. be co-operative; 

65 



4. be persevering and dependable; 

5. be "fortified by a solid faith and a love of prayer."1 

Who Are Eligible? 

In making up the teaching staff, general invitations such 
as announcements from the altar or in the parish bulletin 
are not only good but necessary in order to reach all pos-
sible volunteers. In addition, however, a personal invi-
tation from the priest Director or the Chairman of 
Teachers brings quickest results. 

Those needed may be classified as follows: 

1. Teachers for released time classes must be men and 
women who are free at the time needed. Potential sources 
are: 

a. parents of children in school, or of grown families; 

b. retired schoolteachers; 
c. college students. 

2. Teachers for non-released time classes held on Satur-
days or weekday evenings may be from (b) and (c) 
groups above, as well as the following: 

a. public school teachers; 

b. young parents; 

c. other employed men and women; 
d. high school juniors and/or seniors (with proper 
instruction and supervision, they often make successful 
elementary Teachers of religion). 

TEACHER TRAINING 
"Christian Doctrine and Catholic Faith . . . can hardly 

produce salutary fruit in the souls of men unless they are 

1 Pope Pius XII to Teachers of Religion (CCD-95), from an ad-
dress to the International Catechetical Congress, Rome, October 14, 1950. 

66 



imparted by teachers and instructors with that complete-
ness, skill, cheerfu lness , and effort which is urgently 
required.... "2 

A program for the training of Teachers for the parish 
CCD School of Religion is usually available through the 
CCD diocesan office. Every advantage should be taken of 
teacher training courses held in the diocese. Regular 
attendance should be promoted and facilitated. 

Prospective Teachers should take two courses to prepare 
them for this important work: one on the content of Chris-
tian doctrine and another on methods of teaching religion 
to public school children. For certification, it is recom-
mended that the course in doctrine be 30-60 hours and 
the one in methods 30 hours. 

The National Center of the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine has two publications that offer assistance to 
those who plan the methods course: Course for Training 
Religion Teachers Who Instruct Public Elementary School 
Pupils (CCD-235), and Course for Confraternity Teach-
ers in Service (CCD-192). 

There are times when it is not possible to offer group 
preparation to lay catechists. With the right intention and 
careful preparation of each lesson, an individual may 
begin his or her teaching and strive to make up for de-
ficiency in training by reading such texts as The Adaptive 
Way of Teaching Confraternity Classes (Catechetical 
Guild, St. Paul 2, Minn.) or Confraternity Teacher's 
Guide (Bruce, Milwaukee, Wis.), and by studying pri-

.vately This We Believe: By This We Live (No. 3 Cate-
chism prepared for adults, with related Scripture refer-
ences and explanations of doctrine). , 

2 Ibid. 

67 



In some rural areas, intensive training (four hours daily 
for one week) is conducted by the Diocesan Director and 
a Sister catechist. 

Bible, Liturgy, and Catechism 

The Teacher in process of training as well as the experi-
enced Teacher will make vital use of the above basic 
sources for his lessons in religious education. The cate-
chism is the text used by both the Teacher and the pupil, 
but in different ways. For the Teacher, the catechism 
furnishes the theological content of the day's lesson only; 
he uses a manual which contains the particular part of 
the catechism material to be taught, and develops it by way 
of the Bible and the liturgy, aided by a complete lesson 
plan containing illustrations, exercises, and correlation of 
doctrine and precept with actual life and conduct. For the 
pupil, the catechism material is similarly developed in a 
book graded to his age and capacity, clothed in attractive 
and lively language, embel l i shed with explanations, 
opened up for discussion, and assimilated by working ex-
ercises, tests, and cases. Such is the pedagogically correct 
way to use the Baltimore Catechism as it was intended 
by its originators: employing the bare and condensed 
theology only as core material or the basis for both the 
Teacher's manual and the pupil's explanatory text. 

68 



Chapter 9 

SCHOOLS OF RELIGION 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Authority 

Key to Success 

Organization 

Elementary School 

High School 

Summer School 

Correspondence 
Courses 

Special Classes 

AUTHORITY OF BISHOPS AND PASTORS 

Although the religious education of Catholics attending 
secular schools is a problem national in scope, its solution, 
as far as the Church is concerned, rests with the Ordinary 
of each diocese. The organization, procedure, and course 
of religious education for the Catholic pupils in secular 
schools is completely under the jurisdiction of the bishop 
and the local pastors. The Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine, canonically erected in all parishes of a diocese 
by the bishop, is recognized by the Church as the official 
means of providing religious education for all Catholics 
of the parish who are outside the Catholic school system. 

Experience in both urban and rural parishes indicates that 
religious education through the Confraternity will be most 
effective where there is a parish "CCD School of Religion" 

KEY TO SUCCESS 

69 



mentality. A complete Catholic education may be obtained 
only in a Catholic school, yet the Confraternity School of 
Religion is very important inasmuch as it teaches, in Grade 
1 to Grade 12, only religion, the most important of all 
subjects, to those for whom a Catholic school education is 
impossible. Its success in providing a good religious edu-
cation for these pupils, however, is very largely dependent 
upon their being punctual and regular in attendance at 
all CCD classes, during both the school year and Summer 
School, throughout their years in public school. Every 
means, therefore, should be used to impress this upon the 
pupils and their parents. 

ORGANIZATION 
The Chairman of Teachers, as explained in Chapter 8, is 
responsible for organizing and conducting the elementary, 
secondary, and special Schools of Religion in the parish, 
both school year and summer programs. He may act as 
principal of the whole program or have co-chairmen as 
principals of each section of the school. In all his duties, 
he is assisted by the other members of the board, partic-
ularly the Chairmen of Fishers and Helpers, and as many 
co-chairmen as are deemed necessary by the Director. 

Location of Clatmcs 
It is of paramount importance to provide a separate class-
room for each grade in a religion school. Where there is 
a parochial school building, its classrooms are made avail-
able to the CCD School of Religion when needed, after 
regular school hours during the week and/or on Satur-
days. Where there is not a parish school, efforts should be 
made to build a catechetical center with permanent class-
rooms or sliding partitions which form several rooms 
when needed. If this is not presently possible, the Chair-
man of Teachers should seek out for use a sufficient num-
ber of rooms near the church; as, in the rectory, sacristy, 

70 



convent, private homes, vacant stores, etc. If only a few 
rooms can be obtained, the religion periods may be stag-
gered to provide graded classes for the entire school. 

In all situations, the heating, lighting, ventilation, and 
teaching facilities should be good. A religious atmosphere 
can be created in each makeshift classroom by providing 
a crucifix, statue, shrine, or picture. 

Records 

The Chairman of Teachers co-operates with the Secretary 
and the Chairman of Helpers to assure that attendance 
records and permanent record cards are kept. Report cards 
are best given out at a time to coincide with distribution 
of report cards in the public school. The signature of the 
parents on these report cards is one means for maintaining 
contact between them and the School of Religion. 

Discipline 

The maintenance of discipline is of utmost importance for 
effective teaching. 

The immediate aim of discipline is to create in the class-
room an atmosphere of orderly activity that will best 
bring about a condition of efficient and fruitful teaching. 
The very subject matter of religion — God and His teach-
ing — forms the fundamental purpose of life, and should 
impart to the pupils that seriousness and reverence which 
is incompatible with levity or disorder in any form. 

The two chief factors which enter into an understanding 
of true discipline are authority and obedience. From time 
to time, as occasion demands, the following root principle 
should be explained to the members of the class: All au-
thority comes from God, and we are bound to obey God 
and those whom He has placed over us as our superiors — 
parents, teachers, spiritual and civil authorities. 

71 



As a general rule, if the Teacher does his work well and 
external classroom conditions are favorable, disciplinary 
problems will be reduced to a minimum. That is to say, 
discipline is indirectly assured through careful preparation 
by the Teacher and by his alert, energetic, confident, and 
businesslike conduct of the class. 

The physical conditions of the classroom — light, tem-
perature, seating arrangement, blackboard facilities, etc. — 
have a definite relation to discipline and good teaching. 

Attendance 

Attendance may be stimulated by: 

1. classes well taught by Teachers trained in CCD 
methods; 
2. an efficient corps of Fishers and Helpers; 

3. an attendance chart; 
4. report cards signed monthly or quarterly by the 
parents; 

5. semester awards for perfect attendance; 
6. encouraging the children to bring others to class. 

Closing Exercises and Exhibit 

If possible, closing exercises should include Mass and a 
Communion breakfast followed by a short program and 
the presentation of awards and certificates. To emphasize 
the necessity of attending the School of Religion for 12 
years, it is advisable to give only promotion certificates 
to pupils passing from the elementary to the high school, 
and diplomas to those graduating from the High School 
of Religion. An exhibit of work done by the pupils in re-
ligion classes during the year and especially in Summer 
School can be an attraction for parents at the closing day 
as well as an encouragement to the children in the future. 

72 



Released Time 

The problem of student attendance at CCD classes can be 
solved to a great extent where the released time system 
prevails. The aim of the released time program is to 
provide religious education for pupils of public schools to 
an admittedly limited extent. The plan applies equally on 
the elementary and secondary levels. Where the system 
prevails, pupils, at the request of parents, are excused by 
the public school authorities from their usual public school 
program for an hour (or more) a week, either on a simul-
taneous released schedule or on a staggered schedule, to 
enter classes in religion held off school property — in.a 
CCD center, other parish building, or private home near 
the public school. "Released" time differs from "dis-
missed" time by which public schools dismiss all students 
for one hour one afternoon during the week, for what-
ever their parents wish them to do. 

Released time programs for religious education OFF PUB-
LIC SCHOOL PREMISES have been held to be constitutional 
by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of 
Zorach vs. Clauson, 72 Sp. Ct. 679 (1952). State courts 
following this decision have emphasized that such pro-
grams must not involve the public school mechanism: 
teachers, for example, may not administer any aspect of 
the program. Though state legislation authorizing a 
religious education program is necessary in many states, 
others have ruled that a school board resolution is suffici-
ent. Specific enabling legislation is always preferable. 

Programs of religious education ON PUBLIC SCHOOL PREM-
ISES, in the opinion of the Supreme Court of the United 
States (McCollum vs. Board of Education, 68 Sp. Ct. 461, 
1947) are contrary to the First Amendment to the Con-
stitution. Such programs stand little chance of survival in 
a judicial test. 

73 



The CCD diocesan office generally is in a position to 
supply parishes with pertinent information on the legal 
status of released time programs within the state. Before 
attempting to obtain released time locally, a pastor should 
contact the Diocesan CCD Director. He will have to 
obtain full information regarding the status of R-T in the 
state and the steps which must be taken to obtain it in a 
particular area. It is preferable for one representative to 

(be the liaison between the Church and the state in this 
matter. When possible, it is advantageous to work out 
the released time schedule with local Protestant and Jew-
ish groups so that all students may be released at the 
same time. 

Specific suggestions for the various sections of the 
CCD School of Religion program follow under 
these subdivisions of this chapter: 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF RELIGION 

HIGH SCHOOL OF RELIGION 

SUMMER SCHOOL OF RELIGION 

CORRESPONDENCE COURSES IN RELIGION 

SPECIAL CLASSES IN THE RELIGION SCHOOL 

E L E M E N T A R Y S C H O O L O F R E L I G I O N 

The standard CCD Elementary School of Religion is one 
in which formal religious education classes are organized 
and conducted during the school year for all Catholic 
children in elementary grades who do not attend a Cath-
olic school. 

NECESSITY 

The CCD is filling an increasingly important role in the 
crisis which confronts the Catholic schools. Today ap-
proximately 50 per cent of our Catholic children of ele-
mentary school age are enrolled in public schools. They 

7 4 



have a right as well as a need for solid religious education 
through which their Faith may become a living reality. 

TIME SCHEDULE 

Careful consideration is necessary in selecting the day 
and hour for the religion classes in order to assure the 
best attendance. At least two hours a week are urgently 
recommended, even where there is released time. Released 
time classes should be considered supplementary, because 
the actual instruction period is shorter than in a class held 
after school or on Saturday. 

In a number of individual parishes now, and in one entire 
diocese, the CCD Elementary Schools of Religion during 
the school year are conducted in the manner of a Summer 
School; i. e., pupils attend for three hours every Saturday 
morning. The program includes an integrated course on 
Doctrine, Scripture, and Liturgy; supervised recreation, 
Catholic Action, vocation or mission activities, and Mass 
either in the first period or the last. Where this full 
three-hour schedule is carried out weekly during the school 
year, it is not necessary to conduct a Summer School of 
Religion. 

GRADING 

Children should be grouped according to their public 
school grades. When there is a great difference in reli-
gious backgrounds, older children will need special in-
struction and extra reading material. 

COURSE OF STUDY 

The Teacher should study carefully the course assigned 
and should know the directives given by the diocesan CCD 
office. 

75 



The Confraternity makes available for teachers of ele-
mentary school children A Confraternity Religion Course: 
School Year, a graded course which is presented in three 
manuals: 

First for Grades I and II, based on the First Com-
munion Catechism; 

Second for Grades III, IV, and V, based on the No. 1 
Catechism; 

Third for Grades VI, VII, and VIII, based on the No. 
2 Catechism. 

Following are some of the helps contained in each manual: 

GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE CATECHIST 

SUMMARY OF FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES 

H o w T o PREPARE THE LESSON PLAN 

and for each grade: 

SUMMARY OF DOCTRINE 

DIRECTIONS FOR THE CATECHIST 

SAMPLE DEVELOPED LESSON PLAN 

GENERAL OBJECTIVES 

LESSON OUTLINES. 

The Lesson Outlines, however, may be developed accord-
ing to the particular method in which a teacher has been 
trained. At the back of each manual are lists to be used 
in selecting pupil texts, visual aids, missals, prayer books, 
periodicals, etc., and a Directory of Publishers. 

The inherent value of the manuals for the Teacher is that 
they incorporate the material that must be taught for each 
lesson in a text separate from the catechism. This keeps 
the catechism as a source book for the doctrine and pre-
cept that are fu l ly expla ined and illustrated in the 
Teacher's manual. 

The catechism, therefore, must be always supplemented 
by other explanatory texts besides the manual: work-

76 



books, learning exercises, teaching techniques, and lesson 
plans. The catechism is condensed theology. Entire li-
braries have gone into its make-up. It must not be given 
to the child in all its stark nakedness, but must be clothed 
in attractive and lively language suited to the pupils, 
embellished with explanations, opened up for discussion, 
and assimilated by working exercises, tests, and cases. 

THE KERYGMA 

The Teacher of religion should be familiar with the latest 
developments in the field of catechetics, not only of meth-
ods but likewise of content. To the rich category of 
content belongs the KERYGMATIC APPROACH, also vari-
ously known as the KERYGMATIC RENEWAL or SYNTHESIS. 
The KERYGMA, or message, was the first announcement of 
Christ's teaching to unbelievers by the Apostles; it was 
the Good News of salvation that they preached with joy 
and witnessed even to the shedding of their blood. The 
Kerygmatic synthesis offers the CCD Teacher today the 
story of salvation replete with its own inner dynamism"^ 
a treasure fit to set the hearts and souls of others on fire 
with zeal and love. 

The Kerygma is not a method; method is its handmaid. 
Method is a formal classroom teaching procedure, which 
includes the usual steps of preparation, presentation, ex-
planation, application, and summary, together with the 
pupil activities. This entire method of presentation must 
embrace the Kerygmatic content. 

The Confraternity has from the beginning employed all 
the basic elements of the Kerygmatic approach in its 
graded manuals: the emphasis on certain central truths, 
which are repeated at each grade level, Bible story, liturgy, 
and practical application of each lesson to everyday life. 
Christ is the center of the CCD course of studies and 
around His person and teaching revolve all the lessons of 
the catechism. 

77 



H I G H S C H O O L O F R E L I G I O N 

NATURE 

A standard High School of Religion is composed of or-
ganized classes conducted weekly during the school year 
over a period of four years for all Catholic youth en-
rolled in the public high school. The classes are held at 
the time most convenient to the students: some dioceses 
have found evening classes taught by a staff of lay men 
and women most successful, especially if all faiths together 
petition the public school to declare one night "church 
night" and not to schedule other events on that evening. 
Classes on released or dismissed time are recommended 
when legally permitted. Classes after school hours, or on 
Saturdays and Sundays, are held to increase the hours 
per week to two at least. 

NEED 

The most important, yet the most difficult, field of Con-
fraternity work is with public high school youth, because 
it is hard to impress them or their parents with the fact 
that religious education must keep pace with secular edu-
cation for a balanced and full development into adult-
hood. School activities tend to absorb not only students' 
days but their evenings. The public high school today 
undertakes to provide for leisure time as well as the 
school-day program for its youth, leaving little or no 
time for either Church or home to deal with the adoles-
cent. 

The high school group is important, moreover, because of 
its numbers: some 80 per cent of all Catholic youth 
attend high schools. In addition, many other boys and 
girls who have left school before graduation should be 
enrolled in the High School of Religion to provide for 
their need of religious education. Other factors add to 

78 



the gravity of the present situation. Boys and girls enter 
high school as children; they leave as young men and 
young women. All problems, except that of religion, are 
considered during the high school years from the point 
of view of the adult mind. If the youth passes through 
these years without reflecting on religion as an adult, he 
will emerge with a dangerously unbalanced viewpoint — 
namely, an adult's understanding of social, economic, polit-
ical, and literary topics, and a child's view of religion. 
Thus, the total outlook of the youth as he enters adult 
life is seriously impaired by immature religious thinking. 

MEETING THE NEED 

Diocesan Directors of the Confraternity of Christian Doc-
trine in the United States have collaborated for years to 
meet this problem of providing adequate religious educa-
tion for public high school students. Their efforts have 
resulted in the preparation of a manual, How to Plan and 
Conduct the Parish CCD High School of Religion (CCD-
237), which offers parishes an aid in the planning, or-
ganization, and operation of a practical program. It is not 
a course of study or an outline of lesson plans, but a 
guide for the laity in making the High School of Religion 
program effective through the parish unit of the Confra-
ternity of Christian Doctrine. Parish Directors and Teach-
ers of high school CCD classes will find it invaluable. 

STANDARDS 

From their experience, Diocesan CCD Directors have 
agreed to the following standards to improve high school 
religious education. Suggestions to meet these standards 
are given in How to Plan and Conduct the Parish CCD 
High School of Religion, in the chapters indicated in 
parentheses after each directive. 

1. The High School of Religion is best served by a parish 
unit of the CCD. (Ch. I) 

7 9 



2. Adequate facilities should be provided for classes. 
(Ch. I) 

3. Where possible, advantage should be taken of public 
school academic credits for Bible or other religious edu-
cation. (Ch. I) 

4. Classes should be small and grouped on the basis of 
grading in public school. (Ch. I) 

5. Lay Teachers should be used where needed for high 
school classes, after training according to a diocesan or 
parochial plan. (Chs. V, VI) 

6. The religion text(s) adopted should provide relatively 
complete coverage of Catholic doctrine and practice. (Ch. 
IV lists available courses.) 

7. Practical means (CCD Fishers) should be consistently 
used for recruiting and maintaining attendance. (Ch. II) 

8. Methods of teaching should be adapted to the needs 
and interests of the students. (Ch. VIII) 

9. Individual students, particularly in larger parishes, 
should have an opportunity for spiritual and moral guid-
ance. (Chs. VIII, IX, X, XI) 

10. A social hour program, under lay leadership, is a 
valuable complement to the instruction period. (Ch. XII) 

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING 

Guidance and counseling have assumed a wide and useful 
role at all levels of education; however, their scope for 
the CCD High School of Religion is necessarily limited. 
In principle, the program should include all the elements 
of personal, educational, and vocational guidance. In 
practice, the time, personnel, and resources available will 
determine what can be done. The Teacher, zealous for 
the welfare of his students, and familiar with the basic 
factors of guidance and' counseling, should be able to 
satisfy principal needs. When special problems warrant 

8 0 



such services, referral must be made to a professional 
counselor. 

As a practical measure, the priest Director of the CCD 
program can inform the director of student personnel in 
the public high school of the services offered to Catholic 
students by the Religion School. The staff of the CCD 
High School should be familiar with the public high 
school guidance program and the methods and techniques 
employed. The public school authorities in most cases 
will be very co-operative and will refer cases involving 
Catholic students to their counterpart in the CCD High 
School of Religion. 

SUMMER S C H O O L O F R E L I G I O N 

NATURE 

A standard Summer School of Religion (Religious Vaca-
tion School) is an organized School of Religion conducted 
during the summer vacation (usually as soon as the pub-
lic school session closes) for four weeks, five days a 
week, three hours each forenoon. It is for children who 
do not attend a Catholic school — both those who enroll 
in Confraternity classes during the year and those who do 
not. Experience (since 1921) points conclusively to the 
value of a four-week session in terms of the child's learn-
ing, interest, enthusiasm, and attendance. Where the 
above is impractical, a three-week session is sometimes 
planned; a sixth day, Saturday, may be added. A two-
week Summer School with daily sessions both morning 
and afternoon is difficult for Teachers and children. Fa-
tigue, resulting in diminished learning, interest, and 
enthusiasm, is inevitable. When local conditions demand 
this double session, it should be recognized as a tem-
porary necessity only, to be changed as soon as possible. 

81 



The summer program provides an intensive review of 
the school year religion course. It creates for the public 
school child a Catholic school atmosphere for four 
weeks — 20 days, 60 hours. In addition to the doctrine 
lessons, opportunity is provided for related activities — 
religion projects associated with the lessons, and Scripture, 
Church history, dialogue Mass, hymns, dramatizations. 
Such enrichment is prohibited, or at least limited, during 
the school year program due to the time element. 

PERSONNEL 

The parish board, through the Chairman of Teachers, and 
under the direction of the priest Director, obtains the 
personnel for the Summer School of Religion: 

Teachers. In many areas two or three Sisters are invited 
to assist. In a number of dioceses, seminarians participate 
and teach in both rural and urban centers. But to pro-
vide the graded classes necessary for effective religious 
education, lay Teachers are also essential. The parish 
Chairman of Teachers may act as principal or supervisor 
of the school or appoint a co-chairman for this role. 

Fishers and Helpers also are vital to the program (see 
pp. 51, 60 in this MANUAL). As workers in the Summer 
School must be available on weekday mornings, they may 
comprise a different group from that which serves the 
Confraternity program during the school year. This may 
necessitate enlisting and training more persons — often 
mothers of children who will attend Summer School or 
local high school youth. Men and women college stu-
dents, at home for the summer, are usually willing and 
qualified to serve. Some may have received training 
through their college or high school CCD units. 

82 



GRADING AND GROUPING 

Each child should be in the same grade as during the past 
school year. When the number of pupils or teachers in 
a parish is so small that this is difficult, two or more 
parishes may combine for an inter-parish Summer School. 
This is practical in both city and rural areas, the latter 
using the services of Helpers or buses for transportation 
of teachers and pupils. 

The class schedule can be so arranged that two or three 
trained catechists teach all the doctrine classes while one 
or two Helpers engage the children who are not in doc-
trine class in other pertinent, related activities. Efforts 
could be made to incorporate a Summer School of Religion 
program into the schedule of a summer day-camp with 
the necessary modifications which the situation demands. 

COURSE OF STUDY 

A Confraternity Religion Course: Summer School manuals 
for Grades I-II, III-V and VI-VIII correlate Doctrine, 
Scripture and Liturgy, and take into consideration many 
factors encountered only in Summer School. Many chil-
dren register in kindergarten or first grade for school 
year religious education and attend faithfully through the 
years. Others register initially in second, third, or even 
a higher grade. There are also children who are irregular 
in attendance. In many places children of all these cate-
gories will attend the Summer School of Religion. Partic-
ularly in rural areas where distances are great, children 
will attend who have received little if any formal class 
instruction. Some may have taken a Religious Correspond-
ence Course through the year. To meet these problems, 
the Summer Course repeats the fundamental doctrines six 
times in the eight-year course. Thus the children who have 
attended regularly have studied these doctrines six times, 
while those who have attended irregularly have at least 

83 



learned the fundamental truths of religion, though with-
out the detail and repetition that are desirable. 

Ordinarily children attending CCD classes prepare for 
and make their First Confession and First Holy Commu-
nion during the school year. The Summer School, how-
ever, offers an opportunity for special preparation of 
those who, for one reason or another, have not been pre-
pared during the year. The Teacher's manual for Grades 
I-II outlines "Special Instructions for First Confession and 
First Holy Communion," and the volume for Grades III-
V, "Special Instructions for Confirmation." When needed, 
these should be given in addition to the regular grade 
lessons. 

The Confraternity manuals present, for each day, a pro-
gram of religion beginning with assistance at Mass and 
continuing with prayer and the doctrine lesson developed 
through Scripture, pictures, and project work. Singing 
and recreation periods are also included in the daily sched-
ule (see below). 

PROJECT BOOKS 

An important part of the Summer School day is the project 
period, in which each child develops his own book; he 
thus has an opportunity to use additional senses in learn-
ing and in organizing his knowledge. He gains further 
experience in thinking of the application of the lessons to 
daily life. When the Summer School is over, the project 
book continues as a reminder and a review of lessons 
learned. The project book also takes into the home the 
lessons the child has learned. The manuals for A CCD 
Religion Course: Summer School contain a chapter on 
"Religion Projects" and a list of available project books 
under "Visual Aids" in the reference section at the back 
of each. 

8 4 



SUGGESTED DAILY SCHEDULE 

8:1s1 Holy Mass. 

9:00 Opening prayers and hymn, Salute to the Cross, 
and Salute to the Flag. 

9:10 Sacred Story and Picture Study; Christian Doc-
trine and Religious Practice combined in the 
lesson for the day. 

10:10 Recess with supervised recreation. 

10:30 Singing Period. 

10:45 Liturgical Period. 

11:00 Project (part may be used for Story Period). 

11:50 Closing Prayers. 

12:00 Dismissal (followed by visit to church if with-
in easy distance). 

The daily schedule can be planned according to local cir-
cumstances. Suggestions as well as an explanation of 
each part of the above schedule are conta ined in the 
Teachers' manuals. 

ADVANCE PREPARATION 

The success of the Summer School of Religion depends 
largely on long- range preparation, and the Executive 
Board should begin planning early in each new year, 
especially regarding the following: 

Religious Supervisors 

Where a Director desires Sisters or seminarians to take 
charge of his Summer School of Religion he should make 
application well in advance, through the Diocesan CCD 

1 To permit more children to receive Holy Communion daily, without 
the necessity of providing breakfast for them, many parishes now sched-
ule the daily Summer School Mass for the last period instead of the first 
in the program. 

85 



Director, and specify his preference of community, num-
ber, and particular Teachers needed. 

Training of Lay Staff 

Where the staff of the Summer School of Religion differs 
from that of the school year program, prospective 
Teachers who have not had the diocesan CCD training 
course should be given, on the parish basis, a minimum 
preparatory course: six weekly two-hour classes. Where 
there are Sisters available during the school year in the 
parish, they might be asked to give this course and/or 
class demonstrations. Additional helps will be found in 
the manuals of A Confraternity Religion Course: Summer 
School. There are also available 12-hour, six-session 
training courses for Fishers, Helpers, etc. 
An annual Summer School rally on a diocesan, deanery, 
or parish level is an excellent refresher for all CCD work-
ers and is of particular value to new ones. One success-
ful rally program includes work groups for each division 
of workers who will participate in the Summer School, 
and a model demonstration of an entire morning at 
school. 

Properties 

Items that should be on hand before the opening day in-
clude: blackboard, chalk, erasers, crayons, paste, scissors, 
as well as texts and project books for each grade in suf-
ficient quantity; playthings (bats, balls, skipping ropes, 
puzzles, etc.); religious articles to be used as awards. 
The Chairman of Teachers submits a list of needed ar-
ticles in the quantity required, for the approval of the 
board. The Secretary orders them immediately. It should 
be remembered that it is better to be overstocked with 
texts and projects than to order short of the need. It is 
too late after Summer School opens to order materials 
and receive them in time to be of any practical use. 

86 



Publicity 

The Executive Board supervises all publicity. The Secre-
tary and the Chairman of Helpers carry out the board's 
directives. The following campaign of publicity has 
proved successful: 

1. Lively articles describing and picturing "the fun" 
of a Summer School of Religion are fed, three or four 
weeks in advance, to the Religion Editor of the local 
secular Sunday paper (articles in the diocesan Cath-
olic paper will be handled by the diocesan CCD office). 

2. Pulpit or parish bulletin announcements for parents 
are made weekly for the month preceding the opening 
date of school. 

3. Attractive posters at the entrance to the church and 
the CCD center are put up a month in advance. 
4. Handbills announcing the Summer School of Re-
ligion— its attractive features, the time and place — 
are distributed to children in CCD classes a few weeks 
before the closing of the school year program and to 
parents at the closing day exercises. Early registration 
for SSR is urged, and a tear-off slip, if provided for 
this purpose at the bottom of the handbill, is helpful. 

5. Fishers make personal contact with all who do not 
register in advance and check on all preregistrants who 
fail to come on the opening day.. 
6. Announcement of Closing Day Exercises for the 
Summer School is made from the pulpit or by parish 
bulletin at least a week in advance; and/or through 
written invitations issued to parents of the children 
attending. 

C O R R E S P O N D E N C E COURSES I N R E L I G I O N 

The Religious Correspondence Course provides a means 
of instruction for children and adults who cannot be 
reached or assembled for regular religious education. It 

8 7 



is usually set up on a diocesan basis with a central office 
of administration, which is often headed by a teaching 
Sister or two. Pupils enrolled receive a religion lesson 
a week, accompanied by test exercises and occasional sup-
plementary reading material. Papers are returned to the 
center, corrected, and sent back to the pupil at the same 
time that a new lesson is mailed to him. 

Many dioceses with large rural populations conduct Reli-
gious Correspondence Courses. Pastors in places needing 
such a service, even for a very few, should find out 
whether one exists in their diocese. If not, a written in-
quiry to one of the addresses given below will bring full 
information and directives regarding a course by mail. It 
is well to make inquiry before September in order to 
complete all necessary arrangements in time for the chil-
dren to receive the first lesson for their particular grades. 

COURSES AVAILABLE 

For Children 

Information about the following Diocesan Correspond-
ence Courses for children may be obtained from: 

Austin — Rev. Mark Dee r ing , CCD Director, 1401 
Washington Ave., Waco, Texas. 

Boise — Father John's Course. 
Reverend CCD Director, Box 891, Boise, Idaho. 

Fargo — Sisters of Service, 608 So. 9th St., Fargo, N. D. 
Grand Rapids — Religion Correspondence Course. 

Marian Publications, 2025 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids 
3, Mich. 

Kansas City, Kans. — Elementary Correspondence 
Course. 
Mt. St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kans. 
High School Correspondence Course. 
Mt. St. Mary College, Mt. St. Mary, Kans. 

88 



Little Rock — Reverend Confraternity Director, 3091/2 
West Second St., Little Rock, Ark. 

Oklahoma City-Tulsa — Reverend Confraternity Direc-
tor, 2706 S. Shartel Ave., Oklahoma City 9, Okla. 

Peoria — Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Course. 
Reverend Confraternity Director, St. Catherine's Rec-
tory, Aledo, 111. 

Wichita — Religious Correspondence School (Elemen-
tary and High School). 
Sacred Heart College, Wichita, Kans. 

Parental interest is invariably keen in the correspond-
ence courses followed by the children. When notes of en-
couragement are written on the corrected exercises, par-
ents are quick to perceive that the instructor's special at-
tention is being given their children. They in turn fre-
quently write personal letters in which they seek advice 
about problems at home. Thus is opened up an avenue 
by which helpful counsel and spiritual direction may be 
given to families who are deprived of many of the normal 
consolations of religion. Also, parents may make use of 
the weekly lessons to give personal religious instruction to 
their children, especially the younger ones. Sometimes 
an informal study circle is organized in the home, so 
that all members of the family may benefit by the course. 

For Adults 

The following courses are for non-Catholics interested 
in learning something about Catholic beliefs, for Catho-
lics who wish to know more about the Faith, and for 
shut-ins. Prospective teachers in rural areas often receive 
their doctrinal training by enrolling in the C. I. S. Course 
(No. 2 below). 

1. Associated Catholic Correspondence Courses, Confra-
ternity Home-Study Service, 442 2 Lindell Blvd., St. 
Louis 8, Mo. 

89 



Course One: popular for instruction of adult non-
Catholics. Father Smith Instructs Jackson covers the 
Creed, the Commandments, and the Sacraments. Six 
test sheets included with the course, FREE TO NON-
CATHOLICS. Donations are accepted from Catholics 
sponsoring non-Catholics' instruction. $3.00 
Course Two: The Church of the Scriptures (Acts of the 
Apostles). 
Course Three: based on Treasures of the Mass. A 
Sunday Missal supplements this book, which is covered 
by four tests. $2.00 

2. Catholic Information Society, 214 West 31st St., New 
York 1, N. Y. 

Instructs prospective converts by mail, FREE OF CHARGE, 
in principles of Catholic belief and practice based on 
This We Believe: By This We Live, the Baltimore 
Catechism No. 3, containing related Scripture and ex-
planatory material. 

3. Home Study, Woodstock College, Woodstock, Md. 
A 12-week course in six installment lessons. Each in-
quirer is individually instructed in all the essentials of 
Christian Doctrine by a Jesuit theologian-student. No 
charge, no obligation. 

4. The Paulist Fathers, 70 St. Stephen St., Boston, Mass. 
Religious Correspondence Course: I Believe. Used in 
the preliminary instruction of non-Catholics, the course 
is made up of several quizzes, with 100 questions in 
each, based on the book I Believe. 

5. Marathon Religious Correspondence Courses, St. An-
thony's Friary, Marathon, Wis. 

6. Marriage Preparation Service, 125 Wilbrod St., Otta-
wa, Ont., Canada. 

Preparation for Marriage Correspondence Course. 

9 0 



SUMMARY 
To summarize, the basic requirements for good organiza-
tion in the foregoing Schools of Religion are: well-trained 
personnel (Teachers, Fishers, Helpers); graded classes 
conducted on high standards (parochial school), which 
include good teaching techniques; a principal who is 
also a trained catechist; good classroom facilities; a 
graded course of study written for CCD classes; permanent 
record and report cards; Closing Day Exercises including 
presentation of promotion certificates and diplomas. 

SPECIAL CLASSES I N 
T H E R E L I G I O N S C H O O L 

I. KINDERGARTEN OF RELIGION 
With the approval of the board, the Chairmen of Teachers 
and Helpers may plan jointly for a Kindergarten of Re-
ligion to be held in the parish hall or parochial school 
classrooms during one of the Sunday Masses. Usually 
the Mass attended by a number of young parents is se-
lected. The purpose of the kindergarten is twofold: 
1) mothers and fathers are given the opportunity to at-
tend Mass together without their young children; 2) pre-
school children are given religious instruction which is 
both interesting and informative. 
Prospective Teachers, adult baby sitters, and others who 
are interested may, with very little preparation, be sched-
uled to care for children between the ages of 2 and 5. 
The children, if arranged in groups according to age, 
may be introduced to such religion aids as picture books, 
stories, records; and be taught brief songs and simple 
prayers. A miniature altar will provide a means of pre-
paring the older ones for later attendance at Mass. Reli-
gion Lessons for use in instructing preschool children are 
available from the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, 
1001 W. Joppa Road, Towson 4, Md. 

91 



In every diocese aad in almost every parish there are 
some children who, for various reasons, cannot be taught 
religion in the regular classes for their age or grade. 
These include the mentally and physically handicapped. 
Another group who need special help are the gifted 
children. 

Because of the small number of special students in any 
given parish, it is sometimes more practical to organize 
religious education programs for them on an interparo-
chial or diocesan level. Brief suggestions for handling all 
three classifications follow. 

II. THE GIFTED CHILD 

Authorities more or less agree that the gifted child is 
one who, on a series of standardized intelligence tests, 
has an I. Q. ranging from 130 to its uppermost limits. 

Among the guideposts which parents and teachers may 
use to discover creative ability in children are: 

Strong curiosity about almost everything; 
Marked interest in words and ideas; 
Good vocabulary and a taste for reading; 
Tendency to seek older companions and the company 
of adults; 
Good sense of humor and a cheerful disposition. 

The gifted child is capable of carrying out school work 
with greater ease and in more detail than the average 
child in his class. His capacity to do additional work 
and extended reading and to solve difficult problems is 
in marked contrast to that of others less gifted. He will 
probably be a leader in the field he chooses in the future. 

Many public school systems have programs of enrichment 
and acceleration, or special classes for gifted children in 
which they are challenged on almost every front, and 
their interest is sharpened. They are encouraged to ques-

92 



tion, to work independently. The range of their knowl-
edge of secular subjects is surprisingly wide. 

The gifted child can often help himself greatly by draw-
ing on his own talents after he has been shown the what, 
where, when, why, and how to study. In religion, he 
must be taught the basic truths which are to be believed 
and not questioned, but he should also be directed toward 
intensive inquiry and reading in this subject. If religious 
education is not presented to him on a high level of un-
derstanding in his early years, he will not be able to cor-
relate religion with life situations as he matures, since 
he will not view it as being on the same intellectual level 
as other subjects. 

Those Teachers who find they have a gifted child in their 
religion class should do everything possible , to satisfy 
his avid quest for knowledge and attainment of wisdom 
by leading him to the sources of a higher knowledge of 
the very Source of wisdom. Unless he is given the op-
portunity to know the truth in its fullness and to appreci-
ate scholarship in religion, he will turn his talents to 
other areas of inquiry and study. 

Some Suggestions for Teachers: 

1. Advance a gifted child to a class with older children 
and a fuller text. 

2. Provide lists of advanced reading, test exercises, and 
cases. 

3. Assign research projects, book reviews, supplementary 
reading. 

4. Direct him in a deeper study of Scripture and Liturgy. 

5. Establish closer teacher-pupil relationship to spur the 
gifted child's enthusiasm for religious knowledge. 
6. Form a religious discussion group for all the gifted 
children in the parish, with a priest or seminarian as 
leader. 

93 





TRNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 

TIVE B O A R D 

TOR 

; Delegate 

ERS 

Secretary 

H E M B E R S 

Treasurer 

and Youth Service 

A d u l t R e l i g i o u s E d u c a t i o n 

J , JBBI Chairman 
Chairman Chairman APOSTLES OF 

DISCUSSION CLUBS PARENT EDUCATORS G O O D WILL 

Leaders' Meetings 

Demonstrate: 
Discussion Club 
Procedure 

Organize Discussion 

Clubs for: 

Youth 

Adults 

Assist Parents to 
Teach Religion at 
home through: 

PE Leaflets 

PE Discussion 
Clubs 

Organize Parents' 
Nights (meetings) 

Contact Non-
Catholics 

Recruit for 
Inquiry Classes 

Assist in Street 
Preaching 

Distribute 
Catholic 
Literature 

M E M B E R S 

ularly receive religious instruction 

M E M B E R S 

e and Youth Offering 

IF MAN 
itirnity of Christian Doctrine 



7. Ask the CCD Director or another priest of the parish 
to meet with a gifted pupil occasionally and suggest topics 
and books for advanced study. 
8. Let gifted pupils attend lectures on religious topics 
in the adult education program. By asking their reaction 
following such talks, the Teacher gains help in directing 
their further study. 

Non-Parochial Level: 

Extracurricular programs or projects of special religious 
education classes on a diocesan or interparochial level 
may be set up, to encourage gifted pupils to read books 
and articles in the field of religion, to promote discussion 
of ideas resulting from the reading, and to apply the 
Catholic Action technique of judging an act from study 
and discussion. 
Provide special training in teaching gifted children for 
a few Teachers who already have a good foundation in 
religion; then set up ungraded classes for students who 
have proved unusual ability in their regular classes. Here 
they can work at their own pace on assignments given by 
these trained Teachers. 

III. THE BLIND OR DEAF CHILD 

The child without sight or hearing develops his other 
senses fully and is often a better learner than the average 
pupil with all his senses intact. Many blind pupils are 
able to keep up with their regular school grade in a pub-
lic school, and can do the same in a religion class with a 
little assistance and co-operation from the Teacher. 

Where there is not a special guild or other agency set 
up by the diocese to care for the religious education of 
children with these handicaps, each Parish CCD Board 
should make such children within the parish who attend 
public or special non-Catholic schools, its responsibility. 
If there is in the vicinity a state or municipal institution 

94 



for these children, the CCD can offer to instruct the Cath-
olics there. Usually the authorities are glad to give space 
and set a convenient time for this purpose. 

If the number of handicapped children warrants it, some 
effort should be made to provide the necessary special 
training for a few CCD Teachers who have already had 
the basic CCD Teacher training course and are certified 
by the diocesan CCD office. Their attendance at lectures 
and demonstration classes on teaching the blind and/or 
deaf will be most helpful, as will contacts with Religious 
or others engaged in this work in special schools. 

Available Aids: 

The following are catechetical materials for use with the 
blind or the deaf. 

FOR THE BLIND: 

Braille: Editions of First Communion, 
No. 1 and No. 2 Catechisms (Balti-
more), Bible History, Mass and Prayer 
Books, New Testament, etc. Send for 
complete catalogue. 

Recordings: The Musical Catechism Al-
bums, by John Redmond, on the Creed, 
Commandments, Sacraments. 
The Rosary Album. 

Doctrinal Songs, a musical catechism 
(song edition and recorded edition). 

Publisher: 

Xavier Society for 
the Blind 

154 E. 23rd St. 
New York 10, N. Y. 

St. Anthony's Guild 
508 Marshall St. 
Paterson 3, N. J. 

Gregorian Institute 
of America 

Toledo 2, Ohio 

New Testament, Confraternity edition. Audio Book Com-
pany 

St. Joseph, Mich. 

95 



FOR THE D E A F : 

Mission Helpers of 
the Sacred Heart 

1001 W e s t Joppa 
Road 

Towson 4, Md. 

See lists at the back 
of CCD Religion 
Course manuals 
for Teachers. 

Additional information may be obtained on all the special 
fields of religious education from the Special Education 
Dept., National Catholic Educational Assn., 1785 Massa-
chusetts Ave., N. W., Washington, D. C. 

IV. THE RETARDED CHILD 

The CCD has a definite interest in that fairly large num-
ber of the child population (some authorities place it as 
high as 3 per cent) which may be classified as intellectu-
ally subnormal or retarded. These are children with an 
I. Q. below 70. 

More and more dioceses are setting up programs for the 
religious education of retarded children, offering: (1) a 
special course or series of lectures for Teachers which 
qualifies them to instruct these children at home, in in-
stitutions, and in CCD special classes; (2) a special reli-
gion center or centers in convenient locations. 

Where there is not a diocesan school of religion for the 
retarded, however, the parish CCD School of Religion 
can do a great deal for these children. There follow a 
few guides and suggestions submitted by persons long 
active in this field. 

The religion curriculum must be fi-ted to the child. In-
dividual attention, exclusive teaching for each child, is 
certainly recommended. The teacl <ng of large groups 

Religion Lessons for the Deaf: developed 
lessons for teachers of deaf and re-
tarded children (preparatory through 
Junior High). 

Visual aids of all kinds. 

96 



of the mentally retarded, who differ widely in develop-
ment, is pedagogically unsound and therefore doomed to 
failure. At the most, two or three below the age of 13, 
and of the same basic mental ability, could be trained 
together, provided that careful attention is given to their 
individual differences. Even here it is urgently recom-
mended that the Teacher have the assistance of a trained 
Helper. A teen-age group of five at most can be satis-
factorily handled if the above recommendations are car-
ried out. 

Capabilities of the Retarded: 

In general, it should be remembered that the mentally 
retarded child: 

1) can be taught to distinguish between right and 
wrong, is capable of reasoning, and therefore can merit; 

2) is capable of growth in his mental powers — in-
tellect and will — and in the control of his emotions. It 
is limited growth but real. It comes very slowly and 
only after infinite patience, endless repetition, and the 
use of varied methods by the Teacher. It occurs not 
only in reading and other mental skills, but in love 
and respect for others as well as love of God and the 
desire to do what God wants; 

3) must have the knowledge that he is accepted, 
wanted, loved. Religion brings him this security be-
cause it is here he learns of God's great love for him. 
He does not question it. 

In particular, the following principles will serve to guide 
the Teacher or parent in the delicate decision of admitting 
retarded children to the Sacraments. St. Pius X, in his 
catechetical decree on the reception of Holy Communion, 
made First Communion available to children as soon as 
they reach the age of reason. They do not require full 
use of reason, but "some kind of reason" is sufficient. 

9 7 



The noted theologian Father Francis J. Connell, C. SS. R., 
writes as follows: 

"Those persons charged with the spiritual care of re-
tarded children who offer any hope of reaching the re-
quired mental capacity for Holy Communion should be 
prepared to give them a long course of instruction, pa-
tiently repeating over and over again the necessary doc-
trines [They] should not be too ready to decide that 
a child is not sufficiently intelligent to receive Holy Com-
munion. I am inclined to say that any child who can 
express ideas in speech, even though very simply and 
confusedly, can be presumed to be capable of receiving 
Holy Communion if proper training is provided." 

What Teachers Should Know: 

The Teacher of mentally retarded children should know 
at the outset that this work is not like teaching normal 
children, although the two groups may act alike in many 
respects. He must not expect to use the customary meth-
ods merely slowed down and made simpler. He must, 
in all his work for the retarded, begin down at the level 
of the child; but neither the Teacher nor the child should 
remain static. It is necessary to build on what God has 
given to each particular child. In many cases, a child 
has sight and yet sees not, hearing and yet hears not. His 
background of experience is meager, and he gets little 
from his environment. He has no initiative, lacks con-
fidence in himself, or else is blatantly overconfident. He 
is usually listless or nervously concerned with trivialities; 
his interest span is short, his voluntary attention is scat-
tered, and he cannot concentrate. His mind is disordered, 
he cannot understand the abstract, and learns more readily 
through his heart than through his head. In other words, 
his emotions and affections, drawn out by love, praise, 
tender patience, are the best avenues to his intellectual 
powers of learning. 

9 8 



Teachers should take advantage of every opportunity to 
attend lectures on the psychology of the retarded, with 
special reference to their training. 

Practical Hints for the Teacher: 

1. Establish good rapport — that co-operative interest 
which is seen in the eyes. 

2. Since the attention span is usually very short, the child 
needs various activities related to the lesson being taught 
in order to retain his interest: e. g., dramatizations, stories, 
poems, pictures, records, singing, coloring, etc. 

3. The lesson plan should provide for work within the 
child's capacity limitations, and interest. This is of the 
utmost importance. 

4. Use only terms the child understands — the simplest 
words possible. 

5. Use as much concrete material as possible. 

6. Give good example, for the retarded child is an imi-
tator, and learns from the example of the Teacher in 
everything. 

7. Repeat constantly the basic truths of religion; use a 
wide variety of teaching methods. 

8. Use as text a simple, illustrated catechism. 

9. Take the child to church for visits: to observe things 
that have been explained; to pray the prayers he has 
learned; and to learn how to behave there. 

Teaching Materials: 

Practically all visual aids — charts, picture books, color 
books, films, etc. — as well as texts and periodicals, in 
use in teaching religion in the primary grades are suit-
able for instructing the mentally retarded. Listed below 
are some books especially for use in this field written 
by those who are engaged in it full time; 

99 



Come. First Communion Catechism. School Sisters of 
Notre Dame, St. Louis, Mo. 

Come and See. Graded series, by Chicago Archdiocesan 
Department of Special Service, 126 N. Desplaines 
St., Chicago 6, 111. 

My Holy Child Book. Simple .instruction in religion 
for handicapped children. Sister Miriam Auxilium, 
Holy Family College, 890 Hayes St., San Francisco 
17, Cal. 

Religious Education of Children with Handicaps. Helps 
for parents and teachers, also by Sister Miriam Aux-
ilium. 

The Challenge of the Retarded Child. For teachers of 
the retarded. Sister Mary Theodore. Bruce Publish-
ing Company, Milwaukee 1, Wis. 

My Guide to Heaven. A catechism giving the minimum 
essentials for First Holy Communion, graded to suit 
different levels of intelligence down to the lowest 
educable degree. By Rt. Rev. Msgr. James W. Feider, 
Director, St. Coletta School for Exceptional Children, 
Jefferson, Wis. 

For Parents of Retarded Children. By Rev. J. Breiten-
breck, C. SS. R. Liguorian Press, Liguori, Missouri. 

Christ Our Light. Religion manual for teachers and 
parents of exceptional children. By Sister M. John, 
S. H. F., Sister M. Annunciata, S. H. F., Rt. Rev. 
Msgr. John K. Clarke. William H. Sadlier, Inc., N. Y. 

NOTE: The CCD plans to publish an extension of this 
section as a separate pamphlet in the near future. 

100 



ADULT RELIGIOUS 
EDUCATION PROGRAM 

Chapter 10 

RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION CLUBS 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature 

Purpose 

Membership 

Organization 
Diocesan 

Parochial 

Club 

NATURE 

A CCD Religious Discussion Club is a group of from 
six to twelve persons who meet regularly in one another's 
homes to improve their knowledge, understanding, and 
practice of religion through group reading and discus-
sion under the guidance of a Leader. The degree of suc-
cess attained depends largely on two things: (1) fidelity to 
practical technique, achieved by observing a few simple 
points of organization; and (2) the constructive character 
of the program of study. The discussion method encour-
ages individual participation and expression, stimulates 
quick thinking and extemporaneous speaking, fosters tol-
eration for the opinions of others, promotes further study, 
and trains leaders in thought and action. Its simplicity and 

101 



social character make the Discussion Club one of the most 
popular and successful forms of adult education, not only 
in religion but in other fields — literary, civic, political. 

PURPOSE 

The aim of the CCD Discussion Club is to educate the 
adult laity of the parish in religious subjects and to de-
velop their power of self-expression, that they may be-
come able to exemplify the teachings and practices of the 
Church in their daily lives, and, as articulate Catholics, 
to discuss their religion accurately and convincingly. Lay 
leadership is a great need of our day, and through the 
Discussion Club, latent talent is often discovered and 
recognized talent developed. 

Finally, to convey information is not the sole aim of the 
Religious Discussion Club; the ultimate purpose is to 
translate knowledge into some form of apostolic activity. 

MEMBERSHIP 

The Religious Discussion Club program is for all adult 
parishioners — not just exceptional Catholics, experts, 
and college graduates, but all men and women regardless 
of the amount of their schooling. A real effort should be 
made to enroll in this program especially those who have 
had little or no formal religious education. 

ORGANIZATION 

DIOCESAN 

A unified diocese-wide program of adult religious educa-
tion by means of Religious Discussion Clubs is success-
fully promoted through the office of the Diocesan CCD 
Director. Annual directives are issued which include (1) 
announcement of the dates of the opening and closing 

102 



Discussion Club sessions throughout the diocese, (2) the 
frequency of meetings, (3) the text to be used (and at 
least one alternate), (4) regional or diocesan meetings 
for Leaders, (5) a request for parish reports, etc. Parish 
boards will find their work simplified and fruitful if they 
offer ready co-operation wherever this system prevails. 

PAROCHIAL 

The CCD Executive Board determines the scope of the 
parish Discussion Club activity, its plan of organization 
and promotion. The Chairman (and co-chairman) of this 
phase of the CCD are responsible for carrying it out. 

The Director 

1. guides the program, not only in the selection of the 
discussion text to be used each year but also as to the 
frequency of meetings (where there are no diocesan 
regulations on these points) ; 
2. meets with the Leaders, preferably weekly during 
the Discussion Club season, to answer questions referred 
to him on organization, procedure, and doctrine; 

3. maintains active touch with the clubs by visiting each 
at least once during a season and/or on special occa-
sions (he does not participate in the regular meetings). 

The Chairman of Discussion Clubs 

1. plans the general parish Discussion Club meeting; 
2. arranges for Leaders' training and organizational 
meetings; 
3. arranges model demonstrations and review sessions; 
4. co-operates with the Chairman of Helpers regard-
ing publicity — posters, fliers, etc.; 

5. maintains a list of Leaders' names, addresses, tele-
phone numbers, names of particular clubs, number of 

103 



members in each, time and place of meeting of each, 
text used, etc. 

6. obtains and distributes Discussion Club texts and 
supplementary materials; 

7. arranges for Leaders' meetings with the Director; 

8. visits each club and stimulates the formation of 
new ones; 

9. immediately after the close of each semester, pre-
pares for the board a written report of all Discussion 
Club work in the parish (see below for forms). 

Training 

New Leaders are made ready for the Discussion Club 
program each year by the parish Chairman of Religious 
Discussion Clubs, with the assistance of the Director. 
The CCD publishes a six-lesson, 12-hour course entitled 
Suggested Preparatory Course for Discussion Club Leaders 
(CCD-222); also The Religious Discussion Club (CCD-
221). Training sessions should, of course, be held in 
advance of the opening of the Discussion Club season. 

Recruitment 

While every adult parishioner is a potential member of a 
Religious Discussion Club, it is sometimes difficult to get 
him to enroll in one. The following methods have proved 
successful in increasing membership in this division of 
the CCD: 

1. Arouse general interest by 

a. a general parish "kick-off" meeting which in-
cludes (1) one or more rousing talks on the need, 
purpose, and value of the Religious Discussion Club; 
(2) a live demonstration by an experienced group, 
or a panel discussion; (3) enrollment of members; 

104 



b. putting out an attractive poster; distributing a 
catchy handbill throughout the parish for a few 
weeks in advance of this meeting; 

c. asking the co-operation of other societies in dis-
tributing the above-mentioned handbill at their meet-
ings, and if possible in giving a place on one of their 
programs for a talk about Discussion Clubs. 

2. Use "starters" (those who have experience in Dis-
cussion Clubs) to get new clubs under way. 

3. Make personal contact: ask members to induce at 
least one friend or relative to join a club; ask Fishers 
to help in the formation of neighborhood Discussion 
Clubs by recruiting members during their visits to the 
homes; set up telephone committees. 

4. Organize clubs on a variety of bases, e. g., couples 
only, mixed-marriage couples; age groups — the "gold-
en age," young adults; neighborhoods, etc. 

5. Suggest that clubs "mushroom": (a) each club in-
vites two couples to start new groups the next session; 
(b) each member of a club becomes a Leader of a new 
club for enlisting the members of which he will be 
responsible; (c) each club splits into at least two others 
at the end of each season. 

These divisions are not easy to carry out, for friends dis-
like separating. But emphasizing the spiritual and intel-
lectual growth that results from club work will call 
forth an apostolic spirit. The members will be led to 
make the sacrifice gladly in order that new clubs may 
be formed and other parishioners given the opportunity 
to learn more about, and to appreciate, their Faith. 

115 



Discussion Texts 

If the diocesan CCD office does not designate a text or 
texts for use throughout the diocese, the parish Director 
may choose one or two for use in the parish, or allow 
the individual clubs to select their own. 

A uniform text has many advantages, especially in the 
beginning of a diocese-wide or parish-wide Discussion 
Club program, ( l ) It gives the Director a certain control 
over the clubs in that he can select the subjects on the basis 
of the needs of the people, and his sermons during the 
year can supplement the material in the text and thus en-
rich the course being pursued. (2) It facilitates the brief-
ing meetings with club Leaders. (3) It promotes discus-
sion of religion outside the clubs, because wherever two 
or more parishioners meet they find they have this common 
interest, and tend to compare notes. 

In practice, the success or failure of an individual club 
or diocesan program of Discussion Club activity will de-
pend in no small measure on the suitability of the subject 
chosen for study and the manner of its presentation in 
the text selected. Generally speaking, the Catholic laitj 
are conscious of the limitations of their knowledge of 
religion. (They even have exaggerated notions of these 
limitations!) The demand, therefore, is for fundamental 
subjects. The Confraternity texts are based on such 
subjects: 

The New Testament Religion Series: 

Part I. The Life of Christ (CCD-206) 

Part II. The Life of Christ (CCD-207) 

Part III. The Acts of the Apostles (CCD-208) 

Part IV. Teachings of the Epistles (CCD-209) 

106 



Church History through Biography (CCD-210) 

This We Believe Series (Rev. Leo J. Trese): 

God, Man, and God-Man (Creed, part l ) (CCD-211) 

The Holy Spirit and His Work (Creed, part 2) (CCD-
212) 

Love in Action (Commandments) (CCD-213) 

Our Christian Vocation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy 
Orders, Matrimony) (CCD-214) 

God Gives His Help (Penance, Extreme Unct ion, 
Prayer, Indulgences) (CCD-215) 

God's Crowning Gift (The Holy Eucharist and the 
Mass) (CCD-216) 

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (CCD-217) 

We Discuss the Creed (CCD-218) 

There are also several texts for parents (see Parent Edu-
cators, p. 124). 

All the above may be ordered from Confraternity Publica-
tions, 508 Marshall Street, Paterson 3, N. J. 

It is important to keep in mind that a Religious Discussion 
Club will lose its character if it fails to select a religious 
topic for discussion. The National Center of the Confra-
ternity also publishes a classified list of the works of other 
publishers which are approved as Discussion Club texts, 
with an official evaluation of their suitability for the pur-
pose. It is recommended that a club of beginners restrict 
themselves to a text with an "A" rating from the Confra-
ternity (see below). Discussion technique and procedure 
are made easy by the use of these texts. 

107 



"A" RATING applies where the text is adapted to the 
knowledge and experience of an average group, and pos-
sesses: 

1. 16 chapters arranged for two 8-week Discussion 
Club sessions with periods of one or one and one-half 
hours each week; 

2. self-contained discussion aids based on chapter con-
tent and interspersed with thought questions; 

3. definite application to daily Christian living; 

4. suggested religious practices based on the subject 
matter. 

Texts for Advanced Members. Where Discussion Clubs 
have long existed and members have been faithful in at-
tending the meetings and covered the fundamental doc-
trinal and Scriptural texts, the Director should allow these 
groups to pursue a more advanced course. It is reasonable 
that the CCD Discussion Club program should progress 
from simple and elementary to advanced material in the 
same way that school texts develop from the initial 
and fundamental to the advanced ones adapted to the 
proficient. The Confraternity's classified list of texts con-
tains several which are on an advanced level. However, 
a group of experienced members should be able to use 
any religion text and formulate their own questions and 
suggestions or resolutions for personal apostolic action. 
At their briefing meetings, the Leaders of such groups 
may compose questions on each chapter in advance of the 
club meetings. There are many pocket editions of Catholic 
classics available today which are suitable for advanced 
groups. 

If they are properly motivated, and if their study of reli-
gion has had the proper effect, Discussion Club members 
who have acquired a good religious background via this 
medium are most willing to assist as Leaders in clubs for 

108 



beginners. Even while attending club meetings once a 
week or once in two weeks, members should volunteer 
their services for some other phase of the parish CCD. 
The Discussion Clubs should be a springboard for the 
full apostolate: first, members learn to KNOW God better; 
and then to LOVE Him more by applying this knowledge 
in daily life; and finally, to SERVE Him by spreading His 
Word and extending His kingdom on earth. Since spirit-
ual formation is vitally necessary, the Discussion Club 
members should adopt the Spiritual Formation program 
of the CCD (see Chapter 5). 

Meetings 

The diocesan office may designate the frequency of Discus-
sion Club meetings or leave the matter up to the parishes. 
The standard CCD program consists of weekly meetings 
of an hour or an hour and a half for eight weeks in the 
fall and eight weeks in the spring, or a total of 16 a 
year. Some dioceses require meetings biweekly through-
out the school year. 

Joint Meetings 

Demonstration meetings before the opening of the autumn 
session have proved invaluable in interesting new mem-
bers at a time when their interest can be translated into 
action. Such meetings also serve as an occasion for the 
distribution of literature and supplies to individual club 
Leaders. 

At the close of each Discussion Club session, all clubs 
within the parish or district may assemble jointly. Brief 
reports may be given by parish Chairmen of Discussion 
Clubs. An appropriate program relating to the subject 
of study and its application to life may be presented: 
addresses, dramatizations, etc. Materials used to enrich 

109 



study may be exhibited. Difficulties and points of unusual 
interest may be discussed. The parish or district meeting 
sometimes takes the form of a joint review of the work 
of the session. 

The clubs in some parishes jointly sponsor a newsletter 
which spurs interest as well as supplies information of 
value to all the members. 

Rural Organization 

Great distances and lack of transportation may often be 
considered obstacles to the organization of Discussion 
Clubs in sparsely settled areas. These are overcome in 
many places by the formation of family clubs consisting 
of the parents, older children, and employees on the farm, 
plantation, or ranch. In places where residences are closer 
together, the adults in two or more families may make up 
a club. 

In some areas where Discussion Clubs are absolutely out 
of the question, the priest might gather the people once 
a week in the parish hall for a lecture-discussion type 
of program which would prepare them for the eventual 
formation of a standard CCD Discussion Club. 

Reports 

The parish Chairman of Religious Discussion Clubs makes 
an annual report to the board and/or to the diocesan 
office. To aid him in making such a report, he in turn 
requires one from each club Leader in the parish. Sug-
gested forms will be found below. Though these have 
been widely used and repeatedly revised, before being 
reproduced they should be adapted to local needs. 

110 



CLUB ORGANIZATION 

Officers 

1. Leader 

The Leader (man or woman) of a Discussion Club is 
very often its organizer. If there is not a parish Discus-
sion Club program, or if the Leader is appointed by 
the parish Director or the Chairman of Religious Dis-
cussion Clubs, he on his own responsibility invites a 
group to meet at a designated time and place for the 
formation of a club. A Leader may serve for an entire 
session, or the office may be rotated among the mem-
bers, a procedure recommended for experienced clubs. 
New Leaders should enroll in whatever training course 
is offered by the diocese or by the parish. 

The Leader, who is also a learner, directs the discussion 
at meetings. To acquire a working knowledge of the 
subject, he should read the lesson beforehand and at-
tend the briefing sessions with the Director. It is his 
responsibility to hold the discussion to the topic of the 
lesson assigned. He will find it advantageous to use 
the questions in the text in conducting the discussion. 
Every member of the club should be given an oppor-
tunity to take part, and his or her opinion on the sub-
ject should be considered and respected. A tactful 
Leader can keep the discussion free from personalities. 

If the Leader is called upon to render a decision which 
he is unprepared to make, he should say so frankly and 
endeavor to obtain the correct answer by the next meet-
ing. If unrelated matters are introduced, the Leader 
should request that their discussion be postponed until 
the conclusion of the meeting. 

Leading is a drawing-out, not a filling-in, process. A 
good Leader does very little of the talking. In em-

111 



phasizing the apostolic character of the Discussion Club, 
the Leader may also urge members to become active in 
other phases of the CCD. 

2. Secretary 

The Secretary calls the roll, gives a short summary of 
the previous discussion, records briefly points that are 
not agreed upon by the group, and puts them in writing 
for the Leader to refer to the parish Director for a 
decision at the Leaders' meetings. He also types the 
Leader's semester report of the club for the parish 
Chairman. The Secretary may likewise be given the 
assignment of checking on absent members between 
meetings and urging their attendance. 

Meetings 
1. Where Held. Meetings may be held in any suit-
able, centrally located place that is adequately lighted 
and heated. Preferably, however, they are held in pri-
vate homes. 

It is well to draw membership from an area in which 
regular attendance is not made difficult by great dis-
tance from the place of meeting. 

2. How Often. The local regulations, diocesan and 
parochial, should be followed in this matter. Meetings 
should begin on time, even though only a few are pres-
ent. When all members know that the lesson will begin 
promptly at the hour designated, they will endeavor 
to be on time. Beginning and closing the meeting as 
scheduled contributes to the success of any club; mem-
bers can then plan more satisfactorily for other ap-
pointments. 

3. Order of Meetings (begin promptly): 

a. Opening prayer. 

b. Roll call. 

112 



c. Brief review of previous meeting by Secretary. 

d. Report by Secretary of responses to difficulties 
referred to the parish Director. 

e. Leader opens discussion and holds it to the as-
signment, giving all members an opportunity to ex-
press themselves. He may suggest that after discus-
sion each member ask himself: ( l ) What are the 
leading ideas of the lesson? (2) What new informa-
tion have I gained? (3) Have any of my former 
ideas on this topic been changed? (4) What is my 
conclusion? (5) How shall I apply this knowledge 
to my life as a Christian? (6) As a lay apostle 
toward my neighbor? 

f. Assignment for next meeting. 

g. Announcement of time and place of next meeting. 

h. Adjournment, with prayer. 

Method 

Discussion is a co-operative effort in which the Leader 
and all members take an active part. The discussion 
method is group analysis of a statement under study. The 
profitable features of the method are: careful, attentive 
reading and personal expression. Group effort makes for 
attentive reading; the limited size and the intimate nature 
of a small group help the more timid person to give 
verbal expression to his thoughts. The individual mem-
bers in a Discussion Club should realize that success de-
pends largely upon their own responsiveness. Each mem-
ber of the group needs a copy of the text to which he 
will refer constantly to ensure exactness and accuracy of 
expression. 

Informality is an important feature of Discussion Club 
procedure. After simple preliminaries, such as opening 
prayer, roll call, etc., the Leader requests each member in 

113 



turn to read aloud a brief passage of the text. Following 
each reading the Leader starts the discussion by asking 
questions based on the passage read. Carefully prepared 
questions, such as are found in texts issued for Con-
fraternity Discussion Clubs, are important. They should 
be based precisely on the information in the text, but 
should be phrased in language that does not suggest as 
an answer simply a repetition of a sentence from the text. 

Action is frequently the outcome of discussion; hence, 
the groups are often called Discussion-Action Clubs. 
Discussion outlines in several recent publications of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine suggest that the 
group OBSERVE, CONSIDER, ACT. Members are thus led to 
apply their Faith in daily living and to carry out the ideal 
of personal participation in the apostolate of the Church. 

Expenses 

No dues are collected. Each member purchases his own 
text, which becomes his property (the cost is usually from 
50 cents to $1.00). Inexpensive materials for general use 
may be taken care of by the group, or the members may 
purchase these and own them personally. 

Supplementary Materials 

Members might be asked to collect and submit to a club 
librarian items that will enrich study: charts, maps, pic-
tures, magazine articles, poems, and any other related 
material. 

Where there is a local public library, see what books 
relating to the subject under study are available; ask the 
librarian to obtain needed references not in the library, 
and tell the other members to ask also. If there are suffi-
cient calls for a book, it is usually ordered. 

114 



FORMS 

Religious Discussion Clubs 

DISCUSSION CLUB LEADER'S SESSION REPORT 
TO PARISH CHAIRMAN OF DISCUSSION CLUBS 

(Check spring or autumn) Date 

Text used 

Parish 

Town 

Leader 

Address Phone 

No. of Members Lessons finished . . 

Average attendance No. of meetings . . 

Materials used besides text 

Chief interests 

Difficulties 

Will your same group continue study during the next diocesan 

Discussion Club session? 

Name of club 

Signed 
Leader 

Kindly fill in this form and give it to your Parish Chairman of 
Discussion Clubs the week your course is completed. 
Kindly list names, addresses and phone numbers of the members 
of your club on reverse side of this report. 

115 



Parish Confraternity of 
Christian Doctrine 

Parish Director 

Dear Father 
I would be interested in becoming a member of a Religious 

Discussion Club for the next Discussion Club semester. 

Name 

Address 

Date Phone 

REPORT OF J O I N T MEETING OF 

PARISH DISCUSSION CLUBS 
Date City 
Meeting place 
Clubs represented: 
Name of club Leader Address Phone Attendance 

Total attending: Priests . . Sisters . . Lay men . . Lay women . . 
Activity at meeting 
Speaker or Demonstrator 
Text or Subject 
Social features 
Arranged by 

Signed 
Parish Chairman 

Address 
Countersigned by Pastor 

Kindly list on reverse side of the report names, addresses and 
phone numbers of prospective members discovered at meeting. 

116 



SESSION REPORT OF PARISH 
DISCUSSION CLUB CHAIRMAN 

Parish 
Date 
Please list all Discussion Club Leaders below: 

Name Address Text Lessons Average 
finished attendance 

Number of groups to continue study during the next diocesan Dis-
cussion Club session 

Signed 
Parish Chairman of Discussion Clubs 

Address 
Countersigned by Pastor 

Kindly fill in this form and send it to the diocesan office of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine within ten days after the 
closing date of the present Discussion Club session. 

Copies of all forms may be ordered from the diocesan of-

fice, or prepared in the parish by the Helpers. 

117 



Chapter 11 

PARENT EDUCATORS 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature Organization 

Obligation of Par- Leaflet Distribu-
ent» t i o n P l a n 

PE Discussion 
S t r u c t u r e Clubs 

Other Activities 

NATURE 

The Parent-Educator Section is that division of the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine which seeks to impress 
upon Catholic parents the fact that their function as 
teachers of religion in the home is a God-given assign-
ment. The program is planned, not only to arouse fathers 
and mothers to an awareness of this great duty, but also 
to offer practical directions toward its fulfillment. 

The CCD Parent-Educator program is for the average 
parent. It is not so much a mere optional activity as a 
vigorous call to action for all Catholic parents. 

The work of this division includes: 

LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION 

DISCUSSION CLUBS 

OTHER ACTIVITIES 

118 



OBLIGATION OF PARENTS 

Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclical Sapientiae Christianae, 
said: "Parents hold from nature their right of training the 
children to whom they have given birth, with the obliga-
tion superadded of shaping and directing the education of 
their little ones to the end for which God vouchsafed the 
privilege of transmitting the gift of life All should 
be intimately persuaded that the minds of children are 
most influenced by the training they receive at home."1 

Time and again the Church has made clear her teaching on 
the importance of the home as a place for forming char-
acter and laying patterns of habit. Emphasis has been put 
upon the twofold responsibility of parenthood: the phys-
ical well-being and the spiritual development of the 
young. The Church has frequently pointed out the beauty 
and dignity of marriage, which has as its primary purpose, 
not merely the task of earning a livelihood or of keeping 
a house, but rather the privileged co-operation of husband 
and wife with God Himself in the very act of creation. 
The watchful care of a human being possessed of an 
immortal soul is a sacred charge. The sacrament of Matri-
mony brings abundant graces, and assists parents to ap-
proach their problems and accept their responsibilities 
with courage and confidence. 

Parents, Natural Teachers 

Religious instruction falls effortlessly into the routine of 
any Catholic household. The preschool child is in constant 
companionship with his or her parents. Their good ex-
ample and upright habits are reflected in the thoughts 
and actions of the child. The development of personality 
does not commence with formal education. Rather, it 

. • 

i Sapientiae Christianae: "The Chief Duties of Christians as Citizens" 
(New York, Paulist Press), pp. 26-27. 

119 



begins at birth. It is a blend of the individual's native 
endowment and his environment. Practical Catholicity 
in the home is the best of all schools for religious training 
and character formation. 

STRUCTURE 
The Parent-Educator division consists of: 1) a Chairman 
(also a co-chairman if necessary); 2) Home Visitors; 
3) parents who participate in the program as recipients 
of the leaflets or as members of PE Discussion Clubs. As 
Aggregate members of the CCD, parents can gain the 
indulgences granted to CCD members and also other in-
dulgences listed (see Appendix 1). 

ORGANIZATION 
The parish Chairman of Parent Educators, under the 
guidance of the board, especially of the Director, under-
takes the organization of this CCD activity. A husband-
wife team as Chairman and Co-chairman is ideal for 
maximum efficiency, and also to impress upon fathers their 
role in the religious education of their children. The pro-
gram consists of leaflets distributed quarterly to parents 
of preschool children; and of Discussion Clubs for par-
ents of children of all ages. 

Preliminary Steps: 

The Chairman 

1. makes known by personal contact, phone, parish 
notices, Fishers' contacts, etc., the need for Parent-Edu-
cator Home Visitors, and calls a meeting of all those 
interested in this work; 
2. exhibits at the meeting all the PE material; explains 
the program through talks or demonstration of a home 
visit, or a PE Discussion Club meeting; and registers 
those who volunteer to serve; 

120 



3. arranges for a training course for PE Home Visitors 
through the CCD six-lesson, 12-hour course, Prepara-
tory Course for CCD Parent Educators (PE-33); 

4. co-operates with the Chairman of Discussion Clubs 
in the training of PE Discussion Club Leaders, who 
follow the same procedure as those in the Religious 
Discussion Clubs; 

5. obtains the needed material and distributes it to 
the workers; 

6. distributes to all in the committee the leaflet Sug-
gestions for Parent Educators (PE-34), which is a full 
explanation of the PE program; as well as samples, if 
needed, of all the PE material with which they will be 
working. 

Leaflet Distribution Program 

FROM BIRTH TO SIX YEARS: The Confraternity publishes 
two sets of leaflets on subjects of interest to mothers and 
fathers of preschool children. The first series, entitled 
Teach Religion in the Home from Crib to Stroller, is 
designed to give parents progressive instruction as the 
child advances in age from three months to three years. 
The second series, Teach Religion in the Home from 
Stroller to School, is for parents whose children are be-
tween three and six years of age. 

The Parish Chairman: 

1. Obtains the names of all infants and children under 
six years of age, and their addresses, from the pastor or 
CCD Director, from the parish baptismal records, news-
paper announcements, and parish societies. 

2. Makes a record for the files on a white card (PE-41) 
and fills out a blue card (PE-32) which is then given to 
a Home Visitor. 

121 



3. Sends to Catholic parents at the birth of each baby 
the leaflets: The Glory of Rebirth (PE-40), presenting 
the importance of early Baptism; and The Rite of Bap-
tism (English translation — PE-43). It is hoped that by 
reading the Rite, the parents may come to appreciate more 
fully the meaning of the sacrament of Baptism. 

4. Checks sources of information once a month and sup-
plies the Visitors with a list of the new names. It is 
recommended that the parish Chairman and Visitors meet 
regularly. 

5. Presents problems encountered to the Parish Executive 
Board at the time of the monthly meeting. 

The Parish Home Visitor: 

Each Visitor should have a talking knowledge of the 
leaflet content of the PE program in order to discuss it 
with parents. (Where possible, it is very effective to have 
Visitor-parents who are husband and wife call together at 
a time when both parents of the new baby are at home.) 

1. The Visitor first calls at the home when the baby is 
about three weeks old, at which time a medal from the 
bishop or pastor is presented, and the leaflet What is the 
Parent-Educator Section of the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine? (PE-0) is given to the parents. Frequently the 
folder-container for the first series of leaflets is presented 
at this time also. 

2. When the baby is three months old the Visitor calls 
again at the home and presents leaflet No. 1 to the par-
ents. At this time the Visitor takes the names of any 
other children in the family under six years of age and 
reports these to the parish Chairman, who goes through 
the regular procedure of filling out a white card for the 
file and a blue one for the Visitor, and sending applicable 
leaflets (see above, Parish Chairman, §§ 1, 2). 

122 



3. At the next call, when the baby is six months old, 
the Visitor presents the second leaflet; and this procedure 
continues every three months until the child is six years 
old. If at the time of the first call the baby is more than 
three months old, the Visitor leaves the parents a medal, 
the leaflet What is the Parent-Educator Section of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine?, and all leaflets of 
the series up to those applicable to the baby's present age. 

4. A preliminary telephone call is always advisable. If 
the family is not at home when the Visitor calls, a card 
(PE-42) should be left, stating the time and day On 
which a return call is to be made. 

5. The number of families assigned a Visitor is usually 
from six to ten, preferably all in her own neighborhood 
(or territory). Leaflets may be given to non-Catholics 
upon request. 

In dioceses where this plan is in operation, the bishop 
issues a card of congratulations to the parents and a 
medal to the new baby. Once a year, in the cathedral, and 
sometimes on his visitation of the parishes, he blesses 
individually the babies who are brought to the church 
for this purpose. The Diocesan Director issues the direc-
tives for the operation of this plan in the parishes. 

Parent-Educator Discussion Clubs 

What They Are 

Parent-Educator Discussion Clubs are groups of, usually, 
from eight to twelve parents, fathers and mothers, who 
meet to discuss methods and means of teaching their 
children religion in the home and of forming the chil-
dren's characters on Catholic principles. The establish-
ment of these clubs is one of the main objectives of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 

123 



Who Belong 

Parents of preschool, elementary, and high school chil-
dren may become members of these clubs. All should be 
encouraged to feel that Parent-Educator Clubs are theirs, 
and are primarily for their service and benefit. Neighbor-
hood groups of from four to six married couples often 
form a club. 

Organization and Procedure 

See Chapter 10, "Religious Discussion Clubs." 

Texts 

The National Center publishes the following, which may 
be ordered from Confraternity Publications, 508 Marshall 
Street, Paterson 3, N. J.: 

Parental Responsibility (PE-27) 

Teaching Prayer in the Home (PE-28) 

Teaching Honesty in the Home (PE-30) 

Heaven, Home and School (for parents of elementary 
school children) (PE-39) 

Safe at Home (for parents of teen-agers) (PE-35) 
Love Given and Taken (marriage and parenthood) 

(PE-36) 
Parents, Children, and the Facts of Life (an important 

text for parents on sex education) 

Other Activities 

The Parent-Educator division may give additional prac-
tical assistance to parents in the following ways: 

1. By urging family participation in liturgical practices in 
the home and in the parish. 

124 



2. By holding meetings for parents and teachers of public 
school children (similar in purpose and procedure to those 
of the PTA): 

Sample Programs: 
demonstration of class procedure and model lesson; 
talks on Child Psychology, Sex Education in the 
Home, TV, Comics, Teen-age Problems, etc. 

All the parents in the parish should be encouraged to be-
come members of the CCD. They should be active here 
just as the parents of Catholic school children are active 
in the Parent-School Association. 

3. By forming and sustaining a library of literature for 
parents. 

125 



Chapter 12 

APOSTOLATE OF GOOD WILL 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature and Pur-
pose 

Organization 

Suggested Activi-
ties 

Special Projects 
Newcomers 

Inquiry Campaign 

Street Preaching 

Religion by Mail 

Follow-Up 

Summary or Check-
List of Projects 

Source Materials 

Rural Organization 

NATURE AND PURPOSE 

The Apostolate of Good Will is that division of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine which aims at bring-
ing non-Catholics into the one true Church and recalling 
fallen-away Catholics. This division offers its members 
many tried and proved methods of spreading the king-
dom of Christ on earth. 

Two classes of individuals are in opposition to the Cath-
olic Church. Some oppose her because of what she stands 
for, and others oppose her because they have a false idea 
of what this actually is. With regard to the first class, 
there is little we can do actively, though we can and 

126 



should pray for them. In point of fact, their number is 
small. With regard to the second group, it is of the 
utmost importance for us to let them know exactly what 
the Catholic Church teaches and the solid reasons for 
those teachings. 

The first person concerned with this apostolate is the 
priest. By divine commission, he has the obligation of 
bringing the word of God to all men; and Canon 1350, 
§ 1, of the Code of Canon Law states: "Bishops and pas-
tors must regard the non-Catholics living in their dio-
ceses and parishes as commended to them in the Lord." 
Therefore, this apostolate must be carried out under the 
direction of the pastor. However, for him to contact 
every non-Catholic living in his parish is physically im-
possible; and so, in the work of bringing the "other 
sheep" into the fold, it is necessary to enlist the aid of 
the faithful through the Apostolate of Good Will divi-
sion of the CCD. Every parish contains many adults who 
have the necessary qualifications to participate in this 
apostolate: i. e., a love of Christ, knowledge of His teach-
ing, and an ardent desire to bring the saving truths of 
Christ's Church to their fellow men. 

ORGANIZATION 

On each Parish CCD Executive Board there is a Chair-
man of the Apostolate of Good Will, who forms a group 
or committee of those interested in this work. These lay 
men and lay women are the actual Apostles of Good 
Will. The Chairman attends the monthly board meeting 
so that the work of this division of the CCD may dove-
tail with its other divisions. 

The Chairman 

1. makes known to the parish the need for workers 
in this field of activity; 

127 



2. calls a meeting for all who are interested in par-
ticipating, explains the work in general, and registers 
those who volunteer; 

3. arranges for a training course for volunteers, if there 
is not a diocesan training program; 

4. decides, with his group, on the initial undertakings 
(usually one or two projects; see "Summary or Check-
List," on pp. 137-139); 

5. asks the co-operation of Fishers to obtain the names 
of some interested non-Catholics and/or fallen-aways; 

6. asks the co-operation of Helpers in transportation 
and publicity needs; 

7. obtains reference books for this division and ma-
terial for distribution to non-Catholics, etc. 

8. makes the arrangements, in close collaboration with 
the Director, for the special parish and diocesan pro-
jects planned by the group as described herein; 

9. meets regularly, preferably monthly, with the mem-
bers of this division of the CCD. 

Training 

At the outset, Apostles of Good Will receive training 
through the six-lesson, 12-hour Preparatory Course for the 
Apostolate of Good Will (CCD-179). They should also 
be briefed on the proper approach to non-Catholics, by the 
Director, the Chairman, or someone else experienced in 
convert work. 
An Apostolate of Good Will schedule is drawn up for 
a year's work. Meetings are held weekly or monthly ac-
cording to the needs, immediate and remote. A part of 
every meeting ought to be spent discussing points of 
Catholic doctrine in which non-Catholics are particularly 
interested, and learning techniques of approach. Mem-
bers should be urged to read consistently, and to use 

128 



every other means for deepening their knowledge of the 
Faith, such as joining- CCD Discussion Clubs, taking the 
doctrinal course for Teachers, attending lectures on Theol-
ogy and Scripture. They should learn how to bring up 
the subject of religion tactfully in conversation so as to 
arouse interest in the Church. It is important that they 
read and discuss the material on Spiritual Formation in 
Chapter 5 of this MANUAL. 

Depending on the size of the parish, the percentage of 
non-Catholics to be reached, and the number of volun-
teers for this apostolate, the members may be trained in 
groups for specific types of work, such as ( l ) the door-
to-door canvass; (2) the orientation of non-Catholics by 
accompanying them to Catholic affairs and services; 
(3) activities suitable for those with an excellent doc-
trinal background for the work of instruction, such as: 
(a) assisting the priest by hearing prayers of prospec-
tive converts; (b) training them for intelligent partici-
pation in the Mass; (c) preparing for Baptism the sick 
in homes or hospitals, and the children of prospective 
converts, etc.; (4) follow-up work. 

Some dioceses conduct workshops or training courses for 
Apostles of Good Will to qualify them for participating 
in the instructional program. 

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES 

The Apostles of Good Will work to bring all fallen-
aways and non-Catholics within the confines of the par-
ish to a unity of belief and worship in the Catholic Church, 
by these means: I. Prayer, II. Preliminary Exploration, 
III. Invitation. 

I. PRAYER 

Conversion is the work of God, with whom nothing is 
impossible. However, God sends His grace in response 

129 



to prayer. Prayers are offered by individuals and groups. 
Members of the Apostolate of Good Will could: 

1. have a Mass offered periodically for conversions, at-
tend and receive Holy Communion, invite all parishioners 
to participate; 

2. attend devotions conducted for conversions (e. g., the 
Church Unity Octave, Novena to the Holy Spirit), and 
encourage attendance of others by personal contacts and 
telephone calls; 

3. encourage the sick to offer their sufferings for con-
versions; 

4. pray daily for the conversion of all within the parish 
and for the conversion of America. The Paulist Press 
(address on p. 140) publishes a prayer leaflet for the con-
version of America. Apostles of Good Will might pre-
sent this prayer to individual parishioners and ask them 
to recite it daily. Thus prayer for our country and our 
parish would ascend continually to God, bringing grace 
to many. 

II. PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION 

It is the duty of the members of this apostolate to pre-
sent the Church to each non-Catholic in the parish. Some 
suggestions follow. 

1. Distribute Catholic literature: 

a. a Catholic newspaper to every non-Catholic home 
once a week or month; 

b. a doctrinal pamphlet periodically to each interested 
non-Catholic; 

c. pamphlets in racks at air, rail and bus terminals, 
hospitals, nursing homes and the like. 
See also Chapter 7 on Helpers, "Redistribution of Liter-
ature." 

130 



2. Supply newspapers continually with articles of Cath-
olic interest. The Paulist Feature Service and Knights of 
Columbus advertisements should be inserted wherever 
possible. Community papers circulating only in a part of 
a city and weeklies in small towns should not be over-
looked. Newspaper articles are of two kinds, those which 
merely convey news and those which teach Catholic doc-
trine. The latter are of more value but frequently they 
will not be printed. The former keep before the public 
the fact that there is a Catholic church in town. The 
"Letters to the Editor" columns offer ready-made oppor-
tunities for presentation of the Catholic point of view 
on matters of doctrine and practice. (Cf. How To Get 
Publicity for Your Court.1) 

3. Present informative books to key people in the com-
munity, especially to civic, professional, and religious 
leaders. A Catholic Bible, Catechism No. 3 (This We 
Believe: By This We Live), The National Catholic Al-
manac, Question Box, etc., might be given where best 
suited (see "Source Materials," pp. 140-141). 

4. Where the parish extends over a large territory in 
which there are radio and television stations, promote 
Catholic programs, either of national or of local origin. 
Individual Apostles of Good Will should write letters 
of appreciation to stations which carry these and should 
encourage others to do so. Transcribed programs are 
available on records and on film, and the stations will 
quite readily carry them if asked. For sources, see p. 142. 

Compile periodically a list of Catholic radio and television 
programs, local and national, and promote regular lis-
tening to them by publishing the list in the parish bul-
letin or mimeographing it for distribution. Lists of na-
tional programs are issued by both the National Council 

i Catholic Daughters of America, 10 W. 71st St., New York, N. Y. 

131 



of Catholic Men at the National Catholic Welfare Con-
ference and the Catholic Broadcasters' Association. 

5. It is important that local libraries stock books which 
give a true picture of the Church. Members of the Apos-
tolate of Good Will could draw up a list of such books 
and encourage the library board to purchase them. The 
list of Catholic books in the library should be made known 
to interested non-Catholics and particularly to civic and 
religious leaders. Where a library does not purchase such 
books, the members of the committee could donate them. 

6. Teach by good example. A sincere effort to keep not 
only all the Commandments of God and the precepts of 
the Church, but even the counsels of perfection, will, 
more than any verbal instruction, draw men to God and 
His Church. 

III. INVITATION 

Invitations should be extended to every non-Catholic to 
attend some Catholic activities. Divide this invitation 
into three parts: 

1. To draw the lax Catholic and the non-Catholic into 
the life of the parish, members of the committee invite 
them to attend its cultural (concerts, plays, etc.) and 
social (picnics, suppers, sports, etc.) activities. 

2. To provide non-Catholics and lax Catholics with gen-
eral indoctrination, invite them to the following: 

a. Sunday Mass, and special liturgical services such 
as those for Christmas, Holy Week, Easter, and for 
the reception of First Holy Communion, Confirmation, 
and so forth. A brief explanation should be given in 
advance, and a small missal or Mass leaflet supplied. 
The guests may be told that they may either sit through-
out the Mass or follow the example of the congrega-
tion in standing, sitting, and kneeling. 

132 



b. A "parish open house" to which all within the par-
ish boundaries, including ministers, are invited. CCD 
members are stationed throughout the church to give 
explanations. 

c. The parish mission, especially one for non-Catholics; 
or a field Mass arranged particularly for attendance of 
non-Catholics, and including a running commentary on 
the Mass. 

d. Street preaching sessions, if such are held in the 
parish or its vicinity. 

3. When definite interest is shown, invite non-Catholics 
to: 

a. call at the rectory, discuss matters with a priest, and 
ask for instructions; 

b. attend a parish inquiry class if one is being con-
ducted (in this connection, ask a Catholic friend — or 
a Helper — to accompany each one until he feels per-
fectly at ease); 

c. take a correspondence course in religion (see "Re-
ligion by Mail," below); 

d. participate in the discussion club and/or Parent-
Educator program; 

e. send their children to Confraternity classes or a 
Catholic school, or enroll them in a correspondence 
course. 

SPECIAL PARISH (Diocesan) PROJECTS 

Newcomers 

Newcomers are generally receptive regarding invitations 
to Catholic affairs. Organization for permanent parish 
coverage should be carried out by the Apostolate of 
Good Will (in co-operation with Fishers), All parish 
societies should be urged to welcome visitors and new 

133 



members and to develop a friendly atmosphere. Sugges-
tions follow. 

1. Names of newcomers are obtained from utility com-
panies — "Merchants' Greeter Service," "Business Ex-
tension Bureau," "Welcome Wagon," etc. — which 
supply lists on a commercial basis to business firms. 
Some lists (a little higher priced) indicate the religious 
affiliation of newcomers. 

2. A form letter signed by the bishop or pastor is 
mailed to each newcomer within three weeks after ar-
rival. This letter welcomes the newcomers to the com-
munity, states that there is a Catholic church in the 
neighborhood ready to serve their spiritual needs 
whether the family is Catholic or of another religion. 
The newcomers are invited to attend and are given 
the title and address of the parish church, the pastor's 
name, and a schedule of services and society meetings. 
Enclosed with the letter are: announcements of coming 
inquiry classes, advertisements of the K. of C. corres-
pondence course, and a return postcard to be checked 
to indicate whether or not there is a desire to receive 
instructions in the Catholic religion. 

3. Names of newcomers are then given to the members 
of the parish Confraternity, who call on them to ex-
tend a personal welcome and an invitation to attend 
Mass or devotions or to take instructions. 

Inquiry Campaign 
The Inquiry Campaign is an annual canvass which reaches 
every home in the parish in order to invite interested non-
Catholics to attend a series of lectures on the Catholic 
Church. All members of the parish CCD and sometimes 
many other volunteers are needed. 
To awaken enthusiasm, it is well to have a Communion 
Sunday for the workers at the beginning of the campaign 
and also, immediately before they start to canvass, a 

134 



service at which spiritual motives are proposed for the 
work they are about to do. Each worker should then re-
ceive the personal blessing of the priest. The service 
may end with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. 

The organization of the canvass is simple. The parish 
is divided into districts, and the parish Chairman of the 
Apostolate of Good Will appoints a captain for each. 
Under his direction are workers who go in pairs to visit 
the families living in the assigned area. It is advisable to 
have enough workers so that the full canvass can be made 
in a short time. In some places it can be made in one 
day. Two weeks should be the limit. The visits should 
be friendly but brief. 

Procedure: 

The Workers 

1. Present themselves at every house in their assigned 
area and identify themselves as members of the local 
Catholic parish. 
2. State briefly (they should be trained for this) that 
a series of talks (give number) will be given on such 
a day at such an hour; personally invite those to whom 
they are speaking; and offer to accompany them if this 
seems advisable. 

3. Leave a written invitation from the pastor and also 
a pamphlet telling something about the Church. 
4. Carefully note non-Catholics who seem especially 
interested, so as to follow them up during the year. 
5. Make regular progress reports every three days to 
the captains, who report to the parish Chairman, who 
in turn reports to the pastor. 
6. Insert notices of the lectures in newspapers. 

7. Place cards in the vestibule of the church and in-
vite parishioners to supply on them the names and ad-
dresses of friends who might be interested. 

135 



8. Just before the first lecture, make a return visit (or 
at least a telephone call) to all non-Catholics who 
showed an interest, and repeat the offer to accompany 
them to the first lecture. (Experience shows that unless 
Catholics accompany the non-Catholics and attend the 
lectures, 50 per cent of the effectiveness of the cam-
paign is lost.) 

9. On each lecture night, be on hand to welcome those 
who come, usher them to seats, and be available to 
talk with them at the end of the lecture. (No Catholic 
should be admitted without a non-Catholic or a fallen-
away.) 

10. Mix with the visitors and give them every oppor-
tunity to talk privately, if they wish. It is most im-
portant that the atmosphere at the lectures be friendly. 

Street Preaching 

Outdoor talks during the summer months are popular 
and effective as a method of reaching the man in the 
street. Questions are welcomed and literature is distrib-
uted to the crowd. The pastor is in charge of this phase 
of the parish Apostolate of Good Will. He and assisting 
priests are best qualified by the nature of their office to 
do this work, but intelligent lay people may be trained 
to do street preaching. 

Lay people can also help by doing word-of-mouth adver-
tising, obtaining newspaper publicity, distributing litera-
ture at sessions, and making follow-up visits. Successful 
street preachers say that the harvest is in the follow-up. 
Non-Catholics who show a definite interest at street 
preaching sessions can be contacted later and asked to 
join an inquiry class or a Religious Discussion Club, or 
to enroll in a correspondence course. Catholic newspapers 
or literature should be sent to them, as well as a schedule 
of local Catholic radio and TV programs. 

136 



Religion by Mail 
The correspondence course is another effective means of 
follow-up, and it gives the person who cannot be con-
tacted personally a systematic exposition of Catholic truths 
and doctrines and an opportunity to think over the sub-
ject matter at leisure. The course is also a good sup-
plement to regular instruction. Enrollment in elementary 
grade or high school correspondence courses of non-
Catholic children in rural areas, who often attend CCD 
Summer Schools, will keep alive and further their in-
terest in the Catholic Church, as well as serve to awaken 
the same interest in their parents. For general informa-
tion on correspondence courses, see "Correspondence 
Courses in Religion (Courses Available)," pp. 89-90. 

FOLLOW-UP OF CONVERTS 
Follow-up is most important. Some suggestions: 
1. Accompany new converts to liturgical functions and 
reception of the Sacraments, and explain Catholic customs 
and practices. 
2. Explain nature, objectives, and program of the various 
parish societies, and help the new convert get into parish 
life. 
3. Assist in planning a series of follow-up instructions 
for new converts. 
4. Introduce them to a Discussion Club group. 

SUMMARY OR CHECK-LIST 

PRAYER 

1. Have Masses offered for the conversion of all non-
Catholics and fallen-aways within the parish limits, and 
ask others to attend. 
2. Promote attendance at devotions for the conversion 
of all non-Catholics and fallen-aways within the parish 
limits. 

137 



3. Say a daily prayer for conversions. 
4. Encourage the sick to offer their sufferings for con-
versions. 

PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION 

5. Discuss points of Christian doctrine in which non-
Catholics are particularly interested. 
6. Distribute Catholic literature to every non-Catholic 
residence in the parish. 

7. Periodically send interested non-Catholics a special 
pamphlet. 

8. Supply Catholic literature continually to airports, rail-
road and bus stations, hospitals, etc. 

9. Supply secular newspapers with Catholic news or ar-
range for series of advertisements; e. g., K. of C., Paulist. 
10. Use "Letters to the Editor" newspaper columns to pre-
sent the Catholic point of view on matters of doctrine and 
practice. (When these are printed, write letters of ap-
preciation.) 

11. Give good Catholic reference books to non-Catholic 
civic, professional, and religious leaders. 

12. Ask public library to purchase Catholic books from 
a list presented, or donate books to the library. 

13. Seek to obtain Catholic programs on local radio and 
TV stations; publicize these and all Catholic programs. 
(Send letters of appreciation to the stations.) 

14. Continually give good example; carefully avoid giv-
ing any bad example. 

INVITATION 

15. Invite and accompany non-Catholics to Mass and spe-
cial services. 
16. Promote an "open house" in the parish church and 
school and invite non-Catholics. 

138 



17. Invite people to a mission or a short series of lec-
tures for non-Catholics. 

18. Support preparation of street preaching programs, 
promote attendance, and help in the follow-up work. 

19. Enrol l non-Cathol ics in CCD Discussion Clubs 
and/or the Parent-Educator section of the CCD; establish 
mixed marriage discussion groups. 

20. Invite non-Catholics to Catholic social events. 

21. Invite non-Catholic parents to enroll their children 
in Catholic schools, CCD religion classes, or correspond-
ence courses. 

22. Invite non-Catholics to attend public or private in-
struction classes, or take a religious correspondence course. 

23. Accompany non-Catholics to instructions. 

SPECIAL PROJECTS 

24. Organize permanent coverage of newcomers. 

25. Lend every support in the preparation and follow-up 
of parish inquiry campaigns. 

26. Help new converts to enter parochial life. 

27. Promote co-operation of special groups in the Apos-
tolate of Good Will: 

a. School children can try to bring back relatives who 
are not practicing the Faith; can also be taught to 
answer questions of their non-Catholic classmates on 
the teachings of the Church. 

b. College CCD units can put on radio and TV pro-
grams explaining the Faith, and conduct a training 
course for the lay apostolate. 

c. Hospital units of the CCD can help with many of 
the above points. 

139 



SOURCE MATERIALS 
For ready reference, the Apostolate of Good Will should 
have available as many as possible of the following titles: 

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE 

The Holy Bible, especially the New Testament. 
Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Ind.: Understanding the 

Catholic Faith (Baltimore Catechism No. 3, with sup-
plementary material for non-Catholics, by Rev. John A. 
O'Brien, Ph. D.) . 

Bruce Publishing Co., 400 North Broadway, Milwaukee 
1, Wis.: The Catholic Church and You (what the 
Church teaches and why). 

Confraternity Publications, 508 Marshall St., Paterson 3, 
N. J.: This We Believe: By This We Live (Baltimore 
Catechism No. 3, with explanations of text and related 
Scriptural passages). 

Foundation for Adult Catechetical Teaching Aids, 720 
N. Rush St., Chicago 11, 111.: Life in Christ (instruc-
tions in the Catholic Faith). 

Our Sunday Visitor Press, Huntington, Ind.: Father Smith 
Instructs Jackson; The Faith of Millions. 

Paulist Press, 401 W. 59th St., New York 19, N. Y.: 
I Believe; The Question Box. 

Radio Replies Press, 500 Robert St., St. Paul 1, Minn.: 
Radio Replies (3 vols.). 

St. Anthony's Guild, 508 Marshall St., Paterson 3, N. J.: 
National Catholic Almanac (new material added in 
each annual issue). 

CONVERT-MAKING TECHNIQUES 

Catechetical Guild, 260 Summit Ave., St. Paul 2, Minn.: 
How You Can Share Your Faith. 

Our Sunday Visitor Press: Sharing the Faith; Converts — 
How to Win Them. 

140 



Paulist Press: Holy Hour for Conversions; Guide (peri-
odical) . 

The Queen's Work, 3112 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis 18, 
Mo.: You Can Win Converts. 

Radio Replies Press: Apostolate to the Millions; What! 
Me a Convert-Maker? 

Society of St. Paul, 2187 Victory Blvd., Staten Island 14, 
N. Y.: Winning 100 Converts a Year. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHIES OF CONVERTS 

Bruce Publishing Co.: What Other Answer? 

Doubleday and Co., Inc., 575 Madison Ave., New York, 
N. Y.: The Road to Damascus; Where I Found Christ. 

Our Sunday Visitor Press: Paths to Christ. 

LEAFLETS AND PAMPHLETS 

The following titles are suggested as being suitable for 
distribution to non-Catholics: 

America Press, 920 Broadway, New York 10, N. Y.: 
Come and See. 

Ave Maria Press: Finding Christ. 

Catholic Information Society, 214 W. 31st St., New York 
1, N. Y. Come On In; How To Find Christ's Church; 
It Does Make a Difference. 

Confraternity Home Study Service, 4422 Lindell Blvd., 
St. Louis 8, Mo.: Are You Interested? 

Our Sunday Visitor Press: Come Back Home; Does Con-
fession Make Sinning Easy?; Is One Religion as Good 
as Another ?; The Open Door. 

141 



For information on additional leaflets and for series of 
articles for insertion in secular papers, write to: 

Knights of Columbus Information Bureau, 4422 Lindell 
Blvd., St. Louis 8, Mo. 

Paulist Feature Service, St. Paul's College, Washington 
17, D. C. 

Transcribed Radio Programs, for use on local stations, 
may be obtained from: 

The Ave Maria Hour 
Franciscan Friars of the 

Atonement 
Garrison, N. Y. 

Family Theatre 
7201 Sunset Blvd. 
Hollywood, Calif. 

The Hour of the Crucified 
Passionist Monastery 
West Springfield, Mass. 

New Testament Records 
(Confraternity Revision, 
read by Rev. Robert J. 
Gannon, S. J.) 

Audio Book Company 
200 Broad Street 
St. Joseph, Mich. 

N. C. W. C. (Catholic 
Religious News Service) 

1312 Massachusetts Ave., 
N. W. 

Washington 5, D. C. 

The Rosary Hour, Inc. 
6060 Hollywood Blvd. 
Hollywood, Calif. 

Sacred Heart Program 
3900 Westminster Place 
St. Louis, Mo. 

Hour of St. Francis 
218 East 12th St. 
Los Angeles 15, Calif. 

142 



Television Films for local use may be obtained from: 

The Christophers Family Theatre 
18 East 48th St. 
New York, N. Y. 

7201 Sunset Blvd. 
Hollywood, Calif. 

National Council of 
Catholic Men, N.C.W.C. 

1312 Massachusets Ave., 
N. W. 

Washington 5, D. C. 

Television and radio script information and other helpful 
services are available from: Catholic Broadcasters Asso-
ciation, 600 Clyde St., Pittsburgh 13, Penna. 

The conversion of rural America has seldom been seri-
ously tried. This may be due, in part, to the long dis-
tances which must be covered, often on poor roads made 
worse by bad weather; and to the frequent lack of re-
ligious services of the type usually attractive to non-
Catholics. There are also certain problems peculiar to 
rural districts: fixed thought patterns which tend to be 
anti-Catholic, and a natural conservatism which opposes 
conversion to Catholicism — fear of the "all-seeing com-
munity" and the probability of its disapproval keep many 
who might have an interest in the Church from seeking 
knowledge openly. 

The answer is CONTACT. The priest and the trained 
Apostles of Good Will must seek to KNOW every non-
Catholic in the area: through personal visits; by walking 
instead of driving through town and greeting all they 
meet with a smile; speaking well of the place and of 
the people, families, and homes visited; attending com-

RURAL ORGANIZATION 

143 



munity meetings; introducing themselves and learning 
names. Rate the leaders according to their attitude to-
ward Catholicism and then plan how to create "good 
will." It may take two years just to create the right im-
pression. 

At the same time the spiritual life of all parishioners 
must be raised to such a level that it will impress non-
Catholics. Mass attendance and Holy Communion on 
Sunday and during the week must soar. Children must 
be extremely well instructed. Adults must learn to ex-
plain the Faith clearly and with confidence. Families must 
be a religious ideal to all through family devotions, Bible 
reading, etc. Finally, parishioners must be taught real 
charity toward all. 

When the ground is tilled thus, most of the "Suggested 
Activities" in the foregoing sections will apply with slight 
adaptation. 

144 



Chapter 13 

THE DIOCESAN OFFICE 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Authorization Organization Function 

AUTHORIZATION 

The Ordinary of the diocese authorizes the establishment 
of the diocesan office of the CCD, to carry out his plans 
for its operation. 

ORGANIZATION 
The Ordinary appoints as CCD Director a priest who is 
his official representative and acts in his name. Where 
the size of the territory requires it, he may appoint as-
sistant or deanery directors. Some dioceses have a full-
time Director and a staff of Religious and/or lay super-
visors who assist the parishes in many ways. • 

The Diocesan Director may also see fit to appoint a Dioc-
esan Executive Board, lay men and women who have 
gained CCD experience in their parishes and have been 
recommended by their Directors. Such a board acts in 
an advisory capacity only. 

FUNCTION 

The work of the diocesan office is to aid and counsel 
individual parishes, as well as to supervise the work 
of the CCD in the diocese as a whole. It sets up stand-
ards for the religious education program, especially for 

145 



Elementary and High Schools of Religion, and sees that 
they are carried out in the diocese. Some of the services 
which may be available from the diocesan office include: 

1. an annual Program containing the CCD calendar 
for the year, list of required or recommended courses 
of study, Discussion Club texts, visual aids, etc.; 

2. a training course for Teachers in various centers; 

3. short training courses for the other workers in the 
CCD program (or assistance for their training in 
parishes); 

4. speakers for local CCD meetings; 

5. diocesan congresses, rallies, workshops, etc., for the 
purpose of discussion and study of local and diocesan 
problems; 

6. directives and materials for celebrating Catechetical 
Day annually with a fitting program; 

7. a lending library of films and slides; 

8. advance courses in Dogma, Moral, Church History, 
Scripture, Liturgy, leading to an advanced diploma for 
Teachers. 

Wherever any of these or similar services are offered by 
the diocesan CCD office, parishes are urged to take ad-
vantage of them for the betterment of the local program. 

146 



Chapter 14 

THE NATIONAL CENTER 
OF THE CCD 

CHAPTER PREVIEW 

Nature and Func- Committees 
tion 

Publications Office 
Major Services 

NATURE AND FUNCTION 

The Episcopal Committee1 of the Confraternity of Chris-
tian Doctrine, appointed by the hierarchy of the United 
States at their meeting in 1934, established in the fol-
lowing year a National Center of the Confraternity at 
the National Catholic Welfare Conference, Washington, 
D. C. It was to serve as a unifying agency for CCD or-
ganization throughout the country. Its staff, composed 
of priest Director, assistant priests and laity, seeks to ac-
complish this purpose through the following 

MAJOR SERVICES 

1. A Publications Office (see below) 
2. An annual meeting for Diocesan Directors 

3. Annual CCD Summer Leadership Courses in six uni-
versities and colleges for preparing instructors to func-
tion in diocesan CCD training programs 

1 Now known as the Bishops' Committee of the Confraternity of 
Christian Doctrine. 

147 



4. An annual CCD Workshop at the Catholic Uni-
versity for experienced CCD workers 

5. National CCD Congresses every five years 

6. Assistance in the planning of regional and diocesan 
congresses, priests' institutes (also those for religious, 
seminarians, laity) 

7. Formation of national committees of key CCD per-
sonnel (see below) 

8. Dissemination of diocesan and committee informa-
tion through newsletters 

9. A quarterly publication for parishes, Our Parish 
Confraternity 

10. Maintenance of an extensive catechetical reference 
library for use in compiling bibliographies for teach-
ers' manuals, for parents, etc. 

While the National Center thus promotes a standard 
program with the aid of Diocesan Directors and national 
committees, each diocese is autonomous, and the local 
establishment and development of the CCD are directed 
by diocesan authority and not by the National Center. 
Each parish CCD unit carries out its religious education 
program as the Ordinary may direct. 

COMMITTEES OF THE NATIONAL CENTER 

1. Standing Committees of CCD Diocesan Directors. 
Consist of representative groups of Directors who are 
asked to co-operate with the National Center in develop-
ing or revising publications, planning and evaluating 
special projects before their introduction on a national 
scale, etc. 

2. Teaching Sisters and Brothers. Superiors of teaching 
Orders of men and women appoint a representative to 
serve on this committee and become thoroughly acquaint-

148 



ed with CCD methods and materials, in order to indoc-
trinate the rest of the community through institutes, CCD 
days at the Motherhouse, newsletters, etc. 

3. Lay Committee. Bishops appoint two lay men as 
member and alternate (preferably on the basis of out-
standing CCD work) to represent the laity of the diocese 
during the five-year period between National Confrater-
nity Congresses. 

4. Seminary Committee. Made up of the rector and the 
professor of catechetics in major and minor seminaries, 
who present the CCD program and materials to the fu-
ture priests and provide the means for them to gain prac-
tical experience in it. 

PUBLICATIONS OFFICE 

This office functions under the supervision of the Bish-
ops' Committee of the CCD, and its staff consists of the 
director of the National Center, a priest-censor, and edi-
tors. It publishes texts and pamphlets on organization; 
Teachers' manuals for a graded course in religion; Dis-
cussion Club procedure and texts; leaflets and texts for 
parents, etc. (Send for the complete list of publications.) 

Chief among the organizational aids published is this 
MANUAL OF THE PARISH CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN 

DOCTRINE, the basic tool in parish organization. It pre-
sents a flexible program which may be extended by a dioc-
esan office into the most elaborate program, or pared to 
the bare minimum, as desired. Wherever it is followed, 
however, it assures a successful parish unit based on the 
standards adopted in the majority of dioceses. 

149 



APPENDICES 

Appendix 1 

INDULGENCES AND PRIVILEGES 

A. INDULGENCES 

I. A Plenary Indulgence can be gained under the usual con-
ditions : 

(1) by all the faithful on the day of enrollment in the 
Confraternity; 

(2) by each and every member (a) on the principal feast 
of the local Confraternity; and (b) on the feasts of: Christ-
mas, Circumcision, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, 
Corpus Christi, Assumption and Immaculate Conception of 
the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Mary of Tears, titular church 
of the Archconfraternity (January 14), St. Joseph (March 
19), St. Robert Bellarmine (May 13), Sts. Peter and Paul 
(June 29), St. Joseph Calasanctius (August 27), All Saints, 
and St. Charles Borromeo (November 4). 

II. A Plenary Indulgence at the Hour of Death can be gained 
by all members of the Confraternity who, having confessed 
their sins and received Holy Communion, or at least being 
contrite, devoutly invoke orally, if they can, the most Holy 
Name of Jesus, or at least invoke it in their hearts, and 
accept death patiently from the hand of God as the wages 
of sin. 

III. Indulgences of the Stations of Rome (in any church of 
the Confraternity) can be gained by members according to 
the norm of the Decree of the Sacred Penitentiary, April 12, 
1932 (AAS, XXIV, p. 248), on those days on which, in 
the Roman Missal, the Mass is noted for a Station. (On 
certain days it was customary for the Pope to offer Mass at 
certain Roman churches; these churches were called "Sta-
tions," and the days are still noted in the Missal.) 

The indulgences of the Roman Stations are: 

150 



A Plenary Indulgence (under the usual conditions): 

(1) To those who devoutly visit a Stational church on the 
Station days and participate in the sacred functions either 
during the morning or evening hours, according to the cus-
tom, and pray for the intention of the Holy Father; 

(2) If there be no public service in the church, to those 
who say, before the Blessed Sacrament, the Our Father, Hail 
Mary, and Glory five times; adding the Our Father, Hail 
Mary, and Glory three times before any relics set out for 
veneration; and the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory at 
least once for the intention of the Holy Father. 

A Partial Indulgence of ten years: 

To those who make a visit to a Stational church and recite 
the above-mentioned prayers, being at least contrite in heart. 

The members may gain the above-cited indulgences in a church 
of the Confraternity when in that place there is no Stational 
church, according to the Declaration of Decree of Indulgences 
connected with the Stations, of February 25, 1933 (AAS, XXV, 
p. 27). 

IV. The following Partial Indulgences can be gained by mem-
bers who are at least contrite in heart: 

(1) an Indulgence of ten years if they go out from the 
city and teach catechism in small towns or in the country; 

(2) an Indulgence of seven years (a) if they have con-
fessed and have received Holy Communion on the day and 
in the place in which the Confraternity is established; (b) if 
they go about the city to bring men, women, and children 
to religious instruction; (c) if they accompany the Blessed 
Sacrament when it is carried to the sick; (d) once a month 
if, having confessed, they receive Holy Communion; (e) if, 
being priests, they give a sermon or religious instruction in 
a church or an oratory of the Confraternity; 

(3) an Indulgence of three years if they accompany the 
body of a deceased member to the cemetery or attend the 
funeral of such, and pray devoutly for the soul of the 
departed; 

(4) an Indulgence of three hundred days (a) if they 
piously see to it that children, servants, and others are pres-

151 



ent at catechism class; (b) if they visit sick members; (c) if 
they attend the exercises or meetings of the Confraternity, 
or processions that are held with the approval of the 
bishop; 

(5) an Indulgence of one hundred days if, publicly or 
privately, they teach catechism on days other than Sundays 
and feast days. 

B. PRIVILEGES 

All Masses offered by any priest at any altar for the soul of a 
deceased member of the Confraternity have the same efficacy as 
though celebrated at a privileged altar. 

December 21, 1939 

The Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, in virtue of the faculties 
granted by His Holiness Pope Pius XII, approves this Summary, 
taken from authentic documents, revised and certified, and de-
clares it must be considered to be the sole list of Indulgences and 
Privileges granted, up to the present, to the Archconfraternity by 
the Apostolic See, and permits it to be published. All things to 
the contrary notwithstanding. 

L. CARDINAL LAURI, Paenit. Maior 
S. Luzio, Regent 

L. S. 
AAS, XXXII (1940), pp. 58-59 

Members of the Archconfraternity enjoy participation in the 
spiritual privileges of the greater part of the Regular Orders and 
the Regular Clergy through the concession of their respective 
superiors general (1817-1825). 

Indulgences for All the Faithful 
Who Teach or Study Christian Doctrine 

I. A Plenary Indulgence to all the faithful who, for approxi-
mately one half hour or for not less than twenty minutes, 

152 



devote themselves at least twice a month to teaching or learn-
ing Christian Doctrine. This Indulgence can be gained twice 
during the same month on days which they may choose, pro-
vided they, being truly penitent, have gone to confession and 
Holy Communion and have visited some church or public 
oratory and there prayed for the intention of the Roman 
Pontiff. 

II. A Partial Indulgence of three years to these same members 
of the faithful — provided they are contrite of heart — as 
often as they devote themselves for the aforesaid space of 
time to teaching or learning Christian Doctrine (Pius XI, 
Decretum, March 12, 1930, AAS, XXIV, p. 248). 

153 



Appendix 2 

NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE 
CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 

In the year 1536, Castellino da Castello, a zealous priest of the 
diocese of Milan, founded in that city a School of Christian Doc-
trine, which on Sundays and holydays of obligation offered in-
struction in Christian Doctrine to children and to the unlettered. 

St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) established a seminary in 
Milan where numerous catechists came to be trained by him for 
the teaching of religion. At his death, 740 Schools of Christian 
Doctrine were functioning under 3,000 teachers. 

The Council of Trent (1545-1563) recognized the necessity of 
religious instruction for all, published the "Catechism for Parish 
Priests," and ordered that in every church catechetical instruc-
tions be given to the people on Sundays and feast days of 
obligation. 

Cardinal Baronius (1538-1607) wrote, in his Annales Ecclesias-
tic,i, that the Society of Christian Doctrine in Rome was founded 
about the yeajr 1560 under the Pontificate of Pope Pius IV by 
Marco Sadi-Cusani of Milan. This man, a contemporary of the 
Cardinal, together with other zealous lay men, took up the work 
of teaching Christian Doctrine to the children and adults in the 
churches of Rome. The Society of Christian Doctrine was made 
up of priests and lay men. 

This society was greatly enlarged through the efforts of Enrico 
Pietra of Piacenza, who left his business to become a priest. He 
labored under the direction of St. Philip Neri in bringing many 
souls to God. When the society had attained an extensive mem-
bership, some of the members decided to live in common as ec-
clesiastics and took the name of the Congregation of Clerics 
Regular of Christian Doctrine; the remaining members formed 
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 

In 1562, Pope Pius IV granted to the Confraternity the Church 
of St. Apollinaris as its center. 

In 1571, Pope St. Pius V encouraged the zealous workers in 
teaching Christian Doctrine, granted certain indulgences to both 
groups, and recommended to the bishops of the world the estab-
lishment of the Confraternity in all the parishes of their dioceses. 

154 



St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), at the request of Pope 
Clement VIII, prepared two catechisms for use by the Confra-
ternity, one for catechists and the other for pupils. 

St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), consecrated Bishop of Geneva 
in 1602, made his first act the establishment of the Confraternity 
as a means of catechetical instruction both for adults and for 
youth. 

In 1605, Pope Clement VIII appointed as protector of the Con-
fraternity Cardinal de' Medici, who later became Pope Leo XI. 

In 1607, Pope Paul V erected the Confraternity into an Arch-
confraternity, and gave it more extensive indulgences and many 
special favors. He changed its center from St. Apollinaris to St. 
Peter's at the Vatican. 

In 1610, the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences decreed that 
the Confraternity should be erected in all the parishes of the 
Catholic world. 

In an encyclical of 1626, Pope Innocent XI recommended most 
urgently to all bishops that they establish the Confraternity in 
every parish in their dioceses. 

Pope Benedict XIV, in 1746, assigned to the Archconfraternity 
of Christian Doctrine as its headquarters the Church of St. Mary 
of Tears in Rome, where it maintains its seat at the present time. 

World Diffusion of the Confraternity 

From Rome the Confraternity extended itself through all of Italy, 
France, Germany, and other countries of Europe, especially Ire-
land. We must now note particularly and specifically the growth 
of the Confraternity in the United States. 

1902. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was organized in 
the City of New York by Archbishop M. A. Corrigan. 

1905. Pope St. Pius X, in his encyclical Acerbo nimis ("On the 
Teaching of Christian Doctrine"), ordered that "the Confrater-
nity of Christian Doctrine be canonically erected in every parish. 
Through this Confraternity," St. Pius continues, "the pastors, es-
pecially in places where there is a scarcity of priests, will have lay 
helpers in the teaching of the catechism, who will take up the 
work of imparting knowledge both from a zeal for the glory of 
God and in order to gain the numerous Indulgences granted by 
the Sovereign Pontiffs." In the large cities, and especially in those 
where there are universities, colleges or secondary schools, the 

155 



encyclical further directs that there be set up classes to instruct 
in the truths of the Faith and in the practices of Christian life 
the youths of the public schools, from which all teaching of 
religion has been banned. 

1908. The Pittsburgh Missionary Confraternity was established 
in that city to minister to the mining districts of the diocese. 

1918. The new Code of Canon Law also ordained that the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine be established in every parish 
(Canon 711:2). 

1921. The Most Rev. Thomas E. Molloy, Bishop of Brooklyn, 
established the Confraternity there. 

1922. Parish units of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 
were established throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by 
Archbishop John J. Cantwell, with Rev. Robert E. Lucey as the 
first Diocesan Director. 

1923. By his Motu Proprio Orbem Catholicum, Pope Pius XI 
created in the Sacred Congregation of the Council a central Cate-
chetical Office upon which, together with the diocesan offices, 
depend all the Confraternities of Christian Doctrine in the world. 

1926. A letter of the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries sent to 
all bishops spoke of the primary importance of catechetical in-
struction for both youths and adults, and emphasized the neces-
sity of catechetical preparation in the seminaries. 

1929. The encyclical of Pope Pius XI Divini lllius Magistri 
("On Christian Education,") energetically renewed the prescrip-
tions of the canons on the teaching of Christian Doctrine, and 
pleaded for their effective realization: 

"For the love of Jesus Christ our Savior, therefore, W e im-
plore pastors of souls, by every means in their power, by catechet-
ical instructions, by word of mouth and written articles widely 
distributed, to warn Christian parents of their grave obligations 
Parents therefore and all who take their place in the work of 
education should be careful to make right use of the authority 
given them by God, whose vicars in a true sense they are. This 
authority is not given for their own advantage, but for the proper 
upbringing of their children in a holy and filial fear of God, the 
beginning of wisdom, on which foundation alone all respect for 
authority can rest securely; and without which order, tranquillity, 
and prosperity, whether in the family or in society, will be im-
possible." 

156 



1933. By an official letter of the Most Rev. Michael J. Curley, 
Archbishop of Baltimore, the National Shrine of the Immacu-
late Conception at the Catholic University of America was desig-
nated as the ecclesiastical center of the Confraternity of Chris-
tian Doctrine in the United States of America. 

1934. The archbishops and bishops of the United States, at their 
annual meeting in November, appointed a three-member Epis-
copal Committee on the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 

1935. January 12: The decree of the Sacred Congregation of 
the Council, Provido sane Consilio, once again strongly affirmed 
that a good catechetical organization is imperative. "In every par-
ish," the decree points out, "there shall be established according 
to Canon 711:2 the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, which 
will take in all who are capable of teaching and of promoting 
catechetical instruction, especially teachers of the schools and 
those who have had experience in the education of the young." 
(See Appendix 5.) 

April: A communication from the Apostolic Delegate encour-
aged the employment of seminarians in religious vacation schools. 

May: The National Center of the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine was established as a bureau of the National Catholic 
Welfare Conference, Washington, D. C. 

October 30-31: The First National Catechetical Congress of 
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine convened in Rochester, 
N. Y., under the patronage of Bishop Edward Mooney. (Since 
that time National Congresses have been held as follows: New 
York, October 3-6, 1936; St. Louis, October 9-12, 1937; Hart-
ford, October 1-4, 1938; Cincinnati, November 4-7, 1939; Los 
Angeles, October 12-15, 1940; Philadelphia, November 15-18, 
1941; Boston, October 26-29, 1946; Chicago, November 7-11, 
1951; Buffalo, September 26-30, 1956; Dallas, November 28-
December 1, 1961.) 

November: Formation of the Seminary Committee of the Na-
tional Center. 

1937. On November 1, the National Shrine Unit of the Confra-
ternity of Christian Doctrine was erected with the authorization 
and approval of the Most Rev. Michael J. Curley and the Most 
Rev. Joseph Corrigan, Rector of the Catholic University of 
America. 

157 



1939. Fourteen standing committees of the National Center 
were authorized by the Episcopal Committee of the Confrater-
nity of Christian Doctrine. Membership was drawn from Dioc-
esan Directors. 
Regional Congresses of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 
were held in six provinces, each under the auspices of an Ordi-
nary within the province. Since then, Regionals have been held 
annually in ever-increasing numbers. 

1942. February: The opening issue of OUR PARISH CON-
FRATERNITY appeared. This was the first national-scale pub-
lication devoted exclusively to Confraternity activities. 

November: At the annual meeting of the archbishops and 
bishops, two new members were added to the Episcopal Com-
mittee of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. (Further ad-
ditions in 1946, 1950, 1952 and 1953 brought the total to 
twelve members.) 

1943. The Teaching Sisters and Brothers Committee was 
organized. 

1945. The Episcopal Committee of the Confraternity of Chris-
tian Doctrine approved the promotion by the CCD in the United 
States of the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of 
Pope Pius X, to whom the Confraternity owes its revival in mod-
ern times. A Crusade of Prayer was launched in February, and 
the fortieth anniversary of the encyclical Acerbo nimis, "On the 
Teaching of Christian Doctrine" (the Magna Charta of the Con-
fraternity), was celebrated during the annual meeting of the 
Directors. To assist in the promotion of the Cause, a "Sym-
posium" by thirteen scholars, and several other volumes pertain-
ing to Pius X's life and works, as well as a prayer leaflet, were 
published by the CCD. 

1947. The first Leadership Course was held at the Catholic Uni-
versity of America, Washington, D. C. (Other colleges and 
universities to offer this course were: Incarnate Word College, 
beginning in 1953; the Dominican College of San Raphael, in 
1954; the University of Seattle, in 1957; St. Michael's College, 
in 1959; and Marquette University, in I960.) 

1948. In preparation for a pilgrimage in August to the tomb of 
Pius X in Rome, a national Crusade of Prayer for his beatifica-
tion was conducted, with a total of 157,758,175 spiritual exer-
cises performed for this intention. 

158 



1949. A letter from the World President of Catholic Action 
on January 9 made "pertinent observations concerning the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine and i t s . . . magnificent program 
of Catholic Action." 

1950. An International Congress of Religious Instruction was 
held in Rome, October 10-14, in connection with the Holy Year 
observance. From the United States, members of the Episcopal 
Committee, a number of Diocesan Directors, and lay representa-
tives of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine attended. The 
group also made pilgrimages to the birthplace and the tomb of 
Pope Pius X. 

1951. The Lay Committee of the CCD was established. 

June 3: The Beatification of Pope Pius X. A National Confra-
ternity Pilgrimage to the ceremonies was sponsored by the Epis-
copal Committee. 

1954. May 29: The Canonization of Pope Pius X, to which the 
CCD conducted its fourth pilgrimage. 

1956. September 11: The Episcopal Chairman of the CCD 
from 1935, Archbishop Edwin V. O'Hara, died in Milan, Italy. 

1959. September 20: Death of Most Rev. Matthew F. Brady, 
second Chairman of the Episcopal Committee. 

November 18: Election of Most Rev. Charles P. Greco, Bishop 
of Alexandria, as third Chairman of the Episcopal Committee. 

1960. Triple Jubilee Year celebration: 400th anniversary of the 
world-wide catechetical movement; 75th anniversary of the Bal-
timore Catechism; and 25th anniversary of the establishment of 
the National Center. A letter of commendation from Pope John 
XXIII was received by Most Rev. Charles P. Greco, Chairman 
of the Episcopal Committee. 

June 10-21: The first CCD Workshop was sponsored by the 
National Center at the Catholic University of America. 

1961. July 18: Death of Miss Miriam Marks, former Field 
Representative of the CCD and Executive Secretary of the Na-
tional Center from its opening in 1935 until her retirement in 
December, I960. 

159 



EPILOGUE 

The CCD is the most efficacious means to actuate the 
catechetical directives of the H o l y See, as wi tness 
the words addressed by Pope Pius XII to the pastors 
of Rome: "Organize catechetical instruction; seek out 
good co-workers — so effectively that there will be no 
street and no home in the parish without your atten-
tion and care." 

160 



Appendix 3 

D O C U M E N T S O F T H E H O L Y S E E 

Excerpt from an Address of the Former Apostolic Delegate: 

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, which has for its object 

to impart catechetical instruction, was organized centuries ago. 

It operates under the guidance and direction of your bishops 

and parish priests. This Confraternity should be erected in 

every parish; in fact it should take precedence over all other 

parochial societies and sodalities. It is composed particularly of 

lay teachers who devote themselves to the teaching of the cate-

chism to children and to adults who otherwise might be unable 

to acquire a knowledge of the Catholic religion. This teaching 

of the catechism by the laity is one of the noblest and most 

efficacious works of Catholic Action, for the end and aim of 

Catholic Action is nothing less than the winning of souls to 

Christ. For those who cannot attend our Catholic schools, other 

means for the teaching of Christian Doctrine are found, such as 

vacation schools and instruction classes during the year, and 

study clubs, particularly for high school and college students. 

Adults and non-Catholics are provided for by means of study 

clubs and inquiry classes.... 

+ AMLETO GIOVANNI CICOGNANI 

Archbishop <Df Laodicea 

Apostolic Delegate to the United States 

October 30, 1935 

161 



Letters from the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Coun-
cil, the World President of Catholic Action, and the Former 
Apostolic Delegate: 

Sacred Congregation of the Council 
Catechetical Office 

Rome, July 10, 1936 
Your Excellency: 
Among the matters contained in the reports made recently to this 
Sacred Congregation of the Council by the Ordinaries of the 
United States of America, this Sacred Congregation has freely 
considered and weighed especially those things which have been 
done to foster more and more the religious instruction of the 
Christian people. 

Above everything else, it seems beyond doubt to have been most 
useful for obtaining the desired end that the Committee of Bish-
ops promoting the Confraternities of Christian Doctrine with 
far-seeing wisdom should have ordained and decreed that the 
Confraternity or Sodality of Christian Doctrine be established 
according to the circumstances of each place in every parish, as 
commanded by Canon 711:2 of the Code of Canon Law and the 
Decree of this Sacred Congregation of January 12, 1935. 

These Confraternities, as may be known from the acts forwarded 
to this Sacred Congregation, aim principally at this function: 
namely, that they unite all those persons in each parish who are 
suited to teach and promote the catechism, and who by diligent 
care and the use of prescribed methods impart catechetical in-
struction to all children and young people. 

This Sacred Congregation also praises highly and approves the 
plan of instituting a revision of the Catechism of the Third 
Plenary Council of Baltimore, and by the work and help of men 
skilled in this matter of preparing a new text of Christian Doc-
trine better adapted to present-day needs. . . . For whatever effort 
and labor is spent in imparting and popularizing catechetical 
education is clearly to the moral and social advantage of the 
people. 

162 



When, during an audience held on July 7 of the current year, 
I related these things to His Holiness Pope Pius XI, the Most 
Holy Father deigned to congratulate earnestly this Committee of 
Bishops with regard to what has been done and what is proposed 
to be done; and further, promised to keep this work in his prayers, 
that what has been so happily begun may continue to prosper. To 
this end, and in token of his benevolence toward the afore-
mentioned Bishops and toward all who carry on the work of 
giving better care to and promoting Christian Doctrine, he also 
deigned to impart the Apostolic Blessing. 

Fraternally, 
(signed) + J. CARD. SERAFINI, Prefect 

J. Bruno, Secretary 
H i s EXCELLENCY 
THE MOST REV. EDWIN O'HARA 
Chairman of the Episcopal Committee 
of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 

Sacred Congregation of the Council 
Catechetical Office N. 861/37 

Rome, October 27, 1937 

After mature examination of all that Your Most Reverend Ex-
cellency, under dates of June 5 and 12, 1936, referred to us 
concerning the manner in which the Confraternities of Christian 
Doctrine become organized in the United States, I am able to 
notify you that even though they do not have as their scope the 
incrementum publici cultus and though they admit women in a 
directive capacity, they are equally .aggregated de jure to the 
Venerable Archconfraternity of Christian Doctrine canonically 
erected in Rome. 

The aforesaid Archconfraternity, erected in fact before the 
promulgation of the Codex of Canon Law, with the principal 
scope of Religious Instruction, also admits women as active mem-
bers, as Your Excellency can see in the "Constitution of the 
Venerable Archconfraternity of Christian Doctrine," of which a 
copy is joined hereto. 

163 



Asking Your Excellency, when occasion offers, to make these 
things known to Bishop Edwin O'Hara of Great Falls, Chairman 
of the Episcopal Committee on the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine, I express to you my personal esteem. 

Fraternally yours, 
(signed) + J. CARD. SERAFINI, Prefect 

(signed) S. FAGLIO, Subsecretary 

T o H i s EXCELLENCY 
THE MOST REV. A . GIOVANNI CICOGNANI 
Titular Archbishop of Laodicea 
Apostolic Delegate to the United States 

Apostolic Delegation Washington, D. C. 
United States of America November 10, 1937 

The Most Rev. Edwin V. O'Hara, D. D. 
Bishop of Great Falls 

Your Excellency: 
I am directed by His Eminence Julius Cardinal Serafini, Prefect 
of the Sacred Congregation of the Council, to inform Your Ex-
cellency that the Confraternities of Christian Doctrine as organ-
ized in the United States, even though they do not have the 
incrementum publici cultus as their scope, and even though 
women are admitted in them in a directive capacity, are none the 
less de jure aggregated to the Venerable Archconfraternity of 
Christian Doctrine canonically erected in Rome. It appears clearly 
from the Statutes of the Venerable Archconfraternity of Christian 
Doctrine that its chief purpose is religious instruction and that 
it admits women as active members. I trust this information will 
be of service in meeting the problems which arise in organizing 
Confraternities. 

With sentiments of esteem, and with all good wishes, I remain 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 
(signed) t A. G. CICOGNANI 

Archbishop of Laodicea 
Apostolic Delegate 

164 



Actio Catholica Vatican City, January 9, 1949 

His Excellency 
The Most Rev. Edwin V. O'Hara. 
Bishop of Kansas City 
Chairman of the Episcopal Committee 
of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 

Your Excellency: 

While there is still fresh in our memory the edifying devotion 
to the Church and the intense loyalty to the person of His Holi-
ness which were displayed by the beloved prelates, priests, and 
lay people who made the pilgrimage to the tomb of Pope Pius X 
under the auspices of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, we 
desire to make some pertinent observations concerning the Con-
fraternity and its contribution to the larger field of Catholic 
Action. Your Excellency was kind enough to forward a report 
of the nine Regional Congresses of the Confraternity held during 
the past year in various ecclesiastical provinces of the United 
States. We have rejoiced to observe the enthusiasm of the clergy, 
religious, and lay people in attendance at these meetings. We 
congratulate the bishops of these nine provinces upon the great 
success of these congresses. 

Abundant proofs has the hierarchy of the United States con-
stantly given of its matchless wisdom and zeal in directing the 
Church in that glorious country. For that reason it may seem idle 
to select this or that move for special praise. But by reason of 
our interest in Catholic Action we witnessed with joy the setting 
up in 1934 of a special Episcopal Committee to guide the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine. Wisely indeed has that Com-
mittee shaped a program which embraces adult religious educa-
tion through the formation of discussion clubs; special religious 
instruction for children not attending parochial schools, through 
summer schools and systematic weekly training; instruction to 
Catholic parents on their role in the Catholic education and train-
ing of their children; and systematic efforts to reach those who 
are not of the Faith. It is true that these activities go beyond 

165 



the sphere of a confraternity in the strict canonical sense. But 
they are fully in harmony with the purposes expressed by the 
servant of God Pius X in the encyclical letter Acerbo nimis. 

It is easy to perceive how far-reaching and universal is this 
program, which extends its apostolic endeavors to adults as well 
as to children. What a magnificent program of Catholic Action 
it is! For what efforts of the lay people are more deservedly 
placed in this category than the great task of evangelization? 
Pope Pius XI repeatedly recommended to all the associations of 
Catholic Action that they should assist the clergy in the teaching 
of the catechism, which should be considered by every Catholic 
as the holiest and most necessary apostolate. It was to the Car-
dinal Patriarch of Lisbon that Pope Pius XI wrote on November 
10, 1933: "It should be therefore among the first acts of the 
Catholic Action organization: . . . that of gathering around the 
pastors to assist them efficaciously in the work of evangelization, 
that is, in the teaching of Christian Doctrine. . . . For youth: seek 
always to deepen in them the knowledge of the doctrine of 
Jesus Christ. For adults: make them understand better that, by 
study and meditation on the truths taught by our Lord Jesus 
Christ, they will find in every contingency of life the truth, the 
strength, and the comfort which they need." 

Worthy of attention and commendation is the effort to set up 
a Confraternity unit of lay apostles in every parish of the country. 
The saintly pontiff Pius X gave the directive concerning the 
establishment of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in 
every parish of the world, so that its beneficent effects would be 
felt down to the very roots of Catholic life. How appropriate it 
is to speak of parochial units in the United States, where paro-
chial lines are so exceptionally well drawn, to the great good of 
the Church in that glorious land. There the parish is truly like 
a large family which in the spirit of the Mediator Dei prays 
together, attends the Holy Sacrifice together, seeks to sanctify 
each member in a corporate manner, and in all truth calls the 
pastor by the beautiful name of "Father." 

166 



In order to develop the apostolate among the laity in the various 
parishes, there must indeed be a diocesan organization. We are 
happy to see that so many dioceses have found it possible to 
establish a diocesan office of the Confraternity, placing in charge 
some zealous priest who can devote a large portion of his time 
to this most apostolic task. That the Episcopal Committee of the 
Confraternity has published a detailed manual for organization 
upon both a diocesan and a parochial level is proof again of their 
zeal and systematic procedure. 

We would indeed be pleased if it were made known to the-
thousands of lay people who form the ranks of the Confraternity 
of Christian Doctrine, how deeply we appreciate their zeal and 
sacrifice. They are spurred on, assuredly, by the knowledge 
that through this glorious apostolate they are part of the magnif-
icent army of Catholic Action. Indeed, they are concerned, as 
the Holy Father has said, with a choice field of Catholic Action 
and are thus able to give spiritual motivation to lay apostles in 
varied parish activities. May their efforts grow so that the Con-
fraternity will reach every parish of the United States, and bring 
all — children, youth, and adults —under the beneficent light 
of the doctrine of Christ and His Church. 

The Sovereign Pontiff Pius XII, of whose important exhortations 
you cherish a lasting memory, when I informed him of the letter 
that I was sending you, charged me explicitly to convey to you 
not only the expression of his paternal encouragement but also 
his special Apostolic Blessing, on Your Excellency, who have 
dedicated so much of your time and energy to the Confraternity 
of Christian Doctrine, and also on all those who will zealously 
engage in this holy apostolate. 

I take this opportunity of sending to Your Excellency my sincere 
good wishes and kindest personal regards, while I remain 

Yours faithfully in Christ, 
+ JOSEPH CARD. PIZZARDO 

Bishop of Albano 
President of Actio Catholica 

167 



To Our Venerable Brother 
Charles P. Greco 
Bishop of Alexandria 
Chairman of the Bishops' Committee 
for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 

During this month of April, as We have learned with cordial 
satisfaction, the Committee of which you are Chairman, Ven-
erable Brother, intends to sponsor a solemn celebration of the 
seventy-fifth anniversary of publication of the Baltimore Cate-
chism, and the silver jubilee of the National Center of the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 

Such observances could not but merit Our paternal approval, and 
afford Us an occasion to renew the exhortations of Our illustrious 
Predecessors, particularly of Pope Saint Pius X, urging all mem-
bers of the clergy and the faithful to participate in this most 
necessary and valuable form of apostolate by personal collabora-
tion, prayerful intercession, and generous support. 

We thank Divine Providence with you for the outpourings of 
grace and enlightenment vouchsafed in the three quarters of 
a century of use of the Baltimore Catechism, and especially 
since the activities of the Confraternity have been co-ordinated 
and directed on a country-wide scale by its National Center. 
We pray the Eternal Master of all truth to recompense richly 
all those who co-operate in this high teaching mission, and it 
is in pledge of that supernal return of graces and favors that 
We bestow from Our heart upon you, Venerable Brother, upon 
the Bishops' Committee, and all members of the National Center 
and of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in your great 
land, Our paternal Apostolic Benediction. 

From the Vatican, April 12, I960. 

JOANNES X X I I I 

P O N T . M A X . 

168 



Appendix 4 

C E R E M O N Y F O R R E C E P T I O N O F M E M B E R S I N 

T H E C O N F R A T E R N I T Y O F C H R I S T I A N D O C T R I N E 

The Reverend Director or presiding officer, vested in surplice 
and stole, requests all members and prospective members to 
stand and recite in unison the Apostles' Creed. He then ad-
dresses the prospective members as follows: 

Q. Do you realize that the Confraternity of Christian Doc-
trine is an organization which has as its primary work 
to promote by word and example the religious instruc-
tion and education of children, youth, and adults? 

A. I do. 

Q. Are you aware that the Confraternity of Christian Doc-

trine is commanded by the general law of the Church to 

be in every parish? 

A. I am. 

Q. Do you wish to become a member of the (name) Unit of 

the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine? 

A. I do. 

Q. Do you promise that, as a member of the (name) Unit 

of the Confraternity, you will pray for the success of the 

Confraternity; study its nature, purpose, and methods; 

attend meetings; co-operate with the priest Director and 

the Executive Board by devoting at least one hour a week 

to help carry out its program; foster charity among mem-

bers and strive to obtain new members? 

A. By the grace of God I will; and I will say daily the Morn-

ing Offering, one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the 

success of the Confraternity program, and will endeavor 

to receive the sacraments every month for this intention. 

169 



Q. As a means of your spiritual formation as a member of 
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, do you desire 
to be enrolled in the Apostleship of Prayer in order to 
obtain for yourself and the Confraternity the spiritual 
fruits of the Apostleship of Prayer, and to be able to 
gain the Indulgences which it offers? 

A. I do. 

New members now approach the Communion rail and kneel. 
The Director addressing them says: 

Receive this card as a token of your membership in the Con-
fraternity of Christian Doctrine, the emblem of which repre-
sents the Blessed Trinity, the fundamental mystery of the 
Catholic religion. Its tripartite cross of red, white and blue 
is symbolic of religion and patriotism. The words D E U S EST 
("God Is"), on the open book in the center of the shield, 
include all that the catechism contains. May these words, 
"God Is," guide you in all your endeavors and decisions, and 
bring you to life everlasting. Amen. 

The new members now receive from the priest Director a mem-
bership card (Confraternity pin, if Director so plans'). Then 
each member will go to his right, where the Secretary of the 
CCD Board will have a CCD Register and pens. The new mem-
bers will sign their names and return to their places. 

The previously enrolled members now renew their promise. Ad-
dressing them, the Director says: 

Q. Will you as members of the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine continue to pray for, and work to promote, the 
interests of the Confraternity to the best of your ability? 

A. As members of the (name) Unit of the Confraternity we 
renew our promise to say daily the Morning Offering, 
one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the success of the 
Confraternity; to receive the sacraments every month for 
this intention; and to devote at least one hour a week to 
promoting the work of the Confraternity. 

170 



All kneel, and the priest Director, kneeling at the foot of the 
altar, recites the following prayer: 

Let us pray 

O Lord Jesus Christ, be pleased in Your mercy to receive these 
children of Holy Church, who consecrate themselves and re-
new this day their promises to serve You in the Confraternity 
of Christian Doctrine, so that one day in Your heavenly King-
dom they may rejoice with You. Who live and reign world 
without end. Amen. 

The priest Director then ascends to the top step of the altar and 
imparts the blessing. He or a guest priest will give an address on 
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The ceremony will 
close with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

Between the O Salutaris and the Tantum Ergo all recite in unison: 

PRAYER TO JESUS, THE D I V I N E TEACHER 

O Jesus, divine Teacher, * who came into the world to teach 
the way of salvation: * grant us to know Your teachings and 
to make them better known. * Let us share, O Lord, in the 
divine commission to teach, * which You gave to the Apos-
tles and to Your Church. * Inspire us with loyalty and fidel-
ity to the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, * which is a 
means of dispelling in men * the ignorance of divine things. 
May we follow in Your footsteps, * O divine Teacher, who 
went about doing good. * You have said: * "Let the little 
children come to Me"; * make our teachers zealous in lead-
ing them to You. 

You called Your Apostles to be fishers of men; * let our 
Fishers in the Confraternity * be true apostles in seeking out 
and finding * those who need Your teachings. * Give Your 
powerful assistance and devotion to our Helpers * out of the 
fullness of Your loving Heart. Inspire our Discussion Leaders 
with zeal * and fill them with Your Holy Spirit * in pru-
dence and knowledge and fortitude. * Make all of us * true 
Apostles of Good Will * that there may be but one flock 

171 



and one shepherd; * and grant that our Parent Educators * 
may take the Holy Family as their model. 

Give us, O loving Teacher, * that humility and spirit of 
sacrifice * which will enable us to learn Your truths more 
fully * and to teach them with greater zeal. * Who live and 
reign with God the Father * in unity'with the Holy Spirit, * 
God, forever and ever. Amen. 

CCD-166 

172 



Appendix 5 

P R O V I D O S A N E C O N S I L I O 

Decree of the 

Sacred Congregation of the Council 

"On the Better Care and Promotion 

of Catechetical Instruction" 

January 12, 1935 

With truly farseeing wisdom, the Catholic Church, the guardian 
and teacher of divinely revealed truth, undertaking to fulfill her 
most holy office and duty, has always held that the imparting 
of the heavenly knowledge necessary for salvation through cate-
chetical instruction must be placed among her most serious obli-
gations. This work of bringing all men — particularly children 
and poorly instructed adults — to know Christ our Lord and to 
learn His teachings, must be committed to the zeal and ministry 
of qualified teachers. 

In this the Church surely acts with prudence. The knowledge of 
a Christian is wholly contained in the words of the divine Re-
deemer: "This is everlasting life, that they may know Thee, the 
only true God, and Him whom Thou hast sent, Jesus Christ."1 

This knowledge is correctly and aptly contained in catechetical 
instruction wherein a summary of truths concerning God, Jesus 
Christ, and His teachings and precepts is explained and pre-
sented to students according to their age, ability, and condition 
of life. Indeed, when this matter has been presented and clearly 
illustrated, no better way can be desired to provide a firm and 
certain norm of true belief and right living for the faithful. 
Thus it is that in the Catholic Church catechetical instruction has 
been and indeed should be held as that voice through which 
Divine Wisdom cries aloud in the streets: "Whosoever is a little 

1. John 17:3. 

173 



one, let him come unto Me";2 or like that lamp "shining in a 
dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in 
your hearts,"3 or that "seed" and "leaven" of the Gospel whereby 
the whole Christian life springs into being and is nourished. 

Each of the faithful because of this instruction receives with 

profit the light of divine truth, the norm of divine law, and the 

help of divine grace; and he is able both to see what must be 

done and to gain the strength for its accomplishment. Religious 

instruction of this kind offers great advantages for all, but it is 

of special help in the years of childhood and adolescence, where-

in lies the hope of adult life. Above all, then, catechetical in-

struction must be provided for children and youth, and they 

must be urged to take advantage of it. This is all the more 

necessary in an age in which the secular education of children 

and youth is eagerly planned and carried forward through a 

widespread pursuit of knowledge, manifold means of teaching, 

and improved methods of presenting matters to be learned. 

In the midst of such facilities for learning and such zeal for 

teaching, it must never be that the science of God and the all-

important content of religion suffer neglect or omission. 

It is evident too that the welfare of the nation itself is bound up 

with the Catholic instruction and training of children and youths. 

It is equally of vital interest to the State and to religion that 

citizens imbibe the Christian spirit as well as merely human 

knowledge and secular training. 

It can thus be clearly understood why the Church, the teacher 

of Catholic truth and practice, out of love as well as prudence, 

speaks in the person of Christ and exclaims: "Let the little chil-

dren come to Me, and do not hinder them, for of such is the 

kingdom of God."4 

2. Proverbs 9:4. 
3. 2 Peter 1:19. 
4. Mark 10:14. 

174 



The Roman Pontiffs as the supreme teachers and leaders of the 
Catholic Faith have always been fully cognizant of and attentive 
to all this, and they accordingly have never relaxed their vigilance 
and zeal in such an important matter. 

There exists in our own time (if we may pass over more ancient 
documents), a splendid proof of this diligence in the encyclical 
letter Acerbo nimis of Pope Pius X which appeared on April 15, 
1905. In this encyclical the ever-vigilant Pontiff first set forth 
the advantages that flow properly and solely from catechetical 
instruction; and then concluded that the Faith in our day grows 
weak and is almost dead chiefly because the work of teaching 
Christian Doctrine is either performed carelessly or entirely 
omitted. He thereupon enacted legislation to provide for the 
teaching of Christian Doctrine not only to boys and girls but 
also to youths and to adults as well. 

The Code of Canon Law (Book III, tit. XX, chap. I) contains 
these same prescriptions practically in their entirety as set forth 
in Canons 1329-1336. Here the provisions relating to catechetical 
instruction, made obligatory throughout the universal Church, 
are duly stated and proposed as law. 

With the purpose of supervising how the catechetical provisions 
of the Code are being carried out and to stimulate their enforce-
ment when needful, Pope Pius XI, in a Motu Proprio, Orbem 
Catholicum (June 29, 1923), instituted within this Sacred Con-
gregation of the Council a CATECHETICAL OFFICE, whose special 
work is to guide and to promote the catechetical movement every-
where throughout the Catholic Church. 

The zealous activities of the bishops have been in complete har-
mony with the commands and pleadings of the Supreme Pontiffs. 
In plenary and provincial councils, in diocesan synods, as well 
as in catechetical congresses both diocesan and national, they 
have earnestly endeavored to improve the teaching of the cate-
chism. 

Despite the initial success of early beginnings, however, it is 
clear from the reports of the bishops themselves that there are 

175 



still many obstacles which prevent the full force and effectiveness 
of the teaching of Christian Doctrine. We must surely deplore 
first of all the carelessness of parents, many of whom are ignorant 
of the things of God and accordingly do little or nothing for 
the religious education of their children. This is indeed a serious 
situation; for when the parents are either neglectful or deliber-
ately opposed, there is practically no hope that the children will 
receive religious training. 

The condition is even worse where, as is the case in some nations, 
the very right of the Church to direct the Christian education 
of children is called into question or even denied by reason of 
political policy. Then the parents, overcome by indifference or 
their own fickleness of mind, or weakened by the pressure of 
circumstances, neither offer opposition to the unjust laws nor 
give attention or care to the catechetical instruction of their 
children. 

In countries where Catholics and non-Catholics dwell together 
and mixed marriages among them are common, it often happens 
as a consequence of the intimate relationship of married life 
that both the parents and children grow to disdain religion or 
fall altogether from the Faith. 

A further consideration is a general lack of interest in religion 
on the part of children and youth. They are taken up with 
other things and are attracted by games and exercises of physical 
culture, or by worldly shows where not infrequently moral 
discipline is relaxed; and thus led away, even on feast days, they 
fail as a result to attend the parish catechetical instruction. There-
upon forgetfulness and neglect of the things of God, which we 
so much deplore, take root in early childhood and grow worse 
with the years. 

This forgetfulness and neglect cause even greater harm to the 
Faith in view of the fact that ravening wolves have come into the 
world, not sparing the flock; likewise, pseudo-teachers leaning 
toward atheism and the new paganism have made their appear-
ance, giving expression to clever falsehoods and sheer nonsense by 

176 



writings and by other means, cunningly attempting to destroy the 
Catholic belief in God, in Jesus Christ, and in the divine work 
of the Church. With these are joined the individuals who possess 
a semblance of Christian learning and piety, yet burn with zeal 
to propagate unhappy Protestantism. And with an ease that is 
almost unbelievable, they deceive those who are ignorant of or 
weak in Catholic doctrine — even also the simple and unwary 
faithful. 

Although the bishops and those having the care of souls are 
striving diligently to overcome these difficulties, nevertheless 
this Sacred Congregation is bound to stimulate their zeal again 
and again; and their efforts do not exempt them from even 
greater labor and attention to a work upon which depends the 
eternal welfare of the sheep committed to their charge. 
It has, therefore, seemed opportune to this Sacred Congregation 
that all interested in religious education should be encouraged to 
new efforts, and that certain prescriptions should be enacted and 
promulgated which, if observed, will give grounds for the hope 
that catechetical instruction will make greater progress in the 
future. 

In the first place let the bishops, mindful of the duty and office 
entrusted to them, exert even greater care and diligence than 
heretofore has been their custom, to encourage greater efforts and 
labor to spread catechetical instruction. "Let them see to it," 
therefore, in accord with Canon 1336:2, "that the food of Chris-
tian Doctrine be given to the faithful, especially to children and 
to the uninstructed, and that in the schools the education of 
children and youth be carried on according to the principles of 
the Catholic religion." Moreover, as provided in Canon 1336, 
"the Ordinary of the place has the right to legislate in his diocese 
in all matters that pertain to the instruction of the people in 
Christian Doctrine"; and, therefore, each Ordinary should con-
sider in the Lord what preparations are to be made, what laws 
should be laid down for this most holy and necessary work, and 
by what means he can most easily and effectively carry out his 
plans in this matter. He shall bear in mind that, if the occasion 

177 



warrants, he can punish those who are negligent or who refuse 
to obey, with the penalties prescribed in Canons 1332:2 and 
2182; and at the same time, as a reward to the zealous, he can 
intimate that special care and diligence exercised in the work 
of teaching catechism will be of the greatest weight and im-
portance in the conferring of parishes and other benefices. 
Pastors and others having the care of souls should ever bear 
in mind that catechetical instruction is the foundation of the 
whole Christian life, and to its proper performance all their 
plans, studies, and efforts should be directed. Let them, there-
fore, note well and put into effect all the prescriptions of Canons 
1330, 1331, and 1332; thus in this work in particular they ought 
to become all things to all men that they may gain all men for 
Christ, and be able to show themselves as faithful ministers and 
dispensers of the mysteries of God. Let them carefully deter-
mine the souls who need to be nourished with milk, and those 
who have need of more solid food, but let all be offered that food 
of doctrine that gives growth to the soul and mind; so that the 
Christian will not be ignorant of his religion, nor hold it merely 
as a gift from his forebears, but on the contrary will possess it 
well-understood and clearly analyzed in order that it may enrich 
both himself and others. 

In carrying out this most holy work, "let the pastor," in accord 
with Canon 1333:1, "employ the help of other clerics in the 
parish, and also if necessary, of devout lay persons, especially 
those who belong to the CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN D O C -
TRINE or a similar society established in the parish." All of these, 
whether asked or commanded, should freely, nay more, should 
most gladly give their assistance to this work — as joyful givers 
beloved of the Lord. 

The help of members of religious communities, according to 
Canon 1334, should not be lacking in a work so helpful, so 
pleasing to God, and so necessary for souls, if the Ordinary of 
the place requires it. The Religious themselves, on being called, 
should joyfully respond, should even desire to give assistance, 
in order to gain the reward exceeding great through the salvation 

178 



of souls that is achieved also in this part of the Lord's field, 
where the harvest is great but the laborers are few. 

Finally, effective help and loyal support in this matter is both 
expected and demanded from parents and guardians. Their at-
tention should be called to the provision of Canon 1113 that 
"they are bound by a most strict obligation to provide to the best 
of their ability for the religious and moral as well as for the 
physical and civil education of their children"; and this obliga-
tion is fulfilled, according to Canon 1335, when they see to it 
that their children receive catechetical instruction, and also, by 
Canon 1372: 2, in providing them with a Christian education. 

All of the matters we have here treated in summary are already 
well known and evident; nevertheless the old adage, "Repetition 
is useful," must not be overlooked, especially when the subject 
is one that cannot be insisted upon too much. 

In order, then, that all of this may more readily be carried out in 
the entire world, this Sacred Congregation, with the approval 
of His Holiness Pope Pius XI, commands that in all dioceses the 
following be observed: 

I. In every parish, besides the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacra-
ment, the CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, as the most 
important of all others, must be established in accordance with 
Canon 711:2, and it should embrace all who are capable of 
teaching and promoting catechetical instruction, especially teach-
ers in the schools and all who are skilled in the science of 
teaching children. 

II. Using the Letter of this Sacred Congregation directed to the 
Bishops of Italy as a norm, parochial classes in Christian Doctrine 
should be established if they do not already exist. With the 
pastors themselves in charge of these classes, and with the em-
ployment of approved methods of teaching, children and youth 
will have opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the divine law 
and of the Faith. In order, moreover, to overcome the indiffer-
ence of parents already referred to, who think their children are 
not obliged to attend the catechism classes of the parish because 

179 



they are receiving religious instruction either at home or in the 

public schools, let the following be carefully observed: 

a. Pastors shall not admit to reception of the sacraments of 
Penance and Confirmation, as prescribed in Canon 1330, chil-
dren who have not acquired sufficient knowledge of the cate-
chism according to directives of the Decree of the Sacred 
Congregation of the Sacraments on August 8, 1910; and after 
they have received their First Communion, they must endeavor 
to learn the catechism more perfectly and with greater profit. 

b. Pastors, preachers, confessors, and rectors of churches 
shall take particular care to advise parents of the grave obliga-
tion which is theirs to see to it that "all subject to them or 
under their care are given catechetical instruction" (Canon 
1335). On this subject, Pope Benedict XIV wrote as follows 
in his encyclical Etsi minime, of February 7, 1742: "It is 
evident that the bishop can and should in all earnestness recom-
mend to preachers that in their sermons they impress upon 
the ears and minds of parents the importance of teaching their 
children the truths of our religion; and that if they [parents] 
are not fully capable of doing so, they should bring their chil-
dren to the church where the precepts of the divine law will 
be explained." 

c. Furthermore, let pastors and their assistants endeavor as 
far as they can to make the children eager to attend the parish 
catechism classes. To this end the most successful and tried 
means should be employed, for example, the celebration of a 
Mass for the children on all holydays, catechetical competitions, 
the offering of attractive prizes, and the use of suitable projects 
and moderate forms of amusement. 

d. Finally, let pastors carefully prepare the children so that 
they may be examined on their knowledge of religion by 
the bishop when he makes his pastoral visitation. The bishop 
will take this opportunity to call attention to the condition 
of religious instruction in the parish: whatever he feels needs 
correction, improvement, or special commendation. 

180 



III. There is danger that the religious training received in child-
hood will be forgotten with advancing age; for, as Pope Benedict 
XIV has pointed out: "It is well known that not only the young 
and those reaching maturity are steeped in ignorance of the 
things of God, but also adults and old people are altogether 
destitute of the teachings of salvation; this is because they have 
never learned them, or having once learned them have little 
by little forgotten them" (op. tit.). Bishops, therefore, should 
carefully see to it that the provisions of Canon 1332 be scrupu-
lously observed by the pastors. They are bound, according to 
this Canon, "to explain the catechism on Sundays and holydays 
to adults among the faithful in words suited to their capacity to 
understand." With this in mind, Pope Pius X, in his celebrated 
encyclical Acerbo nimis, ordered that "the Catechism of the Coun-
cil of Trent should be used in such a way that over a period of 
four or five years the entire material would be covered which 
treats of the Apostles' Creed, the Sacraments, the Ten Command-
ments, Prayer, and the Precepts of the Church"; and the same 
holds true of the evangelical counsels, grace, the virtues, sin, 
and the Last Things. 

In addition to the above measures incumbent upon all, this Sacred 

Congregation considers it opportune to point out to the Ordin-

aries some means which experience has proved to be well adapted 

to the end desired. The Ordinaries, therefore, will take care 

that all or at least some of the means which here follow are used 

according to the different needs and circumstances of each diocese. 

1. As is already provided for Italy in the Letter of this Sacred 

Congregation on December 12, 1929, the Ordinaries will, if pos-

sible, set up a DIOCESAN CATECHETICAL OFFICE, which under 

their supervision will direct all catechetical education in the dio-

cese. The chief functions of this Office will be to provide: 

a. that in parishes, in schools, and in colleges, Christian Doc-

trine be taught by qualified teachers employing the traditional 

form of the Church; 

181 



b. that at stated times catechetical conventions and other 
meetings in the interests of religious education shall be held 
for the purpose of discussion and study of the methods best 
suited for catechetical instruction, as has been noted in a 
Decree of this Sacred Congregation on April 12, 1924; 

c. that a special COURSE OF LECTURES O N RELIGION be 
offered each year to those who teach Christian Doctrine in 
parochial and public schools, in order that the quality and 
depth of their knowledge may increase. 

2. The Ordinaries shall not fail to appoint competent PRIEST-
VISITORS each year to inspect all the schools of religion in the 
diocese; they shall carefully report the results, the improvements, 
or the weaknesses in the religious instruction of the schools. 
Pope Benedict XIV wrote on this subject as follows: "It will be 
of greatest benefit for the education of the Christian people if 
visitors be chosen, some to visit in the city, others to go about in 
the diocese, making careful and exhaustive inquiry and informing 
the bishop who, thus made aware of the work being done by the 
pastors, may place praise or blame where it is deserved" (op. 
cit.). 

3. In order that the mind of the Christian people may be directed 

from time to time toward religious education, let a CATECHET-

ICAL D A Y be established in each parish, if this has not already 

been done. On this day, the FEAST OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE is 

to be celebrated with as much solemnity as possible. On this 

occasion: 

a. The faithful should be called together in the parish church, 

and having received the Holy Eucharist, they should pray to 

obtain greater fruit from divine teaching; 

b. A special sermon should be preached to the people on the 
necessity of catechetical instruction. Parents are to be told 
about their duty to instruct their children in Christian Doctrine 
and to send them to the parochial catechism classes, being 

182 



mindful of the divine command: "And these words which I 
command thee this day shall be in thy heart. And thou shalt 
tell them to thy children... ,"5 

c. Books, pamphlets, leaflets, and other material suitable for 
the purpose should be distributed to the people; 

d. A collection may be taken up for the promotion of cate-
chetical works. 

4. In places where the scarcity of priests is such that the clergy 
themselves cannot satisfactorily perform the work of teaching 
Christian Doctrine, the Ordinary should take active steps to 
supply CAPABLE CATECHISTS of both sexes to help the pastors 
impart religious instruction in the parochial or the public schools, 
even in the remote parts of the parish. A leading part in this 
work should be undertaken by all members of CATHOLIC ACTION 
groups. These associations have already done much commend-
able work in this direction, and certain of them have very wisely 
provided in their constitutions that lectures in religion are to 
be conducted each year at which all their members must be 
present. 

Members of other Catholic organizations and associations should 
not fail in this work, especially the societies of Religious of both 
sexes that are specifically dedicated to the education of youth. 
To these His Holiness Pope Pius XI addressed his memorable 
Motu Proprio Orbem Catholicum: "We earnestly desire that in all 
the principal centers of religious societies which are engaged in 
the teaching of youth, there be established, under the direction 
and guidance of the bishops, schools for select students of both 
sexes, where they shall be trained in a suitable course of studies, 
and upon examination be declared fit to undertake the teaching 
of Christian Doctrine and Bible and Church History." This 
surely will be accomplished if, as reason itself persuades and de-
mands, the study of religion holds first place among the subjects 
pursued by children and youth in our Catholic schools and col-

5. Deut. 6:6, 7. 

183 



leges. Let such instruction be given by priests skilled in teaching 

and according to approved principles of pedagogy. 

If these means and plans are used, and if all who are duty-bound 
give themselves vigorously and perseveringly to this work — 
more holy and more necessary than any other — then it can be 
hoped that the Christian people will be made secure through holy 
and uncorrupt doctrine against the attacks of error, becoming an 
acceptable people, followers of good works. Then, too, they will 
produce those wholesome results which the Roman Pontiffs have 
repeatedly desired for the salvation of souls. Finally, with the 
approval of His Holiness Pope Pius XI, this Sacred Congrega-
tion, departing somewhat in this respect from the above-men-
tioned Motu Proprio Orbem Catholicum, commands all bishops 
to submit an accurate report every five years to this same Sacred 
Congregation regarding catechetical instruction in their dioceses. 
They shall use the Questionnaire which follows and shall observe 
the order prescribed in Canon 340:2 of the Code of Canon Law 
relating to the report which must be submitted by each bishop on 
the state of the diocese entrusted to him. 

Given at Rome, on the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 

January 12, 1935. 

I. C a r d . Serafini, Prefect 

I . B r u n o , Secretary 

L. * S. 

184 



Q U E S T I O N N A I R E O N T H E T E A C H I N G 

O F C H R I S T I A N D O C T R I N E * 

I. F o r C h i l d r e n 

a. In Parishes 

Q. 1. What is the number of children in each parish and 
how many of these attend catechetical instruction? 

Q. 2. How zealously do the pastors fulfill their obligation 
of teaching religion to the children, and what pastors neglect 
this duty? 

Q. 3. Have p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l s been established in these 
parishes; with what results; and by what method is Chris-
tian Doctrine taught? 

Q. 4. Do priests and other clerics living in the territory of 
the parish assist the pastor in teaching Christian Doctrine; 
in what way; and who among them perhaps refuse or are 
neglectful in this matter? 

Q. 5. Do the religious communities of men and women assist 
the pastor in teaching the catechism to children, and who 
among them perhaps refuse or are neglectful in this matter? 

Q . 6 . I s t h e C o n f r a t e r n i t y o f C h r i s t i a n D o c t r i n e es-

tablished in every parish, and in what manner does it assist 

the pastor in teaching Christian Doctrine to children? 

Q. 7. Do other associations of the laity, and especially those 
of C a t h o l i c A c t i o n , aid the pastor in this same work? 

Q . 8. Has a C a t e c h e t i c a l O f f i c e or something similar 

been established in the diocese, or can it be established? 

Q . 9 . Is the C a t e c h e t i c a l D a y being held, and if so how 
is it celebrated? 

*This form is still required by the Congregation of the Council for use 
in making the Quinquennial Reports of the dioceses of the world. 

185 



Q . 10 . Are C a t e c h e t i c a l c o n v e n t i o n s or other meetings 

given to religious education being held, and with what 

results ? 

Q. 11. What are the means being employed to stir the zeal 

of both parents and children so that the latter will attend 

the parish catechism classes? 

Q. 12. Does any obstacle impede the obtaining of greater fruit 

from the teaching of Christian Doctrine; what abuses have 

crept in, and what means are being used or can be used to 

remove them? 

b. In Catholic Schools and Colleges 

Q. 13. What is the number of Catholic schools and colleges, 

for either sex, especially lately established, under the care 

of the clergy, secular or religious, or of the religious Sisters? 

Q. 14. How many students, day scholars and boarders, are in 

attendance at each of these Catholic schools and colleges? 

Q. 15. How many times each week is religious instruction 

- given in these schools; what method is used; and with what 

results ? 

Q. 16. What means could be taken to make this instruction 

more efficient and beneficial? 

c. In Public Schools 

Q. 17. In what public schools is Christian Doctrine taught, 

and with what results? 

Q. 18. Is religious instruction subject to the authority and 

inspection of the Church in the public schools? In what 

way and in which schools? 

Q. 19. In which public schools, and for what reason, is Chris-

tian Doctrine not taught, and what provision is made for 

the religious instruction of these children? 

Q. 20. What means are used, or can be used, to bring about 

the teaching of Christian doctrine in public schools? 

186 



II. F o r A d u l t s 

Q. 21. Besides the usual homily, is catechetical instruction 
given by pastors to adults? When is this given? 

Q. 22. How zealously, with what method, and at what time, 
do pastors fulfill this obligation? 

Q. 23. Do the faithful in each parish attend the religious 
instruction, and with what results? 

Q. 24. What means, according to circumstances of time and 
place, would be considered especially suited to obtain a more 
fruitful religious instruction of adults? 

The decree Provido sane Consilio is published in the Acta Apostolicae 
Sedis, XXVII (1935), pp. 145-154. 

ccd-88 

187 













PRAYERS AFTER MEETINGS 

Leader: In the name of the Father "f* and of the Son, etc. 
To Thee be praise, to Thee be glory, to Thee be thanks-
giving, forever and ever, O Blessed Trinity! 

All: Amen. 

Leader: Praised be Jesus Christ! 

All: Forever and ever. Amen. 

Leader: Let us pray. 

All: O God, who desirest * that all should come to the 
knowledge of the truth and be saved: * grant us the 
grace to make Thee known, * and to devote ourselves 
to Thy love * in the service of the souls whom Thou 
hast redeemed. * Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 

Leader: Let us pray for our benefactors. 

All: Deign, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with 
eternal life * all those who have promoted the work 
of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 

Leader: Let us pray for the faithful departed. 

All: Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let per-
petual light shine upon them. 

Leader: May they rest in peace. 

All: Amen. In the name of the Father ^ and of the 
Son, etc.