Directory for Catechesis (New Edition)
As the Catholic Church embarks on the mission of teaching the Christian faith, the new Directory for Catechesis (2020) lays the how-to guidelines for catechesis and presents universal norms to guide pastors and catechists in the work of evangelization. The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization presents the Directory to guide the proclamation of the Gospel by the Christian faithful to people of all ages and in all seasons of life.
The Directory places catechetical instruction and formation of catechetical teachers clearly within the realm of evangelization. It offers guidelines to assist in the creation of local directories and catechisms and clarifies the importance of catechetical renewal in Christian communities. The Directory affirms the presentation of the Catholic faith articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a sound point of reference for instruction while drawing deeply from Scripture and the writings of recent popes, especially Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium.
These guidelines are important for bishops, who are the primary catechists in their local diocese. The Directory will also be indispensable for all those responsible for formal religious instruction, including pastors and parish priests, deacons, lay and religious catechists, and religious education teachers in dioceses, parishes, and schools. The Directory will furthermore aid directors of formation who train the faithful in the forms and means of catechesis, including seminary rectors, directors of formation for the permanent diaconate, and lay ecclesial minster formation program directors. (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2022)
USCCB-Approved Catechetical Texts and Series
Publishers may voluntarily submit their texts and materials to the Subcommittee for review. Once the Subcommittee has deemed these materials in conformity with the Catechism, they are added to the Conformity Review List, which is updated on a regular basis. As of July 13, 2023 the following texts and series have been found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the Subcommittee on the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Though texts and materials on this list have been found in conformity with the Catechism, the review process is limited to doctrinal content. The review process does not include pedagogy or other aspects of the text. The Subcommittee does not endorse any particular texts or series.
Please note that there are several reasons why a text or series has not been included on this list. Sometimes these might be under review, in the revision stage following a review, or simply not eligible. The Subcommittee and its staff observe strict confidentiality and are unable to comment on texts not found on this list. Questions about texts or series not on the list should be directed to publishers.