Canon 773. It is pastors of souls especially who have the serious duty of attending to the catechesis of the christian people, so that, through doctrinal formation and the experience of the christian life, the living faith of the people may be manifest and active.

Proprium et grave officium pastorum praesertim animarum est catechesim populi christiani curare, ut fidelium fides, per doctrinae institutionem et vitae christianae experientiam, viva fiat explicita atque operosa.

Canon 774. §1 The care for catechesis, under the direction of lawful ecclesiastical authority, extends to all members of the Church, to each according to his or her role.
[NB see m.p. Antiquum ministerium, 10.V.2021]

§2 Before all others, parents are bound to form their children, by word and example, in faith and in christian living. The same obligation binds godparents and those who take the place of parents.

§1. Sollicitudo catechesis, sub moderamine legitimae ecclesiasticae auctoritatis, ad omnia Ecclesiae membra pro sua cuiusque parte pertinet.

§2. Prae ceteris parentes obligatione tenentur verbo et exemplo filios in fide et vitae christianae praxi efformandi; pari obligatione adstringuntur, qui parentum locum tenent atque patrini.

Canon 775. §1 While observing provisions made by the Apostolic See it is the responsibility of diocesan Bishops to issue norms concerning catechetical matters; to ensure that appropriate means of catechesis are available, even by preparing a catechism, if this seems opportune; to foster and to coordinate catechetical initiatives.

§2 If it seems useful, it is for the conference of bishops to take care that catechisms are issued for its territory, with the previous confirmation of the Apostolic See.
[revised wording according to m.p. Competentias quasdam decernere, 11.II.2022]

§3 The Episcopal Conference may establish a catechetical office, whose principal purpose is to assist individual dioceses in catechetical matters.

§1. Servatis praescriptis ab Apostolica Sede latis, Episcopi dioecesani est normas de re catechetica edicere itemque prospicere ut apta catechesis instrumenta praesto sint, catechismum etiam parando, si opportunum id videatur, necnon incepta catechetica fovere atque coordinare.

§2. Episcoporum conferentiae est, si utile videatur, curare, ut catechismi pro suo territorio, praevia Sedis Apostolicae confirmatione, edantur.

§3. Apud Episcoporum conferentiam institui potest officium catecheticum, cuius praecipuum munus sit singulis dioecesibus in re catechetica auxilium praebere.

Canon 776. By virtue of his office, the parish priest is bound to ensure the catechetical formation of adults, young people and children. To this end, he is to avail himself of the help of clerics attached to the parish, as well as of members of institutes of consecrated life and of societies of apostolic life, being mindful of the character of each institute; and the assistance of lay members of Christ’s faithful, especially catechists. All of these, unless they are lawfully impeded, are not to refuse to give their labours willingly. The parish priest is also to promote and to foster the role of parents in the family catechesis mentioned in can. 774, §2.

Parochus, vi sui muneris, catecheticam efformationem adultorum, iuvenum et puerorum curare tenetur, quem in finem sociam sibi operam adhibeat clericorum paroeciae addictorum, sodalium institutorum vitae consecratae necnon societatum vitae apostolicae, habita ratione indolis uniuscuiusque instituti, necnon christifidelium laicorum, praesertim catechistarum; hi omnes, nisi legitime impediti, operam suam libenter praestare ne renuant. Munus parentum, in catechesi familiari, de quo in can. 774, §2, promoveat et foveat.

Canon 777. In a special way, the parish priest is to ensure, in accordance with the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop, that:

1° an adequate catechesis is given for the celebration of the sacraments;

2° children are properly prepared for first confession and first holy communion, and for the sacrament of confirmation, by means of catechetical formation over an appropriate period of time;

3° children, after they have made their first holy communion, are given a richer and deeper catechetical formation;

4° as far as their condition allows, catechetical formation is given to the mentally and physically handicapped;

5° the faith of young people and of adults is strengthened, enlightened and developed by various catechetical methods and initiatives .

Peculiari modo parochus, attentis normis ab Episcopo dioecesano statutis, curet:

1° ut apta catechesis impertiatur pro sacramentorum celebratione;

2° ut pueri, ope catecheticae institutionis per congruum tempus impertitae, rite praeparentur ad primam receptionem sacramentorum paenitentiae et sanctissimae Eucharistiae necnon ad sacramentum confirmationis;

3° ut iidem, prima communione recepta, uberius ac profundius catechetica efformatione excolantur;

4° ut catechetica institutio iis etiam tradatur, quantum eorum condicio sinat, qui corpore vel mente sint praepediti;

5° ut iuvenum et adultorum fides, variis formis et inceptis, muniatur, illuminetur atque evolvatur.

Canon 778. Religious Superiors and Superiors of societies of apostolic life are to ensure that catechetical formation is diligently given in their churches and schools, and in other works in any way entrusted to their care.

Curent Superiores religiosi et societatum vitae apostolicae ut in suis ecclesiis, scholis aliisve operibus sibi quoquo modo concreditis, catechetica institutio sedulo impertiatur.

Canon 779. Catechetical formation is to be given by employing all those aids, educational resources and means of communication which seem the more effective in securing that the faithful, according to their character capability, age and circumstances of life, may be more fully steeped in catholic teaching and prepared to put it into practice.

Institutio catechetica tradatur omnibus adhibitis auxiliis, subsidiis didacticis et communicationis socialis instrumentis, quae efficaciora videantur ut fideles, ratione eorum indoli, facultatibus et aetati necnon vitae condicionibus aptata, plenius catholicam doctrinam ediscere eamque aptius in praxim deducere valeant.

Canon 780. Local Ordinaries are to ensure that catechists are duly trained to carry out their office properly, namely, that continuing formation is available to them, that they have an appropriate knowledge of the teaching of the Church, and that they learn both the theory and the practice of the principles of pedagogy.

Curent locorum Ordinarii ut catechistae ad munus suum rite explendum debite praeparentur, ut nempe continua formatio ipsis praebeatur, idemque Ecclesiae doctrinam apte cognoscant atque normas disciplinis paedagogicis proprias theoretice ac practice addiscant.