CCD (or C.C.D.) stands for "Confraternity of Christian Doctrine"

  • an organization devoted to Catholic religious teaching, or catechism
  • "CCD" became the common reference to extracurricular classes at Catholic parishes
    • especially for public school students, whose parents were instructed by the Church to send their children to "CCD"

Catholic teaching

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine

  • established in 1562 for the purpose of religious teaching
  • before then, catechesis was primarily conducted through
    • the Apostles Creed
    • the Lord's Prayer
    • Ten Commandments
    • Sacraments
    • Virtues and Vices
  • in 1905 Pius X mandated CCD classes at every parish

References

see: