The new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be available starting March 31.

The 200-page synthesis of the 1992 Catechism will be published exclusively by USCCB Publishing, which will launch the Compendium in English and Spanish at the 2006 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. The paperback version will be available first with the hardcover to follow shortly after.

The Compendium consists of 598 questions and answers, echoing to some degree the format of the popular Baltimore Catechism which was a standard text in many Catholic parishes and schools from 1885 to the 1960s. The Compendium is available for order at www.usccbpublishing.org.

Congress officials also announced that the following speakers will not be coming to Congress (see The Tidings March 10 issue, pages 1415, for a listing of workshops):

-Suzy Yehl Marta will be replaced by Kathleen Chesto.

-Rev. Jose Roman Flecha Andres will be replaced by Rev. Jaime Vazquez Allegue.

-Dr. Van Pham will be replaced by Sr. Thuy Nguyen, FSP.

-Rev. Francisco Merlos Arroyo will be replaced by Dr. Gonzalo Tijerina Arias, STD.

For information on Congress, call (213) 637-7332 or visit archive.recongress.org.