Your vocabulary is a betrayal of the sources you have been tainted with.
First we cannot speak of “Your catechism” either as a Universal document of the Church. There are dozens of Catechisms, all approved for use, but none except possibly the CCC, which has a semi-official place. Even then it is not as Jon and I have both stated exhaustive. It is a starting point. It makes sense that an Elementary School, Middle School and High School student would be taught using a simple text that covers many of the teachings, and customs of Catholics.
There are Catechisms that are written and geared toward children which explain the Faith in the most simple of terms. Some for young adults, that get more in depth, and then others for adults. Each instructs at the age, and educational level suitable for the intended reader.
Many Catechism in print are written by different authors. One of the Most popular today is the, “Catechism of the Catholic Church” in 2,893 short and clear questions and answers most of the teachings and practices of Latin Rite Catholics are covered.There is no other place where a quicker and shorter information about the Catholic Faith is available. One of my favorite Modern Catechisms was written by the late Fr. J. Hardon, SJ. Possibly because it was the first one I learned the authentic teachings of the Catholic Faith from.
The Baltimore Catechism is still in print, but was originally published after Bishops met in a Synod to discuss the Catholic Church in the USA during the 1800’s, there are loads of Catechisms, in various languages, while they teach the same Truths that have been taught by the Catholic Church since the days of the Apostles, they express that same faith in a manner that can be understood by peoples of different languages, and cultures.
Here is an example of a few of the dozens of Catechisms you can purchase, or find in a good library. http://www.catholicfreeshipping.com/cfs_catechism.html You can even find some online for free.
While a Catechism is a good place to start in learning the Catholic Faith, it will hopefully spur on further reading the Sacred Scriptures, (which most Catechisms rely heavily upon) or more in depth books on various aspects of the Faith. Not everyone will want to read the Summa of St. Thomas, or St. Bonaventure, but a Catechism is a good place to start learning one’s faith.
Many Protestants are taught that the Catechism is a book of non-scriptural Catholic teachings, or teachings that replace the Scriptures. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While some Catholic teachings are passed down to us from the Apostles, and not explicitly mentioned in the Scripture, they can be supported by, or are inferred in the Scriptures. Other Catholic teachings (outlined in the Catechism) are directly found in Scripture. Look over the most popular Catechism of today, and read the footnotes, you will find more Scriptural quotes than you would ever imagine, even when compaired to Protestant books.
http://www.kofc.org/un/catechism/index.action