When you go to "confession", the priest gives you a penance. And the penance is to pray " Hail Mary". Mary is dead, and buried, in spite of the pope saying she went to heaven. As for Catechism, I am sure, you, as a Jew from southern California, you know more than I do, as I only went to Catechism class. What will you do when all of your "Christian" friends fall off the earth into the sea with regard to the earthquake of (Rev 16:18-20)? The only ones' to "escape" the "day of the LORD" (Joel 2:31-32) are those in Jerusalem and on Mount Zion.
I'm am not all that familiar with confession, being a Jew. But this is what I have learned the long way around:
A penance is meant to help the person change their life, to assist them in turning from their sin and return to communion with God. It can be anything from "return the money you stole" to "take the neighbor you gossiped with out to lunch." Prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary are often given because prayer helps to restore one's relationship with God.
While I personally agree with you that Mary is dead, Catholics don't think that way. They kind of have this impression that the Church, the "body of Christ, is not only all those believers here on earth, but also in heaven. They speak with the saints asking for prayer the same way that they might speak to you or me and ask for prayer. They call this the "communion of saints" (again, note the Creed). Prayers to Mary have to be viewed within this framework.
I have also learned that the recited prayers of the rosary are not its core. The CORE seems to be these "Mysteries"--meditations on different events in the life of Jesus. If that's true, the depiction of the Rosary as being Mary centered would be mistaken. It would properly be said to be about Jesus.
Not trying to toot my horn here, but if I have actually read the Catechism, and you haven't, then yeah, I agree with you that I likely know more about Catholicism.
Remember that as a Jew, Revelation means absolutely nothing to me. It's no different than the Vedas, or Book of Mormon, or the Quran. Thus, I am not personally concerned with ANYTHING it says.
I discuss Catholicism, not because I think it is correct, but simply because I find religion interesting, and care greatly that its theology and history not be butchered by well intentioned but ignorant people with agendas. After all, I would not want anyone misrepresenting Judaism, so I'm simply applying the Golden Rule here.