A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 8. (Szeged, 2005)

PÁL József: A szegedi Katolikus Nővédő Egyesület (1919-1945)

JÓZSEF PÁL SOCIOPOLITICAL ACTIVITY OF CATHOLIC WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION LN SZEGED 1919-1945 The Catholic Women's Association in Szeged started its activity in 1909 based on the articles and directives of the National Catholic Women's Society. The first phase of its activity lasted until 1918. During the revolutions (1918-19) the association suspended its activity. Parallel to the consolidation of the country, the women's association in Szeged also started its work again. Present study deals with the history of this phase. The organisational framework practically remained the same, nonetheless it changed according to the changes made in the articles of the national association. Some areas of their activity were pushed into the background, some even ceased completely: protection of sinful girls, societies of girls in certain parts of town, mission at the railway-station, protection of mother and infant and organizing balls, while their activity aiming at protecting women was extended. New groups and institutions appeared during this time, such as Saint Elisabeth Girls Boarding School, Home of Ladies, Saint Elisabeth Society of Girls and Saint Jolanta Society of Mothers. A new task of the association was to organize festivals at Christmas, together with charity actions, catering for children, mission in the prison, lectures aiming at spiritual and intellectual development (e.g. lectures in Lent, recollections, courses preparing for social work), courses preparing fiancées for family life, as well as cooking courses. New areas in raising funds were also included: work-afternoons, Christmas exhibitions and fairs. The study briefly deals with the activity of the association between 1945-47. During this time the association was unable to find its place within the altered social environment, also due to the fact that neither Mrs Béla Csikós Nagy, nor Mrs Béla Buócz continued their work in the association. However, under the leadership of Mrs Sándor Török as executive chairwoman some encouraging initiatives were made. Nonetheless, all these were blocked by the direction of the Minister of the Interior, dissolving the activity of such associations.