A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 9. (Szeged, 2006)

PÁL József: A szegedi Szent József Akció (1922-1945)

A Szent József Akció tagjai tehát meglátták, felkutatták a hitvány barakkokban, nyirkos pincelakásokban nyomorgó családokat. Nem elégedtek meg csupán a jómódúak szívét megnyitó felhívásokkal, hanem fáradságot és anyagiakat nem kímélve siettek elsősorban a nagycsaládosok segítségére. A segítségnyújtásban nem elsősorban az összeg nagysága volt a lényeges — bár ez sem volt lebecsülendő —, hanem az áldozatvállalásra követendő példát, a segítségnyújtáshoz pedig keretet, formát adtak. JÓZSEF PÁL THE SAINT JOSEPH ACTION IN SZEGED (1922-1945) The Saint Joseph Action worked within the framework of the Ladies' Congregation of the Blessed Virgin as its charity branch. The Action formulated in November 1922, mainly due to the founding activity of Jakab Bús, Jesuit priest. The Saint Joseph Action concentrated its activity on supporting poor families with many children, however, its scope of charity work was not restricted to this. Among Catholic associations in Szeged the activity of the Saint Joseph Action was the most continuous, it was to the least extent connected to a certain church feast or anniversary. Besides providing financial support to poor families, the association at the same time encouraged their religious commitment, as well as helped in restoring broken family relations. The mam financial source of support was making wreaths. This work involved also women who were not members of the association. Additionally, the association also organized festivals and lotteries involving all the inhabitants of the city. The members of the Action set an example to the citizens in the way how they helped and supported the poor.