Początki instytucjonalnej „Opieki” nad młodzieżą przemysłową i rękodzielniczą w Krakowie na przełomie XIX i XX wieku
The Initial Activity of the Institutional “Care” Aimed at the Youth from Industrial and Handicraft Families at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Summary/Abstract: At the end of the 19th century, in large cities in Galicia, small-scale industry, where mainly the young were employed, started to develop. After in 1891, Pope Leon XIII issued in his Encyclical Letter Rerum novarum, Jesuits in the Krakow region initiated establishing Catholic, working class associations, which assumed the name of “Friendship”. The further step Jesuits took was taking care of the working class youth, particularly apprentices from factory workers’, craftsmen’s and pea­sants’ families. Activities of Adolf Kolping, who in 1849 began his work with apprentices in Cologne and in 1851 established first in Germany “Catholic Journeymen’s Association”, served as a model for the Jesuits. Since then, in various countries, “Patronages” and “Care” facilities aimed at the industrial and handicraft youth were established. On the Galicia territory, Błażej Szydłowski, SJ, who was in charge of the care over apprentices, convened the first General Meeting concerning apprentices on September 2nd 1897. Representatives of bourgeoisie and clergy as well as boys of various professions gathered and founded “St Stanisław Kostka Care for the Apprentice Youth”. Its goal was inspiring religious life in young apprentices, occupying their leisure time with cultural activities and relaxation as well as offering them financial help if necessary. After a year of the “Care” activity, in 1898 Father Stefan Bartkowski, who took charge of the centre and managed it until 1906, replaced Father Szydłowski. On April 15th 1906, Father Mieczysław Kuznowicz, who transformed it into “Handicraft Youth Association”, took over the management of the “Care”. On December 8th, the first General Meeting of the Association was held; Father Bratkowski was appointed Lifelong Honorary President whereas Father Kuznowicz became the actual President, who managed the association in 1939. Similar centres were established in Przemyśl, Tarnopol and Tarnów, but their activities did not last long.

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