Diecezjalny Instytut Akcji Katolickiej w diecezji łomżyńskiej w okresie II Rzeczypospolitej

Abstract

The paper analyses the Diocesan Institute of Catholic Action in Łomża during the Second Republic, i.e. from the moment of the erection of this organ in the diocese in 1931 until the outbreak of the Second World War and the break of the Action’s activity. It has been stated that despite numerous difficulties, of financial character in the first place, the board of the Diocesan Institute of Catholic Action (Pol. DIAK) managed to create a large social-religious organisation. It numbered more than 26.000 members in 1937, and at the end of the 1930s exceeded 30.000. The policy of the DIAK authorities in Łomża intended to create a breeding ground for the personnel to run the Parochial Catholic Action. For this purpose 55 training courses were held in the years of 1932-1937 in the diocese. It is noteworthy that the DIAK authorities in Łomża were very active in the national discussion on the function of the boards of parochial Catholic Actions. It is worth mentioning that the DIAK from Łożma made some suggestions which appeared much earlier than the national discussion. This means that, among other things, the authorities of Catholic Action in the Łomża diocese had considerable knowledge on how conduct analyses of the organisation of Catholic Action in Poland. The activity of DIAK in Łomża was made difficult because there was no due preparation for this kind of work on the part of priests themselves. Some of older generation were attached to traditional pastoral methods, and failed to see the needs to create a new organisation. Therefore they treated it with reserve, or even indifference. The functionoing of Catholic Action was hampered by some non-church factors, including local governments and the state. This was because members of Catholic Action supported the National Party and Christian Democracy, the parties which were in opposition to the government and Pilsudski’s camp. The principal material base of DIAK in the Łomża diocese was composed of subsidies from Episcopal curia, interest on the books on sale, brochures, papers, labels, organisational symbols etc., and free offers from benefactors. Nevertheless the funds from these sources were insufficient with regard to needs. They would not allow to organise an appropriate number of courses and retreats, nor to maintain permanent instructors or to conducted a broader propaganda actions in other areas.