The press of the Siedlce diocese about physical education in youth associations of Catholic Action in the years 1934-1939

Abstract

The article is devoted to showing, using the example of the Siedlce diocese, the organization and dissemination of physical education in youth associations of Catholic Action, i.e. the Catholic Association of Men's Youth, the Catholic Association of Women's Youth and their predecessor, the Association of Polish Youth Societies. These issues are presented based on the local Catholic press - the weekly "Głos Podlaski" and "Podlaski Miesięcznik Katolicki".

               The scope of work - 1934-1939, covers less than five years of activity of AKat associations. in the field of popularizing physical education. The starting date was set for 1934, because it was then that the first information about contacts between the leadership of the emerging Catholic Action and the State Office of Physical Education and Military Training appeared in the diocesan press. The cooperation resulted in the organization of courses for leaders in various sports disciplines, then an action to raise awareness of the importance of sport and the creation of organizational structures in the form of physical education clubs. By developing this activity, young people from rural and small-town communities of the Siedlce diocese, organized in male and female Catholic Action associations, were involved in the "nation under arms" campaign implemented by PUWFiPW.