WORKS DEPENDENT ON THE ASSOCIATIONS OF CATHOLIC ACTION ITALY. - They are groupings of persons, specialized by professional category, promoted directly or indirectly by the associations of Italian Catholic Action, as an instrument of penetration into the various social environments. Art. 2 of the Statute of Italian Catholic Action defines this organized form by declaring that "Italian Catholic Action may promote or recognize Catholic works dependent on it."
To this end, therefore: I. The GIOVENTÙ ITALIANA DI A. C. (G.I.A.C.) has promoted: 1. Centro sportivo italiano (C. S. I., [v.]); 2. Centro turistico giovanile (C. T. G.). - The purpose of the C. T. G. is to solve the problem of youth tourism in a Christian spirit and to use this means for the moral and intellectual, cultural and physical improvement of the individual and as an instrument of apostolate.
In particular, the aim of the C.T.G. is to foster, guide and assist the youth tourism movement, according to the Christian spirit; to enhance the natural resources of the country; to provide for the study and propaganda of all that pertains to the tourism problem; to facilitate and awaken interest in travel, sojourns and exchanges; to connect through information, to contribute through reports, to foster through assistance the development of a sound tourist activity; to collaborate with sporting activity, especially for those sports particularly connected with tourism (hiking, skiing, international meetings, etc.).
The C.T.G. is directed by a central directing Council, which has its seat in Rome. The Council is composed of a general directorate and 5 specialized offices: for organization and propaganda; for stationary tourism; for nomadic tourism; for journeys, excursions and cruises; for exchanges with foreign countries. At the regional and provincial level the C.T.G. is represented by a delegate appointed by the general directorate.
At the international level the C.T.G. is connected with Catholic youth organizations, with the "Colonies fraternelles de la jeunesse Gite d'étape" of Brussels, with the travel and exchanges commission of the W.A.J. (World Assembly of Youth).
It is furthermore a member of the Segretariato nazionale della gioventù, a moral body, recognized by decree of the President of the Republic dated 2 May 1949.
It publishes the bimonthly periodical Turismo giovanile.
3. Gioventù studentesca (G. S.). - It is an organization that arose in 1945, to gather the mass of students with the aim of helping them in the formation of their personality and of bringing them a message of Christian life.
The leaders are called "secretaries" (of section, of zone, national) and have the task of studying and coordinating, within the scope of their respective competences, the activity that develops through the "services" (student sports championships in collaboration with the Centro sportivo italiano): tourist activity, artistic and cultural competitions, inquiries into themes varying annually, initiatives of a social character, typical student activities, category congresses, film clubs, etc. The National Committee has its seat in Rome, and oversees the publication of the organization's newspaper, Gioventù studentesca. The badge consists of a small shield bearing a rampant donkey in black on a white background, with the inscription G.S.
4. Gioventù italiana operaia cristiana (G. I. O. C.). - It is the movement promoted in 1944 by the Gioventù italiana di A. C. and it unites and organizes the young workers of A. C. with all the other workers who are members and sympathizers. As such the G. I. O. C. is a "school" for the elevation of young workers in the religious, social, physical and cultural fields; it is a "representative body" for the defense and vindication of their rights; it is a "service" to satisfy their cultural, social and recreational needs.
The G.I.O.C. is organized into local sections (parish or environmental), zone committees and a National Committee with its seat in Rome. The initiatives, all developed by the young workers, among themselves and for themselves, consist mainly of congresses, inquiries, social courses, vocational schools, sports and recreational championships, exhibitions, discounts, savings, etc.
The newspaper of the movement is Gioventù Operaia, a monthly. The badge consists of a small shield surrounded by a cogwheel and bearing, beneath the inscription G.I.O.C. in gold on a red background that occupies the upper band of the shield, a red heraldic cross on a white field, among whose arms an ear of wheat in gold is interwoven.
5. Gioventù rurale (G. R.). - It is the organization promoted in 1947 by the Gioventù italiana di A. C., which unites the rural youth of the G. I. A. C. and those who sympathize with it. It has a pedagogical purpose, of elevating the rural classes from a physical, cultural and spiritual point of view; particular attention is given to social education.
It is articulated into parish sections, zone committees and a National Committee with its seat in Rome. Gioventù Rurale is also the name of the organization's newspaper. The badge consists of a rectangle with a sky-blue background with an ear of wheat in the middle and the inscription G.R. in gold.
Initiatives of the G. R.: inquiries into various problems, agricultural and evening schools, social studies, sports championships, exhibitions of craft work and national events (congresses).
II. The UNIONE DONNE DI A. C. has promoted:
1. Associazione cattolica italiana infermiere professionali ed assistenti sanitarie visitatrici (A. C. I. P. A. S. V.). - Founded in 1947, it professes its adherence to the general apostolate aims of the A. C. I., with which it collaborates while remaining organically independent.
Its purpose is essentially to cultivate the religious, moral and cultural formation of the members and of the whole category, studying the protection of their moral and material interests, and to impress upon so delicate and humane a profession a spirit of mission according to the Christian conception of life. It is organized into groups established in provincial and municipal centers. The offices are elective. It publishes Fede e professione, a monthly review, and has its seat in Rome.
2. Convegni Maria Cristina di Savoia
A movement that proposes to carry out a work of Christian penetration in the upper-class environment in order to elevate its spirituality, improve its religious and social culture, and spur it to the exercise of social charity.
Organizationally the Convegni are carried out through promoting and directing Committees of a national and diocesan character; the connection with the U.D.A.C. (Unione donne di Azione Cattolica) is brought about by the national and diocesan delegates. For the Convegni there exists no juridical or organizational bond of the individual members either with the promoting Committee or with the U.D.A.C.
It publishes a bimonthly bulletin: Rassegna dei convegni di Maria Cristina. It has its seat in Rome.
3. Unione Cattolica delle ostetriche
It was founded in 1948. It professes its adherence to the general aims of the A. C. I., while remaining organically independent.
The aims of the Union are: religious, moral and cultural formation of the members and of the whole category. Study and protection of moral and material interests. It has particular attention to the profession of the members, and seeks to recall, through its action, the characteristic of a missionary spirit according to the Christian conception of life. It is organized into groups established in provincial and municipal Centers, and the offices are elective.
It publishes Apostolato della culla, a bimonthly magazine. Its headquarters are in Rome.
III. - For the Works dependent on the Gioventù Femminile di Azione Cattolica, v. GIOVENTÙ FEMMINILE DI A. C.
Bibliography
Ernesto Talentino