The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-01

TO HAVE A CLEARING HOUSE
FOR ALL ILLS-SuCA A CENTER
MUST BE KNOWN AND ADVER-
TIsED-PREsENT NEEDS OF
SUCH A WORK.
Mrs. Margaret NJ. Long, of Chicago,
for years identified with the Juvenile
Court of that city, is at present en-
gagged in forming Catholic Commun-
ity centers in various cities where
they are now lacking. Mrs. Long is
working under the immediate direc-
tion of the National Catholic War
Council, and is carrying into eXecu-
tiOn a vital part OF the Councils pro-
gram for reconstruction. The follow
inc article outlines the idea Of the
Catholic Community Center as the
War Council is anxious to see it estab-
lished where it is yet wanting entirely.
Community Centers.
The community center is nothing new
in Catholic Social Service. Rather in
its origin and in it's nature it is pc
culiarly Catholic. Back in those mid
die ages when the Church's ascend
encv was recognized in things tenn
moral as we'll as in things spiritual,
when the Church shaped the policies
of nations and the social life OF the
community, the community center
idea was characteristic OF the Social
Service Plan. There is no need to
digress to tell what every Catholic So
cial Worker should know, namely, the
marvellous and complete organization
of the Church's Social Service in
those days, q social organization SO
complete in it's ministration TO every
need and so broad in it's inclusion OF
every member of society, that 1t con-
tinues in these days Of newer prob
blems and more scientifically system
atiZed methods, the marvel alike OF
the historian and of the student OF
social science. I wish here to en-
phasize only that the characteristic
and outstanding feature, indeed the
basis of the whole structure of social
service. in that great system, was the
community center idea-fOr literally
the center of the typical community
of those times was the monastery.
The town was built around it as
center and out beyond lay the farms,
and wherever a want arose OF what
ever kind, whenever there was need
of a social service, that want or that
need was brought to the door OF the
monastery. If his crops failed the
farmer came to the monastery and re-
ceived subsistence through the win
ter and the seed to plant his spring
crop; if in the town a craftsman fell
sick and his family were likely to be
in want, that problem was brought to
the door OF the monastery; and If the
travels of the homeless and broken
stranger brought him within sight Of
the community, he turned his steps to
the monastery in it's center, sure to
find there shelter and food and rest.
That is the community center idea;
that in very community there shall be
one central place where every needy
or troubled member thereof may come,
with whatever problem, for direction
and help and where every transient or
new arrival may go for welcome.
Catholic centers.
1t has so often been said of Catho-
lie Social Service that it has learned
too little from the scientific methods
and plans Of secular organizations
but it is far less trite and far more
true to say that we have learned toe
little from the history of the Church
Today in every city you have dozens
of Catholic charitable organizations
and even in some cities you may find {
Catholic organization for every speci
fic kind of need; day nurseries, boys
clubs and girls clubs, working girls
homes and settlements; but | tell yol
that in plan this kind of thing is no
Catholic; indeed it lacks the one thing
that was peculiar about Catholic serv
ice in other days: unity. It lacks thu
community center idea.
Neither is the community cente
lQGd f0dlZ0u ny oSIllL19 up dlAu Cdolp
ming a settlement house and hangin|
a sign over the door inscribed Cath
olic Community Center" A commun
ity center may be a settlement, or
nursery or a girls club, or all OF them
hut being one or all of them is no
what makes a community center
What makes it community center i
that. it is in fact a center OF all Cath
olfc social activities, clearing hous
of all social cases, a place wher
everyone may come with any probleI
and receive direction to the prope
cooperating agency, place where,
anyone comes with new probler
help will be given and plan worke
out for the care of future like prof.
lens And yet, even all this is nc
enough, it must be known, it must b
advertised as the Catholic Communit
Center. A Catholic Community CeI
ter that is not known general
throughout the resident communit
and made conspicuous to the casus
and the visitor, is not worthy til
name