In the wake of the stock market crash of 1929, Catholic charities re-organized with the blessing of the Church. Prior to this point, social welfare had largely been provided by each individual parish. The support provided was limited to financial assistance, as priests and their lay associates were not trained in social work. It was becoming increasingly apparent that the parish-based system did not have the resources nor the expertise required to serve the ever-increasing number of poor and marginalized people with their diverse needs.
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