The Family Covenant Association was established in 1983, during the period of martial law, when the activities of all social organizations were suspended. The Catholic Intelligentsia Club (KIK) also faced this fate. Izabela Dzieduszycka, chairwoman of the KIK Family Section, decided to transfer the ideas and working methods developed with families within KIK to parishes – the only safe place where educational activities among children and youth could continue. Together with a group of KIK members, in cooperation with the Primate’s Committee for Aid to the Repressed and the Pastoral Care for Working People, Izabela Dzieduszycka began organizing camps for children of repressed individuals. These trips proved to be a great help for families, so it was decided to create children’s and youth groups at parishes. This formation continued until 1990, when, after the political transformations, Cardinal Józef Glemp recognized the Family Covenant as a Catholic organization with a Warsaw-wide scope, and a year later, the Polish Episcopal Conference approved its activities throughout the country. In the same year, the Family Covenant received association status, with Izabela Dzieduszycka becoming its chairwoman. Over 35 years, the Family Covenant has developed significantly. In addition to parish-based centers, schools and community day-care centers were established, with the main goal of fostering the Christian formation of children and families.

Currently, the Association runs several children’s and youth groups in several parishes in Warsaw: St. Saviour, St. Władysław of Gielniów, St. Thomas, St. James, and at the Temple of Divine Providence in Wilanów.

The creation of groups for children and youth, like other forms of activity, aligns with the mission of the Family Covenant Association, which is to support the education and comprehensive upbringing of children, youth, and entire families, aiming to foster attitudes open to the needs of other people, the environment, and society as a whole, stemming from moral and religious inspiration, active in the face of the contemporary world and the challenges it brings.

The Association operates three community day-care centers: in Rawa Mazowiecka, Kutno, and Ursus. They gather approximately 200 children, providing them with psychological care, meals, and academic support. The caregivers also look after the families of their charges.

The third area of activity for the Family Covenant Association is schools. Currently, the Association runs 3 primary schools and 2 high schools. These are: the C.K. Norwid Catholic High School in Garwolin, the John Paul II Primary School and High School in Warsaw’s Ursynów district, the Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko Primary School in Warsaw’s Bielany district, and the Father Jan Twardowski Primary School in Warsaw’s Mokotów district.

Since 2001, the Association has sponsored the Blessed Edmund Bojanowski Family Covenant University of Applied Sciences in Warsaw’s Ursynów district. The idea behind its establishment was to educate young people, especially those from outside Warsaw, in teaching professions. The first graduates obtained qualifications to teach subjects such as natural sciences and Polish language. Over time, the University significantly expanded its offerings, gaining accreditation to conduct three-year bachelor’s degree programs in: Computer Science, Polish Philology, Geography, History, Tourism and Recreation, Sociology, Public Health, Pedagogy, as well as postgraduate studies.

The history of the Association was shaped by many people – initially families gathered around parishes and priests, and later individuals involved in the construction and organization of schools: teachers, children, school youth, parents, and the community of the three day-care centers, as well as numerous benefactors. The common idea of the Family Covenant united many generations and various communities. The Association continues its mission, and although the time of its founding was completely different from the present, its mission is now even more relevant. Seeing many spiritual threats, primarily impacting the condition and unity of the family, but also universal values, the Association’s Board is aware of how much help is needed now in the responsible, Catholic upbringing of youth.