The Bishop of Algarve asked on the afternoon of Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Algarve Stadium, located between Faro and Loulé, final year students at the University of Algarve (UAlg) to put their “life and acquired knowledge at the service of others”. We will soon have a video report of this event here.
At the celebration of the blessing of the folders, which took place for the first time at the Algarve Stadium and for which 1,080 students signed up, D. Manuel Quintas reminded them that “personal fulfillment and the achievement of true happiness involve courage and boldness in share personal gifts.
Reminding students that the purpose of this initiative is not only to “give thanks to God” “for all the good things” he has given them throughout the course, but to “invoke his blessing” on their folders, that is, on each one of them In the “new path” they are preparing to begin, the Catholic leader warned them that “sharing one’s gifts cannot be improvised” and “requires daily practice”.
Noting that there is “a lot of hunger and thirst in humanity” today, the diocesan bishop highlighted that “life takes on shape and grandeur when it is lived with others and at their service”.
D. Manuel Quintas also renewed some “inspiring challenges” for their lives, “gathered from the many intuitions that Pope Francis presented in the encyclical ‘Laudato sí’, asking them to commit themselves to “finding concrete solutions to the challenges with that humanity is struggling with today”; that they never disconnect “technological advances from an ethical and moral component, as a guarantee of defending the dignity of the human person and respect for creation”; that inspire your choices in the “search for the service of the common good”; and that they commit to “civic and social participation committed to a preferential option for the most fragile in society”.
The Bishop of Algarve even added that in the field of social justice, 50 years after the April Revolution, “there is still a long way to go for everyone”. “Do not accommodate yourself to the problems you will face, but always be part of their solution”, he asked at the celebration that brought together thousands of family and friends of the students and which was attended by the UAlg chaplain, Father António de Freitas, and the Father António Manuel Martins, former chaplain of that academy.
D. Manuel Quintas recalled yet another intervention by the Pope, this time at World Youth Day in Lisbon, in a meeting with students from the Catholic University. “If the knowledge acquired through your course is not accepted as a civic responsibility, it becomes sterile. If someone who received higher education does not make an effort to return what they benefited from, it means that they did not deeply understand what was offered to them. The academic title should not be seen only as a license to build personal well-being, but as a mandate to dedicate ourselves to building a more just society, a more inclusive society, that is, more developed”, he stated, quoting Francisco.
All the remaining speakers also referred to the Revolution of the 25th of April, whose 50th anniversary was marked this week, but to remember the connection between that event and UAlg. The first to do so was the rector. “Two days ago we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the April Revolution that allowed the establishment of the democratic regime that brought us freedom. Our university is a daughter of April, created in 1979, less than 50 years ago, not by a government like other universities, but by the Assembly of the Republic. Let us keep this in mind”, stated Paulo Águas.
The mayor of Faro recalled that that revolution “brought freedom” and to many “the possibility of studying, of having access to higher education levels”, highlighting that previously this “was a privilege for some”. “Therefore, I would like to challenge you to reflect on what it meant, over this half century, to achieve democracy, putting your civic duty into action. If the younger generations have the responsibility of consolidating and building a future in their hands, may the 25 April Revolution serve to rethink the challenges that lie ahead in building that same future, what we want for tomorrow. And it is you who will help build it”, stated Rogério Bacalhau.
The mayor even challenged students to reflect on whether they want “democratic control of the economy”, “the solidification of a society free from racism, machismo, homophobia and other options”, “justice as an independent power and at the service of citizens and the rights of workers”, “the existence of a free and respected press where everyone can state their opinions”, “the absence of populist and empty ideologies that only repeat contentless platitudes without prior reflection”, “the obligation to take care of the environment” and “the war that brings serious consequences to everyone”. “This must be on your mind now that you are going to enter the world of work and better understand the social, political and economic dynamics or the 25th of April will not have been of much use”, he maintained.
The mayor of Loulé considered UAlg “a daughter of democracy”. Like the rector, Vítor Aleixo also recalled that that university was not created like the others, but “by decree of the Assembly of the Republic”. “This is something that makes it unique and that associates it in a very clear way with the Democratic Revolution of the 25th of April”, he maintained, remembering that “freedom of thought and freedom of expression were conquered by another generation that aspired to a more cohesive society that would allow them to give their children and grandchildren the opportunity for a better, more enlightened and much fairer life”. “Today I see with great emotion that the objectives have been achieved and that this new generation is aware of the enormous importance of knowledge, culture and professional training for their future and for the development of our country”, he added.
The dean of the academy highlighted that this legacy is clearly evident in this 37th group of finalists, which included “daughters and sons of students” from UAlg, remembering that “many other young people still do not have this opportunity” to enter higher education. The Mayor of Loulé also told them that they have “an added responsibility in the life of society for having had the training opportunities they had”. “We are certain that some will have a very great responsibility in the social context in Portugal and abroad”, stated Vítor Aleixo, reminding them that “each one, in the context of their academic training, will be called upon to collaborate in building a society and in promoting a culture that wants to be more human, respectful of the dignity of the person and the common good”.
The Mayor of Faro also highlighted the idea of the Bishop of Algarve, reminding the finalists that the academic title must be placed at the service of the community. “We place all our hope and confidence in using the knowledge and skills they have acquired, so that, by contributing positively to our society, our municipality and the world, they follow a path of success and personal and professional fulfillment that is equally conducive to the development of citizenship and the critical spirit of total and sustainable progress”, stated Rogério Bacalhau.
On behalf of the students, the president of the Academic Association made the commitment. “We are prepared to face the world with confidence, knowledge and an insatiable thirst to learn and grow. We look to the future with hope, determination and optimism, ready to embrace the challenges that await us, pursue our dreams with passion and make a positive difference in the world”, said Rita Tavares.
Everyone thanked the families, teachers and other workers at UAlg who ensure the functioning of the institution on a daily basis.
The celebration, which also included a minute of silence in which students, staff and teachers who died in the last year were remembered and with the performance of the UAlg tunas – ‘Versus Tuna’, ‘Real Tuna Infantina’ and ‘Feminis Ferventis’ – continued with the prayer of commitment for the finalists and the presentation to the Bishop of Algarve of a bouquet of flowers with the various ribbons that symbolize all the courses present.
Text and Photos: Samuel Mendonça | Sunday sheet
