The Archbishop of Braga recalled yesterday that a university is normally linked to a city, ‘but the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) is linked to a country and even to a more universal world’. He therefore argued that the Catholic University ‘has this greater mission’ of preparing students not only for competence in their specific field, but also for universality, based on truth, forming well-rounded citizens who are ready to play their role in society and in the world.
According to D. José Cordeiro, Catholic graduates should therefore have a distinguishing feature, which is the light of the Gospel, the knowledge of how to do good.
‘May this be your hallmark here or anywhere else in the world where you find yourselves, because this universal, Catholic meaning, which is the highest expression, is not even a religious or confessional meaning,’ he appealed.
In line with this idea, the pro-rector of UCP - Braga, Paulo Dias, also appealed to the young people who received their diplomas yesterday to use the principles they learned at Católica to ‘help transform society into a more humane, more supportive, more just and more peaceful place.’
‘This diploma is your licence to dream. But it is also your responsibility to make a difference, to do better. Use what you have learned to improve the world around you, in your community, in your profession, in your families. Challenge us to improve too. Challenge your communities to build a better world,’ he urged.
He also pointed out that the graduation ceremony celebrated the fruits of the labour of the students and the entire educational community, parents and UCP Braga, and their constant quest to improve learning conditions for their students.
‘We celebrate the work of teachers, their research and teaching, which have enabled the learning success that we recognise today with these diplomas,’ he said.
He added that it is ‘above all a celebration of the persistence, effort, motivation and learning of the students, as well as the support, often beyond their means, of their families, who certainly give up many immediate material goods to fulfil their dreams and those of their sons and daughters,’ said the pro-rector.
There was also an opportunity to hear from a graduate, representing the approximately 150 who received their diplomas in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences.
Carla Coutinho, who holds a master's degree in Social Sciences, said on behalf of the others that ‘in Braga, at Católica, you will always find your “home” to give you strength and remind you of your mission.’ ‘We are proud to say “I am a graduate of the Catholic University”,’ she said, addressing the other graduates with wishes for success and predicting that they will meet ‘on the great stage of life’.
