There are more than 550 Master’s graduates from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto in the 2022/23 academic year. “Today is just the beginning of the journey for which they have been preparing”, said Margarida Mano, vice-rector of UCP, during the blessing and diploma delivery ceremony, a unique moment of celebration and recognition of all the new masters.
“You are ready to impact the world positively”, stated the vice-rector of UCP, “you are ready to steer the helm during the storm, to guide others in an increasingly global world, to be a reference for ethics in science, in courts, in industries, in hospitals and companies”. Margarida Mano concluded her speech, challenging the students: “I urge you to take this strong sense of light and resilience into the world!”
“We convey to our students the vision that each one can make a difference”, said Isabel Braga da Cruz, vice-rector of the Porto Regional Center at UCP. “A good professional is, above all, a good citizen!” she stated, explaining that UCP’s desire is for its students “to be active in multiple dimensions, such as ethics, solidarity or sustainability.”
Students leave their mark on Católica
“We are certain that, through good professional performance, each former student will be our best ambassador in the future”, said Isabel Braga da Cruz. “May the knowledge acquired at Católica be a beacon and enlighten you in every step of your lives!” she concluded.
Miguel Mesquita, a graduate in Sound and Image and a master in Cinema from Escola das Artes, represented all the new graduates in a speech marked by emotion and gratitude for the six years he lived at Católica. “What the University gave me was a preparatory perspective on what adult life is like, with all the rewarding and difficult things it entails”, he also said. Miguel Mesquita highlighted the “strong sense of community”, “the close relationship with teachers”, “the friendships”, and “the many initiatives promoted in the associative life”.
“I am one of the other students, one with my history, with my experiences and memories, one more who occupied this house, gave it use, extracted something from it, and perhaps left his mark a little. This is what this Catholic Church is made of, the sum of what each person lives here and leaves here”, he concludes.
The diploma ceremony took place on November 24th, and the audience at the Ilídio Pinho Auditorium comprised students, family and friends. The teachers and directors of the faculties of the Universidade Católica in Porto were also present: Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing – Porto, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Higher School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Theology, Porto School of the Faculty of Law, Católica Porto Business School and School of Arts.
Get to work building a different world
Also, Dom Manuel Linda, bishop of the Diocese of Porto, congratulated all the new masters on their journey. “We have to get to work to build a different world,” he said. “The contribution of those who have a diploma, those who know, those who have received basic humanistic training is essential.” “You are carriers of all this human technique that allows you to make a precious contribution to constructing a new society. Don’t refuse him”, he concluded.
During the ceremony, in addition to the delivery of master’s degrees, there was also a moment to hand out merit awards from faculties and partner institutions: Professor João Baptista Machado Award, Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing Award – Porto, Award Cerejeira Namora, Marinho Falcão, in Tax Law, Garrigues Prize, Rainha Santa Isabel Prize, Caixa Geral de Depósitos Prize – Católica Porto Business School, Caixa Geral de Depósitos Prize – Porto School of the Faculty of Law and Caixa Geral de Depósitos Prize – School of the Arts.
“Here and now”, as vice-rector Margarida Mano said, the journey begins for the more than 550 new masters at the Universidade Católica in Porto. Católica is and will always be this attentive and close place that is proud of and closely follows the journey of everyone who has passed through here. We wish everyone: Have a good trip!
