"Lifelong learning": hundreds of new graduates celebrate in Braga

On November 25, in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences (FFCS) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) - Braga, the Solemn Session of Blessing and Awarding Diplomas to Graduates and Masters for the 2022/2023 academic year took place.

The session was presided over by the Primate Archbishop of Braga, Dom José Cordeiro. It was also attended by Isabel Vasconcelos, Vice-Rector of UCP and João Duque, Pro-Rector of UCP - Braga.

The celebration was opened by João Duque, who reminded the audience that academic titles are not everything, just a "stepping stone towards other titles, or lifelong learning".

Dom José Cordeiro blessed the diplomas and challenged the newly graduated students to "risk new paths for our society, with the added responsibility of looking at the world through the lens of the Gospel" and defending the prelate's view that "intelligence is a high form of charity".

Representing the graduating students, Nuno Rafael Oliveira Leite, who recently graduated in Psychology, highlighted how UCP's Braga Campus managed to maintain "teaching excellence" during the pandemic and how it was able to help "overcome fears" in an unprecedented situation.

In her speech, Isabel Vasconcelos referred to UCP's achievements over the last year as the strengthening of its European and global positioning through its participation in networks with similar institutions.

At the closing ceremony, one of the main messages that the Archbishop Primate of Braga left to all those who had finished their course was to seek, to take risks and, above all, to dream big.