Porto Regional Centre: Finalists of the Masters 2021/22 receive the blessing of their diplomas

The atmosphere at the blessing and diploma award ceremony at the Porto Regional Centre of the Catholic University of Portugal was one of great pride, celebration and already some nostalgia. The audience of the Ilídio Pinho Auditorium was filled with graduates, and their families, from the different masters' courses of the Universidade Católica and in everyone there is a true feeling of belonging and an immense pride for the mission that has now been accomplished: "I am a master by the Universidade Católica and I couldn't be happier!

Isabel Braga da Cruz, Pro-Rector of the Universidade Católica de Portugal, began by congratulating all the new masters for the "successful path" and for being "great professionals" and "responsible citizens". She also assured that the "doors will always be open" and that the university "sees itself in each of its students and also believes that each of them will maintain a sense of belonging with it." "Here we will be, as a rearguard or as a starting point for each new journey that may be designed," he concluded.

Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the Universidade Católica de Portugal, challenged all new masters to be "true protagonists". But what does it mean to be a protagonist? "It means to fight the good fight. It is to be a mobiliser, paving the way in a combative and innovative way." The rector ended her speech with the famous "Live long and prosper".

The ceremony counted with the intervention of the Master in Nursing Mariana Magalhães, representing all the graduates, and José Pedro Azevedo, chaplain of the Porto Regional Centre. The event was also attended by the directors and teachers of all faculties:

Católica Porto Business School, School of Arts, Faculty of Biotechnology, Faculty of Law - Porto School, Faculty of  Education and Psichology, Faculty of Teology, Institute of Health Sciences (Porto) / Nursing School.

Besides the diplomas awarding, during the ceremony the merit awards of the faculties and the partner institutions (Caixa Geral de Depósitos; Cerejeira Namora, Marinho Falcão; Garrigues; and Venerável Ordem Terceira de S. Francisco) were given and there was also a musical moment performed by a Saxophone Duo, composed by Isabel Anjo and Rosa Oliveira, who interpreted Enio Morricone's Cinema Paradiso.