Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto is celebrating the Christmas spirit with a wide-ranging Christmas Solidarity Campaign that mobilises the entire academic community in acts of solidarity and sharing. The campaign includes the preparation of Christmas hampers, the collection of food items, and activities involving partner institutions and families in need.
Around 200 volunteers from CAtólica SOlidária (CASO) are involved in preparing hampers for various partner institutions, including AFUA, Ajudaris, Casa Mãe Clara, Casa Ronald McDonald, Centro António Cândido, Centro Comunitário São Cirilo, and Compassio. In parallel, all faculties and services of Católica in Porto were also challenged to prepare Christmas hampers for families supported by Cáritas Diocesana do Porto.
On 10 December at 6:30 p.m., the Christmas Mass will be celebrated, presided over by D. Vitorino Soares, Auxiliary Bishop of Porto. The celebration, open to the entire academic community, will be followed by a dinner for staff and faculty members.
In the central atrium of the Porto Campus, a collection of goods, such as televisions, radios, kettles and DVD players, is also under way to support the Santa Cruz do Bispo Prison, along with a food collection for Associação Porto Solidário. Everyone is invited to stop by the collection point and leave their contribution.
The Christmas initiatives on Católica’s Porto campus began in November, with the University joining the Food Bank Against Hunger Campaign, which took place on 29 and 30 November. Several volunteers from the academic community actively participated in the national food collection, helping to support thousands of Portuguese families in need.
A charity Christmas market and a special bingo event have also already taken place, bringing together the Católica community and members of Somos Nós – Associação para a Autonomia e Integração de Jovens Deficientes – and from Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto. The activity promoted moments of conviviality and inclusion through mixed teams involving association members and the academic community.