Philosophy student group recovers chapel at FFCS
A group of undergraduate students from the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences (FFCS) of Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Professor Bruno Nobre have recovered the chapel, next to the hall of the FFCS Student Association, on the Faculty's premises.
The chapel, now open from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., is the result of the work of a group of 10 students who, during the end of the 2nd semester of last year and the beginning of the 1st semester of this year, with some support from the Faculty's female tuna, the Lyricas, a group that previously used the chapel space to do their rehearsals, joined in and put their hands to work. The student efforts now result in a personal prayer space, which anyone in the academic community can use freely.
The faculty's management has welcomed and fully supported the students' initiative, a factor which has facilitated the recovery process. The university students understood that the only chapel that existed was far from the place where most students and collaborators spend their daily lives, recognizing the need for a space of prayer and silence. According to the students involved, this was the main reason for the recovery of the Chapel, which already existed, but was not being used as such.
Domingos Perloiro, a student involved in the reform, says that "participating in this project is being a very rewarding experience". The student of the second year of Philosophy reinforces that the process is not over yet and that there will always be things to improve so that this space becomes better and better for all those who wish to enjoy it. Domingos also leaves the wish that from now on, many students and collaborators can make use of it and continue to help improve it.
The group of volunteers also leaves a special thanks to Professor José Lopes, director of FFCS, and to the direction of the college, for all the support and encouragement to take this project forward; to Dr. Marta Calçada, representative of the Lyrics, for the permanent availability to help; to CAB (Centro Académico de Braga) who offered several things that enabled the recovery of the chapel and to P. Bráulio Carvalho, student of the 3rd year of philosophy, who also offered several things for the recovery.
It is intended that there will be, as soon as the pandemic situation allows, a weekly mass, a monthly taizé prayer, the weekly celebration of Laudes prayer, some music concert, or other playful activities, "but the essential is that each one can find in this space a place of refuge and rest for the heart" - says the student Domingos Perloiro.