Meeting marked by most relevant actions of past year and reflections upon migration waves
Photo: Bruno Todeschini
A ceremony to celebrate the Advent and to reinforce the significance of Christmas. A time to look at the achievements of the past, the prospects for 2020, the purpose of our actions and to revisit the value of fellowship, relationships, simplicity and presence. The Encontro com a Reitoria (Meeting with the President) – Celebrating in Community gathered hundreds of professionals of the University on Tuesday, Dec 10, at PUCRS’ Events Center. The idea was to get the audience to reflect upon art, poetry, music and messages inspired by this year’s Christmas message: Shine your Light.
Children and teenagers of Centro Social de Cultura e Artes Padre Irineu Brand opened the ceremony performing a number of Brazilian songs and Christmas chants. The institution is located in Partenon. For three years, it has been home to volunteering activities headed by the University. The other songs of the celebration were performed by PUCRS’ Choir, conducted by Márcio Buzzato, and by members of the Pastoral team.
The President, Br. Evilázio Teixeira began by revisiting the University’s main achievements in 2019 in the areas of teaching, innovation, research, campus infrastructure, internationalization, culture, social impact, sustainability, student attraction, healthcare and people management.
Photo: Bruno Todeschini
He also presented some perspectives for the coming year, such as the Health Campus and the work at the Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), new actions focused on culture and the University’s new undergraduate and graduate programs. He also reinforced his plan to increase the number of students in Pós PUCRS Online and work harder into PUCRS Print.
At the end, Br. Evilázio left a message for the coming year: “Please be more humble and try to find the answer for this question: How can I be better and happier? How can I help our University be better and fulfill its mission? ”.
“This Christmas, I hope you understand the real significance of this date when a good, fearless man came into the world … The party’s owner cannot be forgotten.” The Cordel de Natal, by Bráulio Bessa, served for the audience to begin reflecting on the significance of Christmas. The reality of the migrants was an inspiration for the words of PUCRS’ Chaplain, Rev. Gustavo Haas, and for the representation of the holy family.
Haitian immigrants Muriele Dorisca and Peterson Carobert, who work at PUCRS, along with Maria Vitória, Muriele’s daughter, who was born at São Lucas Hospital (HSL), formed the living nativity. It was a metaphor to the thousands of families who wander around the world in search of dignity and better living conditions.
After the Chaplain’s delivered his message, the ceremony ended with the presentation of the percussion group of the Centro Social Marista de Porto Alegre (Cesmar).
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