The Diocese of Algarve, through its Pastoral da Cultura Sector, will promote the holding of a Cultural Forum, under the theme “Culture and Identity: fidelity to the Truth”, during which the Algarve's identity will be debated.
Scheduled for May 11th and 12th, at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, in Tavira, the initiative will bring together several Algarve personalities, including Guilherme de Oliveira Martins, Humberto Rosa Mendes and Artur Ribeiro.
On the same occasion, an artistic exhibition will take place at the Misericórdia church, in Tavira, which will include painting, digital painting, sculpture and photography, also bringing together a significant group of Algarve artists, namely André Boto, in photography, Arlindo Arez, Teresa Paulino and Pedro Felix, in sculpture, Stella Barreto, Clara Andrade and Henrique Silva, in painting, and Tiago da Silva, in digital painting.
The opening of this exhibition, on May 11, and the viewing of the film “Noite de Paz”, with a debate moderated by the director and screenwriter Artur Ribeiro, at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, will precede the opening of the forum the following day, by 10:00 am, with the presence of the Bishop of Algarve D. Manuel Quintas, the rector of the University of Algarve João Guerreiro, and the president of the Municipality of Tavira Jorge Botelho.
The first panel, scheduled for 11:00 am, will have the participation of Father António Martins and Humberto Rosa Mendes.
In the afternoon, the second panel will be held with the participation of Guilherme de Oliveira Martins, Miriam Tavares and Elisabete Rodrigues.
Also on Saturday, May 12, the closing session will be attended by the regional director of Culture of the Algarve Dália Paulo, the director of the Diocesan Sector of Pastoral da Cultura (SDPC), Father Carlos de Aquino, and the director of the Secretariat of Social Communication and Culture of the Diocese of Algarve, Father Miguel Neto.
The organization explains that this forum, as the "first evangelizing action" of the SDPC, intends to be an "opportune space for reflection and sharing of various cultural experiences based on the Christian faith or marked by it."
The theme of the meeting “came from the challenge launched by Pope Benedict XVI to the Church in Portugal, especially the agents of culture”, during his visit to the country. Benedict XVI said: “Culture today reflects a “tension”, which sometimes takes the form of “conflict”, between the present and tradition. (…) But such an appreciation of the present as an inspiring source of the meaning of life, individually and in society, is confronted with the strong cultural tradition of the Portuguese people, very marked by the millenary influence of Christianity, with a sense of global responsibility (… ). This tradition gave rise to what we can call “wisdom”, that is, a sense of life and history, which included an ethical universe and an “ideal” to be fulfilled by Portugal. (…) This conflict between tradition and the present is expressed in the crisis of truth, as only truth can guide and trace the course of a fulfilled existence, as an individual and as a people. (…) There is a whole range of learning to be done in terms of how the Church is in the world, leading society to realize that, proclaiming the truth, it is a service that the Church renders to society, opening up new horizons of the future, of greatness and dignity ».
Registration can be done here and it costs 15 euros (35 euros with lunch, 100 or 90 euros with food and accommodation).
The Diocesan Sector of Pastoral da Cultura was created by decree of the Bishop of Algarve on August 6, 2011.
Program:
May 11th (Friday)
19:00 – Opening of the Exhibition: “Culture and Identity – fidelity to the Truth”, at Igreja da Misericórdia, in Tavira
21:00 – Viewing of the Film: “Noite de Paz”, with debate moderated by the film director and screenwriter Artur Ribeiro, at the Hotel Albacora
May 12 (Saturday)
09:30 am – Accreditation: Hotel Albacora
10:00 am – Opening of the Forum: “Culture and Identity”. With the presence of the Bishop of Algarve, D. Manuel Neto Quintas, the Mayor of Tavira Jorge Botelho and the Rector of the University of Algarve, João Guerreiro.
10:30 am – Coffee break
11:00 – I Panel: With the presence of: António Manuel Martins and Humberto Rosa Mendes.
13:00 – Lunch
15:00 pm – II Panel: With the presence of: Guilherme de Oliveira Martins, Miriam Tavares and Elisabete Rodrigues.
17:30 pm – Closing Session with the presence of the Regional Director of Culture of the Algarve Dália Paulo, the Director of the Diocesan Sector of Pastoral da Cultura, Fr. Carlos Aquino and the Director of the CS and Culture Department of the Diocese of Algarve, Fr. Miguel Neto.
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