This week, the Portuguese Catholic Church launched an organization for the promotion of Tourism, the National Work for the Pastoral of Tourism (ONPT). This structure has elements from various parts of the country, including Father Miguel Neto, responsible for the area of tourism in the Diocese of Algarve.
During the presentation of the organism, which took place at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Lisbon, it was also launched the ONPT website, which is already accessible.
The platform seeks to provide both tourists and those interested in this topic with diverse information, ranging from the most important documents produced by the Church on the topic of tourism, passing through the contacts of various entities linked to the area and activities promoted by ONPT.
This working group, which depends directly on the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, believes that “it can contribute to a permanent requalification and promotion of tourism in Portugal”, seeking to respond to the “needs of tourists and promoting an even broader look at this human activity and the principles that frame it, in constant communion with the dioceses and their respective parishes», according to its director Father Carlos Godinho.
For this, it is proposed to develop a "dynamic and dynamic work, also in dialogue with other services of the Church and civil society, particularly with those who deal with this area of human action," said Carlos Godinho.
At the same time, he highlighted the need and importance of establishing partnerships with entities from the most diverse areas, in order to enhance this network work. "We absolutely need to broaden horizons and create synergies," he said.
«The Church in Portugal has, in this sense, a singular responsibility, since it is, from the outset, faithful depositary of an immense patrimony, which it needs to take care of and re-qualify, placing it at the service of tourism, as its usufructuary, precisely with a view to the good of each person and their integral development», added the director of ONPT.
The same official also stated that the organization he directs "is aware of the multiple challenges and opportunities that tourism offers the Church and her evangelizing mission, as a human phenomenon in deep expansion."
The team, led by Father Carlos Godinho (parson of Luso, Diocese of Coimbra), is also made up of the rector of the Sanctuary of Cristo-Rei, Father Sezinando Alberto (secretary), and Father Miguel Neto, responsible for the sector in the Diocese of Algarve (Treasurer), by Sandra Costa Saldanha, director of the National Secretariat for the Church's Cultural Assets, fra José Loureiro, of the Commissariat of the Holy Land, Varico Pereira, belonging to the Turel cooperative, Rosário Frazão, of the Verde Pinho Travel Agency, and Natalina Ferreira , from the Pilgrims Service of the Shrine of Fátima (all members).
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