D. Manuel Neto Quintas, Bishop of the Algarve, will continue on the 24th of April the round of meetings he has been holding since 2012 with those responsible for the Parish Social Centers of the Algarve.
This time, the meeting will take place at the Parish Social Center of Paderne, between 10:15 and 16:30.
This meeting will seek to create a space for debate and reflection on situations that result, above all, from the current economic and social crisis, as stated by D. Manuel Neto Quintas: «The objective of these meetings is the exchange of information and training. Addressing these issues and sharing our difficulties and how we overcome them, as well as our projects and aspirations, will help us to serve more and better and, above all, according to the proper identity of an ecclesial institution, which is inspire in Christ and in the Gospel».
In fact, at the previous meeting, which took place in October, in Santa Bárbara de Nexe, the participants highlighted the growing difficulty expressed by guardians with regard to paying the expenses for their students, as well as noted the increase in the abandonment of the elderly , also resulting from the financial difficulties of the families.
In addition to these problems, common to all these institutions, there is an increase in demand for social canteens/canteens.
In this way, the service in favor of the other, as recommended by the Social Doctrine of the Church, will be the main theme of this meeting, with the program foreseeing, precisely, the deepening of the knowledge of the Social Doctrine of the Church, with a communication given by the president of Caritas Portuguesa , Eugénio Fonseca, entitled “Action and mission of Parish Social Centers in the light of the Church's Social Doctrine”.
Also planned is a communication that will address the “Aspects of the law in the regular functioning of Parish Social Centres”, presented by Luís Galante.
The Diocese of Algarve recalls, in a press release, that «these institutions play an important role in Portuguese society and in the Algarve in particular».
Among Homes, Day Centres, Home Support, Day Care, Pre-school, ATL, Social Canteens and Social Canteens, the Parish Social Centers provide support to more than 2.200 users and employ approximately 480 people.
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