This was the prime idea that Pope Francisco wanted to convey in one of his first homilies as Pope.
It is like having a birthday and celebrating that year of life, forgetting the road travelled until getting there. Or forgetting the parents, creators of the new life.
A few months ago, we informed that April would be the 100th issue of the Faculty's Newsletter, which today some still discuss, in fact, which name is preferable. Newsletter or News@FMUL, the dilemma between past and present that manifests itself in almost everything today.
Bringing a project to life is making an idea palpable and nurturing it is a challenge. Passing it from one generation to the next is another.
This issue intends to highlight people, remarkable moments of the Institution, great dates and achievements, images of unique memories, or collective occasions. It aims to tell you about a beginning and a middle, without an end. It talks about a project whose heritage carries dreams of some who no longer work at this Faculty, of others who have left for good and of many who are still here.
There is always a risk of not being up to the great celebrations, because there is always something left to be told, that did not do justice to the truth of the facts, to the commitment of someone who has not even been mentioned. But worse than partially failing, is not even trying.
For this reason, we assume that we want to go up the steps of a ladder that has been left for us. Each month a step, in each person thought, a floor.
This month, we bring to you the birth of a baby that was an idea kept in a creative mind called Helena. Helena passed this idea on to David. And José Fernandes e Fernandes embraced it and gave it room to grow.
No, they are not characters in a short story, nor are they old friends from school. They are an employee, an Executive Director and the then Director of the Faculty. Then came a team that designed and created everything, starting to build it up step by step. From this team, some have left and others have joined. We read their testimonials and we introduce those who today fine comb all the contents before they get published: the Editorial Board.
Let us not miss, however, another current topic that also figures prominently in this 100th issue. The pandemic that keeps the Portuguese at home, confined to a waiting period that still has no solution except prevention.
Professor Francisco Antunes examines, exclusively for News@FMUL, the challenges of a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 will present. At the same time, we bring the main headlines of the news and comments from our Professors and Researchers.
We have also had a very enriching month of academic debate with hundreds of people on a cell phone or computer listening to our Lecturers at FMULtalks.
Even in times of distress in the face of the future, there is a profoundly beautiful side that usually shows true human beauty and solidarity towards others. Tomás, Vera and Joana can better explain what they have been doing to help in the midst of a pandemic. But Ana also created an idea, called the Faculty and we embraced a cause. The purpose of all these people and this Faculty is the same, it is to help, to help for a cause.
Through gestures, campaigns, videos or cooking recipes, imagination is our greatest asset at this moment and can help someone.
But caring must also be our gesture, the discipline of so many who, at home, forget the routines and rules of the days just as they used to be. Therefore, we reinforce the suggestions of a healthy diet, with the precious collaboration of the Nutrition Laboratory.
There are more stairs to climb, more issues than all added up, which one day will take us to another centenary. On that day, other people will continue to design steps, to build more stairs, which we have also covered. And on the day that we come down, we will not forget that we only climbed it thanks to someone, to many creators of ideas and steps.
While we are here, we are wholehearted, honouring the Institution that is also ours and the primordial idea of whom not all of us met, but whom we thank, Helena.
Joana Sousa
Editorial Team
