The parish of Monte Gordo, in the Algarve region, will have Cardinal Manuel Clemente as a special guest on 9 May at 9.15 p.m. who will reflect on the contribution of the Church to the European project. Indeed, the “Church’s contribution to Europe – past, present and future” is the theme of the conference that the Patriarch Emeritus of Lisbon will address on 9 May to mark Europe Day. “9 May marks the anniversary of the famous Schuman Declaration by which the French Foreign Minister proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community. It was 1950 and this declaration, so to speak, kick-started the creation of what we know today as the European Union. Since then, 9 May has been celebrated as Europe Day”, said Father Tiago Eira, parish priest of Monte Gordo. According to the Dehonian priest, the presence of the patriarch emeritus of Lisbon will help to reflect on the “presence of the Church in Europe” and how its contribution has changed over time, “especially in the social, economic and political areas, so that a community based on human dignity and the social doctrine of the Church can be built”. According to the day’s agenda, at the end of the conference (at 10:45 p.m.), there will be a prayer for peace in Europe and the pilgrim icon of our Lady of Mercy, popularly known as “Mãe Soberana” (Sovereign Mother), will be welcomed by, and will visit, this parish in the municipality of Vila real de Santo Antonio.