October 8, 2019 – Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) administrators, faculty, staff, and students gathered in the Issam Fares Hall to attend the Opening Mass for Academic Year 2019-20.
His Excellency Archbishop Mgr. Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, presided over the Divine Liturgy, assisted by the Superior General of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Abbot Maroun Chidiac; the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, Fr. Guiseppe Francone; NDU President, Fr. Pierre Najem; NDU Vice President for Finance, Fr. Boutros Bou Nassif; NDU Vice President for Administration, Fr. Samir Ghsoub; University Chaplain General, Fr. Roger Rajha; NDU Choir Director, Fr. Khalil Rahme; University Chaplain, Fr. Jean Pierre Eid.
In his Homily, Mgr. Spiteri reflected on the path through university, and the human relations developed throughout. Mgr. Spiteri emphasized the interactions between those who impart knowledge, and those who receive it, and encouraged the students to consider the connections they formed during their studies.
In a brief address, Fr. Najem thanked Mgr. Spiteri for his presence at the Opening Mass saying that it was a concrete sign of NDU’s identity as a Catholic University. Fr. Najem reaffirmed NDU’s obedience to the Holy Church and to the Holy Father in the University’s pursuit of truth and transmitting it to the students.