Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) administrators, faculty, staff, and students gathered in the University Chapel to attend the Opening Mass for Academic Year 2018-19 on Friday, October 5, 2018, in Issam Fares Hall, NDU main campus.
NDU President Fr. Pierre Najem presided over the Divine Liturgy, assisted by NDU Vice-President for Finance (VPF) Fr. Boutros Bou Nassif; University General Chaplain Fr. Albert Assaf; NDU Choir Director Fr. Khalil Rahme; and University Chaplains Fr. Jean Pierre Eid and Fr. Antonio Feghali. University Pastoral Work students choir voiced the Mass.
In his homily, Fr. Najem mentioned a verse from John 5:17 where Jesus says, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” He explained that everything starts with love, especially the work effort demonstrated by the entire NDU community, which seeks to spread the love of Christ among community members and students.
Fr. Najem noted that NDU was one of the region’s top-ranked universities. The University is not only committed to the pursuit of excellence but also reputed for its rigorous standards, which paved the way for it to obtain full institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education NECHE, formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Associations of Schools and Colleges (CIHE-NEASC).
The president said the University seeks to shape its students to become model citizens who have the values of Jesus Christ engraved in their being given that NDU is a Catholic institution born from the heart of the Church and continues to develop steady by maintaining a filial relationship with the church through embracing the same doctrines and values.
He invited everyone present to work with love and to help students fulfill their potential and enhance their ability to learn.