April 6, 2019 – The Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) administration customarily invites the community to attend a biannual spiritual retreat. This spring, they were invited to Saint Joseph Monastery belonging to the Antonine Maronite Order, in the village of Bhersaf, Metn District. The group of 72 people, arrived in Bhersaf at 9:00 a.m. Campus Ministry Chaplain Fr. Antonio El Feghali accompanied us. Our day began with a brief explanation about the Monastery given by Father Superior, Michel Khoury, an Antonine priest. Fr. Feghali started the morning prayer in the church after which the group proceeded to the reception hall to meet Fr. Elie Barmo, a Carmelite priest, who gave a lecture on the topic of “Walking with the Lord towards Resurrection.”
Fr. Barmo talked about the necessity to accept ourselves as sinners allowing the Lord to sanctify our souls. He gave us the example of the cup filled with air saying that it is impossible to remove the air out of the cup. The only way to remove the air is by adding liquid such as water. Fr. Barmo explained that it is impossible for us to remove our weaknesses and that the only way to do so is by receiving Christ’s grace.
Following the lecture, Fr. Barmo encouraged the attendees to ask questions and express their Faith.
Around noon, the Campus Ministry Chaplain and Fr. Barmo celebrated Holy Mass.
At 2:00 p.m., the group headed to the monastery of Saint Peter and Paul in Mar Boutros, where they were welcomed by Mariamite priest. Fr. Edmond Rizk.
At 4:30 p.m., the group returned to return to the main campus having enjoyed a restful and rewarding day.