On December 21, 2025, Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) welcomed the Christmas season with its annual Christmas concert, an evening shaped by music, reflection, and shared emotion. Faculty members, public officials, and members of the community gathered on campus, while others joined from afar, all drawn by a moment that invited pause, listening, and togetherness at the close of the year.
The evening opened with remarks by Majed Bou Hadir, Director of the Office of Public Relations and Protocol, who welcomed guests on behalf of Father Bechara Khoury, President of NDU, and the university community. He spoke simply about Christmas as a time that brings people back to what matters, a season marked by hope and quiet renewal. He then introduced the NDU choir, led by Father Khalil Rahme, as a reflection of Lebanon’s cultural richness and of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s long dedication to education and faith.
The tone deepened with the words of Abbot Edmond Rizk, Superior General of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He invited the audience to rejoice in the birth of Christ, reminding them that this joy has crossed centuries and continues to speak to every generation. Referring to the humility of the Bethlehem cave, he spoke of a light that could not be overcome and of a song that could not be silenced. In this spirit, he described the music of the evening as prayer, carrying the angels’ message of peace and encouraging each listener to take that hope back into everyday life.
NDU President Fr. Bechara Khoury then addressed the audience in a tone that felt close and thoughtful. He spoke of music as something people lean on when words no longer feel enough, something that helps them breathe, remember, and feel less alone. Drawing on Lebanon’s deep bond with song and poetry, he acknowledged how difficult times can weigh heavily on people, yet insisted that celebration is not denial, but presence. Reflecting on the NDU choir, he noted how each voice retains its own character while blending thoughtfully with the others, creating a harmony rooted in awareness and connection rather than conformity. Fr. Khoury also spoke of NDU as a place that seeks to form not only strong minds, but thoughtful individuals, attentive to culture, to one another, and to the dignity of the human person.
Throughout the evening, the NDU choir gave voice to a series of hymns, guided by Father Khalil Rahme. With carefully chosen pieces, the choir carried the story of the Nativity while echoing Lebanon’s cultural spirit and NDU’s educational mission. The performance settled over the audience like a quiet light, leaving a lingering sense of closeness, renewal, and the gentle hope that defines the Christmas season.