Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) officially inaugurated the academic year 2017-2018 by celebrating on Monday, October 23, 2017, its annual Opening Mass at Issam Fares Hall, NDU main campus.
NDU President Fr. Pierre Najem presided the Divine Liturgy, assisted by NDU Vice-President for Finance Fr. Boutros Bou Nassif; NDU Vice-President for Administration Fr. Samir Ghsoub; NDU University General Chaplain Fr. Albert Assaf; Fr. Khalil Rahme, director of NDU choir, and Chaplains Fr. Jean Pierre Eid and Fr. Charbel Haddad, and Fr. Akram Khoury, a Faculty member.
The Pastoral Work students CHOIR served the Mass in the presence of deans, faculty, staff, and students.
In his homily, Fr. Najem highlighted the importance of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae (English: From the Heart of the Church) issued by St. John Paul II regarding Catholic colleges and universities. He explained that the Catholic Church considers that the Catholic university is born from the heart of the Church and can develop properly only in a filial relationship with the church, embracing its same doctrines and values, guided by her Magisterium, and fostering a deeply Catholic understanding of all of reality.
Fr. Najem said that the mission of the university is to address the mind and soul of the students. He stressed that NDU seeks the advancement of knowledge within a context of the liberal arts curriculum, a context which reflects its concern for the whole person. He invited faculty, staff and administrators, to help students fulfil their potential and enhance their ability to learn.
He also added that the motive under which Christians live is the motive of love and that the essence of Jesus' mission was to help all people understand and accept that God loves them, for they are worthy of God's love. In this context, educators have unique responsibilities to be of service to students, to work as one entity and to create an environment that is intellectually stimulating and characterized by the generosity and mutual support required for university life and personal growth.
NDU wishes you a successful new academic year!