Academic
Convocation
Bethlehem
University Launching
its 30th Anniversary Celebrations
October 3, 2003
On Thursday, October 2, at 5:30 PM
an Academic Convocation was held in the Plaza of the
newly constructed Millennium Hall. The festive ceremony
was attended by dignitaries and friends of Bethlehem
University.
Earlier
during the day, in the middle of all the last minute
preparations, the University community was worried
that a slight chance of rain showers would necessitate
moving the Convocation indoors, but fortunately, that
worry disappeared as the event was about to take place
and there were no clouds. The entry procession was
simply beautiful and profoundly dignified. H.E. Monsignor
Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Delegate and Chancellor of
Bethlehem University opened with an invocation reminding
us of our uniqueness and the dignity of every individual,
and calling for God's blessing on us all.
Brother Vincent Malham, President-Vice
Chancellor, welcomed the guests and stated that “In
the Latin Catholic Church today is the Feast of the
Guardian Angels. How appropriate it is that on this
day we recognize and give thanks to our guardian angels:
His Beatitude Monsignor Michel Sabbah, Mr. And Mrs.
Richard Moley, Brother James Gaffney, Dr. Conor Ward
and Dr. Colete Dowling, and Mrs. Julia Dabdoub, Dr.
Daoud Salameh, and Mr. Bishara Daoud – for watching
over, guiding, encouraging, and giving hope and financial
support to help maintain and develop this young university.
We are indeed honored to have this opportunity today
to express our gratitude to them.”
Patriarch Sabbah addressed the assembly
and spoke of the role of Bethlehem University as a
site of religious coexistence and tolerance between
Christians and Moslems. He acknowledged the role of
the De La Salle Christian Brothers over the years
in the service of this University. The Patriarch expressed
his wish that the spirit of this University will spread
to all of society, in order to develop a new generation,
new modes of thinking, and a new spirit altogether
in the Holy Land, one that rejects oppression, violence,
and the wars carried out by man supposedly in the
name of God.
Among those in attendance at
the Convocation were Mr. Regis Koetschet, Consul General
of France; Mr. Jose Maria Ferre De La Pena, Consul
General of Spain; Father Elias Chacour, notable author
and President of St. Elias College; Mr. Hanna Nasser,
Mayor of Bethlehem and Chairman of the Board of Trustees;
Mr. Raji Zeidan, Mayor of Beit Jala; Dr Niall Holohan,
Head of the Representative Office of Ireland, and
Dr. Jack Keutgen, Director of the Holy Family Hospital
in Bethlehem.
