Oct 13th,
2003
Bethlehem
University’s ten days commemorating the 30th
Anniversary of its founding provided time for celebration,
recognition, service, and expressions of gratitude
to God and to the many individuals and organizations
who have contributed to the development of this
leading university in the Holy Land.
Brother Vincent Malham, President-Vice
Chancellor, opened the 30th Anniversary events on
2 October with an Academic Convocation and Recognition
Ceremony concluded his remarks inviting us all to
“recommit ourselves to the young people of
this land, Christian and Muslim students for whom
Bethlehem University was founded to serve thirty
years ago, and whom, with God’s continued
blessing, this University will continue to serve
for many years to come.”
(Click here for Brother Vincent's
opening remarks)
His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, Latin
Patriarch of Jerusalem, received an Honorary Doctorate
of Pedagogy at the Academic Convocation and spoke
in appreciation for the De La Salle Christian Brothers
establishing and developing Bethlehem University
“to enable young Palestinians to remain in
their land and to work for its development and prosperity,
and to give them an education and knowledge to deal
with the occupation and their violated freedom.”
(Click
here for HB Michel Sabbah’s remarks)
On Saturday night, 8 October, the
French group "Lunatics" held an acrobatics
show on campus, and more than 550 persons attended
from the local community.
The students, faculty and staff enjoyed
a University Community Day of Celebration on Thursday,
9 October, with music, dancing, sporting activities
among the various faculties, a tree planting and
a balloon send-off. The festive day was incredibly
blessed for the University Community 
The Alumni Open Day was held on Friday,
10 October. The Deans and teachers, and current
B.U. students greeted the returning alumni, and
took them on tours where they saw the new facilities
and recent developments on campus. Alumni had the
chance to re-visit with each other and with their
former teachers.
The 10 days of commemoration
came to a close on Saturday, 11 October, with a
morning of community service in which the University
students hosted children from the Holy Family Kindergarten
(Creche), the Children's Village SOS, the Swedish
International Relief Association (SIRA), Al-Alaiyeh
School for the Blind, and the Arab Society for Rehabilitation.
This in addition to elderly adults from the Antonian
Charitable Society, and the Elder's Club, Beit Sahour,
for a day of music, song, games and dance. The day
ended with the celebration of a Mass of Thanksgiving
in the Chapel of the Infant Child at the University.
(Click
here for the text of the reflections of Brother
Joe Loewenstein).
Mass was followed by a reception banquet for faculty
and staff.
