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A DAY TO BE
REMEMBERED...
Father Roger Chikri, Director of Administration, invited the staff members
of NDU to attend a spiritual retreat, on December 5, 2002, at St. Teresa’s
Monastery, Shaileh. On that day, about 35 persons arrived at 9:00 a.m. at the
Monastery. We all gathered with Fr. Chikri and Fr. Boutros Bou-Nassif,
NDU Chaplain-General, in a lecture room. Fr. Chikri read a small passage
from the Holy Bible (Genesis, chapter 1:26) which said: “Let us make man
according to our image…” For one hour, we were discussing God’s mercy on
us; the infinite love of God; the strength and weakness of Man’s faith in his
Creator; the miscommunication between people; the devil and his experience
with Man; the good in our daily life; our perspective of life; thanking
our Creator for everything in our life; etc. The discussion was fruitful and
ended with a coffee break. Around 11:00 a.m., we watched a most interesting
Fadia El-Hage between Father Boutros Bou-Nassif
and Father Roger Chikri.
movie concerning the life of St.
Dominique Savio, the holy young
boy. He was born in Italy (1842), and
died at the age of 15 (1857). Saint
Dominique Savio was beatified by
the Pope in 1950, and canonized in
1954. The movie was prepared by a
Lebanese producer and actors. It
made most of us cry silently, because
of the struggle of this Saint. At 12:30
p.m., we attended a Holy Mass full
of graces, celebrated by both priests.
After the Mass we all had lunch
together with the brothers of the
Monastery, and all of us were happy
to meet one another and enjoy the
company of the kind-hearted priests.
In conclusion, I would like to thank
Fr. Chikri very much for bringing us
together (even though not all the
staff members were present) and for
the precious time he offered us. We
really felt him as a brother and not a
boss. Also, I would like to thank Fr.
Bou-Nassif for spending such an
agreeable time with us as a spiritual
leader. We really needed that day of
spiritual retreat, to feel the real peace
and faith inside us. Last, but not
least, special thanks go to St. Teresa’s
Monastery, which hosted us on that
day.
Fadia El-Hage
February 4, 2003
22 NNU SPIRIT