On Thursday, May 15, Antonine University (UA) marked its 29th anniversary with a heartfelt celebration at the Monastery, an occasion that coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of the Seeds — the University’s Patron Saint and the spiritual anchor of its academic mission.

The evening began with the UA prayer led by Rev. Abbot Joseph Bou Raad, Superior General of the Antonine Maronite Order (OAM), followed by his blessing, invoking grace over the University, its community, and the dinner gathering.

A centerpiece of the evening was the address delivered by the UA Rector, Fr. Michel Saghbiny, who reflected on the enduring mission of the University amidst national hardship. In his words, the University is not just “a structure of cement and stone,” but “a vibrant environment” where students learn to “collaborate across differences” and contribute to the building of a pluralistic and united Lebanon.

“In studying, one learns generosity; in research, one discovers passion; and in service, one is formed in sacrifice,” he said.

Echoing the symbolic richness of the Feast, the Rector emphasized the role of higher education in cultivating citizenship, social cohesion, and national responsibility. “The homeland is not lost outside of us, it is lost within us,” he stated, calling on the University community to renew their commitment to shaping a Lebanon worthy of its past, and of its youth.

The gathering offered a quiet moment of unity and reflection, leaving the UA community renewed in spirit and anchored in its shared values.