On July 2, 2010, the Lebanese Maronite Order bade Farwell to Rev. Fr. Prof. Louis Al-Hajj, Dean of the Faculty of Music at the Holy Spirit University- Kaslik, head of the World Sacred Music Foundation, former General Deputy for the Order and former President of the University, in an official funeral service given at the Jean Paul II Amphitheater in the USEK main campus. During the ceremony, the President of the Republic, General Michel Sleiman awarded the late reverend father the National Cedar Decoration, grade of great officer, as a token of appreciation for all his good deeds in Lebanon.

The ceremony was attended by minister Jean Ogassapian representing President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Hariri, MP Hagob Pakradounian representing the Chief of Parliament Nabih Berri, and a group of former and current MPs, eminent personalities from the religious, political, military, security and legal fields, as well as members of the University’s council.

The funeral ceremony was held by Bishop Samir Mazloum, representing Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. The secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate reverend Monsignor Youssef Tawk read the Patriarchal letter. He then presented a brief biography of the late reverend father and the most memorable events in his life, praising his personal and professional qualities.

Minister Ogassapian representing the President of the Republic, placed the National Cedar Decoration, grade of great officer upon the late father’s coffin. He then gave a speech where he expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of his Excellency the President of the Republic to the reverend father’s family and the Lebanese Maronite Order he devoted himself to.

USEK President, Fr. Hadi Mahfouz reserved a sincere word of thanks, where he said: “I thank you all for coming to take part in the funeral ceremony of the great Lebanese Maronite monk, Rev. Fr. Louis Al-Hajj. We all bid our farewell to him in this hall built and inaugurated back at the time where he was the University’s rector; he who was the musician and erudite monk to whom we owe the musical innovation in the Maronite liturgy. May God bestow on us his graces, and raise him up to the heights of heaven to join the Angels surrounding the divine throne, and singing on the rhythm of an eternal pure and delightful music.”

At the end of the ceremony, the reverend fathers carried the coffin, and the corpse was taken to our Lady of Mashmoushe monastery (Jezzine caza) where it was buried.