On May 26, 2012, on the eve of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik organized a ceremony for the occasion of its Patronal Feast. The ceremony was attended by a number of foreign and Lebanese dignitaries, including political, religious, military, and educational figures, in addition to USEK Faculty and staff members.

The ceremony started with a Mass celebrated by Rev. Abbot Tannous Nehme, Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order. In his preaching, Abbot Nehme highlighted the uniqueness and importance of Pentecost, explaining its various meanings. He concluded: “We pray today for His Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai and His Excellency General Michel Sleiman, so that God endows them with the strength of the Holy Spirit. Thus His Beatitude may lead the Church and His Excellency may lead the country with wisdom and courage, in order to reach the harbor of peace, despite all challenges, trusting in the support and inspiration of the Holy Spirit”.

Following a documentary movie that shed light on the main USEK activities and projects that were conducted during the 2011-2012 academic year, Rev. Fr. Hady Mahfouz delivered his annual speech entitled “Under the Guidance of The Holy Spirit”, raising at the beginning the following question: “Whose footsteps are we following? In other words, who did we follow till now and who do we want to follow?” Throughout his speech, Fr. Mahfouz attempted to show “… how the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik increasingly falls into the global university network, how its thinking is also exploring various aspects of globalization, and how it is vigilantly keeping pace with the conditions of the international university world”. He shed light on the fact that “… we are Catholic and we seek to fulfill the utmost holistic growth of the person, every person, without any discrimination. We are the sons of the loving mother, the Lebanese Maronite Order, whose mission we seek to achieve. We deal with our problems in a realistic, positive and faithful vision. All of the above-mentioned points are the Holy Spirit’s graces for us”.

Fr. Mahfouz stressed that “… future generations will ask the same question, holding us responsible for what we are doing now. Thinking of generations to come and the way in which they will raise this question, drives us more and more to a liberation from the past and into a sense of joyful courage to move forward, cleaving the waves of history in the ship of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik; in a positive and administratively flexible mentality that is increasingly based on the ancient principles of the University. Such an approach would lead us to go through the past, present and future, and invite us to take a courageous stand before history in all its dimensions. Let us consider the past without sticking to it, interact with the present, without being submerged by its concerns, and work for the future, without being devoured by the anxiety of preparing it or by the ignorance of its content. Let us listen and be inspired by all principles and commonalities across History, by the Founders’ voice, by the Founding Order, the Lebanese Maronite Order that urges us to do one single thing: walk under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

Rev. Fr. Mahfouz also discussed the concepts of Quality, Accreditation and Participation in Growth, highlighting that “… quality would be the essential criterion of work. It is our target; the target which has been driving all our actions onward. In 2009, we have been pioneers in the evaluation of the European University Association and we are currently working to achieve an accreditation according to the highest European standards, whilst also preparing the University for an American Accreditation, in accordance with international standards. It is noteworthy that, two years ago, the University established the Quality Assurance and Institutional Effectiveness Office, in order to ensure an appropriate environment for teachers, staff, students, and all stakeholders, through different methods and climates. Therefore, various procedures have been developed and fundamental texts have been published in the University. The University launched a student evaluation process of their teachers, in addition to the “life-on-campus” evaluation process carried out by all members of the University family”.

Fr. Mahfouz concluded: “…The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik is indeed making its path, confidently, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit”.

At the end of the ceremony, a traditional dinner was held in the outdoor esplanade of the campus.