USJ Honors Father Salim Daccache, SJ

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Organisateur(s)


Saint Joseph University of Beirut held a ceremony on April 16, 2026, at its Science and Technology Campus to honor Fr. Salim Daccache, SJ, former Rector (2012–2025), as part of Jesuit Week 2026, under the theme “Every Person and the Whole Person.”

The event brought together religious, academic, and cultural figures, along with members of the university community, as well as friends and family of Fr. Daccache. It was an occasion to recognize a journey marked by a deep and faithful commitment to education, research, and the formation of the human person, within a particularly challenging national context.

The speeches highlighted Fr. Daccache’s pivotal role in the development of the University, especially in strengthening academic excellence, advancing research, and embodying Jesuit values of service, openness, and dialogue.

In his address, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, reaffirmed the University’s mission at the service of the human person and society, particularly in a context marked by successive crises such as those affecting Lebanon, stating, “At the heart of this reality, our mission remains clear: to stand by the human person, every person, especially the most vulnerable and fragile; to believe that education is not a luxury, but an act of hope; and that the University is not merely a place for the transmission of knowledge, but a space for the formation of conscience and the development of the whole person. This is a demanding mission that calls us to remain vigilant, to keep our conscience awake, to accept being challenged, and to face new realities with clarity and courage.”

He added, “Saint Joseph University is called, more than ever, to be a free space for thought, a forum for dialogue, a bridge between cultures, and a voice that upholds truth and justice.”

The USJ Campus Minister, Fr. Jad Chebly, SJ, emphasized that this tribute was not meant to celebrate an individual, but “to recognize a faithful presence, a way of living the mission, and a faith in the human person capable of overcoming trials.” He further noted that, in the Jesuit tradition, heritage is never a static legacy, but a living call, one that engages, challenges, and must be continually embodied.

The ceremony also featured the screening of a documentary on Fr. Daccache, directed by two University alumni, Cynthia Bou Zeid (IESAV 2013) and Philippe Bou Zeid (ISP 2007). The film offered a rare and intimate glimpse into his daily life, beyond his academic responsibilities and institutional achievements, revealing a man of simplicity, depth, and humanity.

A lover of music, and particularly of the oud, Fr. Daccache was further honored through a musical performance, offered in his honor by Charbel Rouhana, a leading figure in the Lebanese music scene, known for his distinctive ability to bridge tradition and contemporary expression.

In his address, Fr. Daccache expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to the University’s mission: “We are called to be worthy of this mission at every moment, to fully commit ourselves to its fulfillment, not for our own glory, but for the greater glory of God—Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—and for the broadest service of the education of young people and of faith. In this Lebanon that suffers yet remains a bearer of promise, Saint Joseph University has an irreplaceable role. It is called to be a place of formation, freedom, discernment, and hope. It is called to prepare women and men capable of serving, rebuilding, and believing in a hopeful future for our country. I say this: I will not abandon this mission or this hope. They will remain alive in my heart and in my commitment.”

The USJ Campus Ministry gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Bank Audi, ACN International, Lia Assurex, and Banque Bemo.

Read also: L’Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth rend hommage au père Salim Daccache

جامعة القدّيس يوسف في بيروت تكرّم البروفسور سليم دكاش اليسوعيّ

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