Some reunions have a way of making the world feel smaller. For one evening, Paris and Beirut seemed closer than ever. On October 29, 2026, at the residence of Lebanon’s Ambassador to France, the warmth of familiar faces and long-awaited reunions made the miles between the two cities fade away. Different journeys had led them there, but one bond remained unchanged: a deep and enduring connection to Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), shared by alumni, partners, benefactors, and friends across generations. Far from its campuses in Beirut, USJ found a piece of home in Paris, reunited with a community whose ties to the University have endured across time and distance.

During his visit to Paris, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, Rector of USJ, attended a reception hosted by Lebanon’s Ambassador to France, H.E. Rabih Chaer, and his wife, Mrs. Stéphanie Marcha Chaer. The reception welcomed members of the University’s Board of Trustees, vice-rectors, deans, directors, alumni, partners, donors, and friends of the University.

“True hospitality has a way of turning unfamiliar walls into familiar ground. Tonight, this embassy feels like home,” the Rector said, warmly thanking his hosts. Moved to see “so many dear friends of Saint Joseph University of Beirut,” he paid tribute to their unwavering loyalty and the bonds of friendship that have sustained the University “through the years and across borders.”

Bonds That Endure

The gathering also turned attention to Beirut and USJ’s current challenges and future ambitions. Prof. Boëdec spoke of a university that, despite the pressures facing Lebanon, remains steadfast in its mission to educate, conduct research, drive innovation, and deliver healthcare. He credited this resilience to the dedication of the entire USJ community, including its alumni, partners, and benefactors.

Prof. Boëdec also reaffirmed USJ’s enduring commitment to Francophonie, reflected in its close ties with French institutions, collaborative research, and academic exchanges involving instructors and students. Together, these partnerships sustain a dynamic exchange of knowledge, expertise, and perspectives between Lebanon and France. “May these lasting bonds further enrich the intellectual and academic dialogue between Lebanon and France,” he said.

Ambassador Chaer expressed his hope for even stronger ties between Lebanon and France. “In welcoming Saint Joseph University of Beirut, we welcome far more than a university delegation. We welcome an institution whose legacy is woven into the intellectual, cultural, and even political history of Lebanon,” he said.

He also praised USJ as “one of Lebanon’s leading institutions in promoting Francophonie and strengthening the country’s longstanding ties with France.” He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the University in expanding its partnerships with French universities, advancing joint research, and strengthening its connections with the Lebanese diaspora.

“You can count on me,” he told the Rector. Few words could have better expressed the spirit of the evening: a shared commitment to USJ that has endured across borders and through the years.

The evening concluded with a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the Rector, who presented Ambassador Chaer with the USJ 150^th Anniversary Commemorative Medal and the Heritage book. He also presented Mrs. Chaer with the painting The Cedar, the Olive Tree, and 150 Years of USJ in gratitude for the couple’s warm hospitality.

What began as an evening of encounters and reunions became a reminder of something greater: USJ’s story unfolds not only in Beirut, but wherever people remain committed to its mission.

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Also read: L’USJ à Paris : des liens qui traversent les frontières