WORLD LEBANESE CULTURAL UNION – NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY COUNCILS CELEBRATE LEBANON’S INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH GALA AT THE LEGACY CASTLE

New Jersey – The World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU) New York and New Jersey Councils hosted their annual Lebanon Independence Day Gala on Sunday, December 7, at The Legacy Castle, bringing together more than 200 guests for an evening of celebration, recognition, and cultural pride. The event was presented by Mrs. Rita Elojail Zihenni.

The gala honored three distinguished individuals for their contributions to the community and their fields. Bishop Gregory Mansour, Eparch of the Maronite Diocese of St. Maron in Brooklyn, delivered an inspiring message, reflecting on Pope Leo XIV’s recent spiritual and meaningful visit to Lebanon and urging attendees to uphold the Pope’s call for peace.

Mr. Mounir Badaan, entrepreneur and owner of The Legacy Castle, expressed his gratitude to WLCU NY & NJ for the recognition and praised the organization’s dedication to Lebanese heritage.

The evening also celebrated Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa, an internationally renowned medical oncologist, who thanked the WLCU for the honor and highlighted the vital role of interfaith harmony—even within the medical field—sharing a touching example from his clinical work.

The program concluded with a heartfelt tribute to the late poet and Dean of the Pen League, Youssef Abdel-Samad, followed by live

entertainment led by Nadim Abou Rjeily. Attendees widely praised the gala as one of the finest WLCU events to date.