Port Harcourt— The Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) witnessed a historic unfolding of colours, intellect, culture, and spirituality as the 2025 Communication Week—popularly known as ComWeek—was marked with breathtaking splendour, a rhythmic blend of solemnity and festivity, and a communion of cultures that turned the sacred academic grounds into a symphony of nations.

From its inception on Sunday, May 25, through Monday to its awe-inspiring grand finale on Sunday, June 1, the week-long celebration—anchored by the Communication Department—etched itself into the annals of CIWA's living memory. It was not merely an event. It was a declaration of identity. A proclamation of heritage. A celebration of divine creativity expressed through human communication.

A Textile of Activities: From Symposium to Spirit

The curtain rose on the week with a continental Symposium that convened students native of  Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon, under the hallowed halls of academic inquiry. Minds clashed and ideas danced as themes of media, mission, and meaning were explored with verve and clarity.

This was followed by a tri-departmental Debate involving the Departments of Communication, Philosophy, and Religious Studies—where rhetoric met reason and argumentation soared to classical heights. Then came the Old School Day, where tradition strutted in vintage style, echoing nostalgia, and earning thunderous ovation.

Midweek, the campus stretched its limbs into the community with the landmark ComWeek Outreach to schools in Obehie and Umorie, an act that blended mission with service and left lasting imprints on both hearts and chalkboards.

The Colloquium that followed became a melting pot of intellectual grace, with ten departments weaving together their visions and voices. Then came the historic Road-Walk, where students and staff processed with books in hand, scriptures in heart, and message in step, from CIWA gates to the community square—a public testament that knowledge still walks the earth.

The tempo rose with the friendly football match between Obehie Campus and the main CIWA Campus, where the ball became a language of brotherhood and the field, a space of fellowship. Dance exhibitions crowned the rhythm of the week—an explosion of movement that testified to the cultural pulse of a truly African institute.

A Chapel Drenched in Tongues and Symbols

At the spiritual core of the celebration,  CIWA Chapel transformed into what could only be described as a Pentecostal mosaic—a community of many tongues yet one Spirit. The Holy Mass was celebrated in French, English, Italian, Latin, and Igbo. The Choir rendered hymns in languages as diverse as Zairean Lingala, Congolese,  Swahili and many Nigerian languages, bringing a global embrace to the Eucharistic celebration.

Each homily was a classical composition—thoughtfully preached by both staff and students and guided daily by the CSN COMWEEK outline. The altar burned with symbolism, and the incense curled heavenward like ancient prayers reborn.

A Grand Finale that Made Heaven Blink

Sundday's grand finale was nothing short of celestial. The Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. Dr. Anthony Abel, was a festival of liturgical brilliance. Twenty-two priests graced the sanctuary, with the Rector, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Jude Abidemi Asanbe, present in full dignity.

In a deeply symbolic Prayer of the Faithful, each intercessor approached the altar not with empty hands but with signs—tangible offerings, speaking louder than words.

The second act of the day unfolded in the social arena: Sign language performances, drama, comedy, and cultural dances electrified the audience. Awards were given to deserving students, whose joy became the crescendo of the week. The auditorium resonated with laughter, applause, and a sense of belonging.

In his address, the Rector Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Jude Abidemi Asanbe beamed with gratitude. “This ComWeek is not just an event; it is now CIWA tradition. Let us continue to communicate with gentleness and be a people of good hope in this Jubilee Year of Hope,” he declared, igniting a roar of approval. He praised the *Communication Department for their leadership and thanked the entire CIWA family for their “cooperation, creativity, and character.”

Voices of Gratitude and a Legacy Sealed

Staff, students, and visitors alike commended the Institute for an unforgettable week. From the outreach to the schools, to the football match, and the road walk, many testified that CIWA had not only commemorated but incarnated Communication as mission, as art, and as life.

The Chairman of ComWeek 2025, Rev. Fr. Dr. Chijioke Azuawusiefe, SJ, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Rector for his great support. “To entrust is to believe,” he said, “and the Rector’s belief in this project gave it wings.”

As the event drew to a close, students were treated to a special movie screening, and the lingering joy of the week refused to fade. With a solemn declaration, the Rector officially closed the ComWeek, just as he had opened it—bookending a saga of brilliance with the blessing of leadership.

CIWA 2025 ComWeek: A Narrative Etched in Excellence

In a world where communication is often reduced to noise, CIWA has reminded us that true communication is a sacred encounter—a meeting of minds, hearts, cultures, and spirit. The 2025 ComWeek was not just an institutional event; it was a pilgrimage of purpose, a feast of intellect, and a festival of identity*.

And thus, the Catholic Institute of West Africa didn’t just mark a week. It wrote a chapter. A matchless one.