The liturgical year in the Catholic Church dawns anew with the First Sunday of Advent—a day imbued with anticipation and sacred hope. At the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA),  Obehie Campus, this occasion unfolded in a manner that transcended the ordinary, melding solemnity with spiritual vibrancy.  

The Mass began with a deeply evocative hymn, "Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus," echoing the ancient plea found in  the Didache. The well-prepared choir set a serene yet uplifting tone, their harmonies enveloping the faithful, who filled the chapel in their number. Presiding at. the Eucharistic celebration was the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Dr. Uchu, flanked by concelebrants Rev. Fr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie and Rev. Fr. William Ozuruonye, amidst  19 other priests at the Euchariastic celebration including the Rector of the Institute, Very Revd Fr Prof Jude Abidemi Asanbe. 

In a departure from typical or regular  liturgical format, the celebrant, after the initial incensation of the altar, proceeded to bless and lit the first candle of the Advent wreath, a symbol of hope and the promise of Christ’s coming. With poetic liturgical elegance, he intoned the opening stanza of "Veni, Veni Emmanuel," a hymn steeped in the O Antiphons of Advent, captivating the faithful and setting a deeply contemplative tone.  

As the congregation, resplendent in Advent’s preparatory purple, listened attentively to the Liturgy of the Word, the homily emerged as the pinnacle of the celebration. Fr. Uchu delivered a stirring reflection centered on hope—hope that anchors the soul in the midst of life's uncertainties. He drew a striking analogy from the ill-fated Titanic, a testament to human arrogance, warning, "Not even God can sink it" was a misplaced confidence, ultimately humbled by avoidable tragedy. “Our hope,” he urged, “must be anchored on God, a hope that inspires good deeds and remains responsive to those around us.”  

In a moment of cultural synergy, the Igbo-inflected Sanctus "Nso Nso...." caused an ecstatic outpouring of praise among the faithful. Some wistfully recalled the spacious arrangement of the COVID-19 era—not for fear of disease, but for the freedom it afforded for fuller expressions of worship. As one correspondent, noted, “The faithful were electrified by the music.”  

The Mass reached its crescendo with a vibrant thanksgiving led by November Nativity celebrants, including Rev. Frs. Andrew Otu and Philip Omenukwa & Okhueleigbe Osemhantie. Their procession was followed by friends and well-wishers, as the Rector of the Institute, Very Revd Fr  Prof Jude Abidemi Asanbe, imparted blessings, declaring November a “month of greatness” and its celebrants “marked by divine favour.”  

Among the worshippers was a distinguished alumna of CIWA’s pioneer undergraduate class (1998–2002), celebrated for her academic excellence and her contributions to education, having developed an influential educational template for her diocese and state.  

The Mass concluded with the formal Advent recessional, the faithful departing amidst resounding choruses. The event, rich in liturgical and spiritual significance, embodied the ethos of CIWA’s worship tradition—where orasic expressions of faith meet profound reverence.  

A trial will indeed convince you.  

Fr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie à  

@CIWA, Dec. 1, 2024