News Blog

DWU St Benedict’s in Wewak Set to Mark University’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations

WEWAK, EAST SEPIK: Divine Word University’s St Benedict’s Campus is preparing to host the final leg of the university’s 30th Anniversary celebrations with a three-day Festival of Legacy and Vision from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September. The celebrations are being held under the theme, “Serving the Nation with Over 30 Years of Quality Education,” highlighting DWU’s contribution to quality education and national development over the past three decades. The three-day program will begin with a Thanksgiving Mass on Monday 14 September, giving the university community an opportunity to give thanks for DWU’s journey, achievements and the people who have contributed to its development.

The anniversary celebrations have been held across DWU campuses, including Rabaul, Port Moresby and Madang, with St Benedict’s Campus in Wewak bringing the university-wide celebrations to a close. DWU St Benedict’s Campus Administrator Mr Peter Kaiyeke said the Wewak program would provide an opportunity for the university community to reflect on DWU’s journey, recognize its achievements and look towards the future.

 “The 30th Anniversary is more than a celebration of the past. It is an opportunity for us to give thanks to God and to acknowledge the people and communities who have contributed to DWU’s journey, to celebrate what we have achieved together, and to renew our commitment to quality education, service and the development of Papua New Guinea. As we celebrate our legacy, we must also look ahead with vision, courage and hope for the next generation. We invite our staff, students, alumni, partners and the people of East Sepik to join us as we celebrate our legacy and embrace the future together.”

The Festival of Legacy and Vision will feature activities celebrating DWU’s history, achievements and people, while highlighting the university’s continuing commitment to education and service. As DWU reflects on its 30-year journey as a university, it also acknowledges the pioneering contribution of the early missionaries and religious congregations whose dedication to education, formation and community service helped lay important foundations for the institution. Special recognition is given to the Sisters of Mercy, the Holy Spirit Sisters and the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), whose dedication and service to education and communities form an important part of the legacy on which DWU continues to build.

The university also acknowledges the leadership of the three Presidents who have guided DWU since its establishment as a university. They are founding President Professor Fr Jan Czuba, SVD, who served from 1996 to 2015; Professor Cecilia Nembou, PhD, who served as President from 2016 to 2020; and the current President, Professor Fr Philip Gibbs, SVD, OBE, who has served since 2021. Their respective contributions have helped shape DWU’s growth, academic development and continuing mission of service to Papua New Guinea. A key feature of the Wewak program will be a Cultural Day on Wednesday 16 September, when students and staff will showcase the cultural diversity of Papua New Guinea through traditional attire, music, dance, food and other cultural presentations.

The Cultural Day will also be held in the spirit of Papua New Guinea’s 51st Independence Anniversary, providing an opportunity for the DWU community to celebrate the nation’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. For DWU, the 30th Anniversary is an opportunity to acknowledge the generations of students, graduates, staff, alumni, partners and communities who have contributed to the university’s development and growth. The Wewak celebration will bring the university’s 30th Anniversary activities to a close while looking ahead to DWU’s continuing role in providing quality education and preparing graduates to contribute to Papua New Guinea’s future.

DWU St Benedict’s Campus Chapel in Wewak, East Sepik Province. The chapel is called the St Benedict Chapel.