On Wednesday, 1 May 2024 at 6.00 am, as has been the custom every year on this date since 2012, the Formation House of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God in Africa welcomed 16 new postulants from several African countries. This ceremony, which initiates them into the Religious Life, was presided over during Lauds by Brother Hugues Assou, the Provincial Superior of the African Province of Saint Richard Pampuri .
Following this rite of entry, the congregation gathered again at 9.00 am to celebrate the first profession of seven Brothers during the Eucharist presided over by Brother Jacob Ketchen, Master of Novices. He was joined by several Religious and Diocesan priests. The homily was delivered by the Franciscan Brother, Jean Baptiste, a friend of the Novitiate. He urged the new novices to cultivate fraternal love and perseverance in their journey, imitating the young SaintR ichard Pampuri, the Patron Saint of this Novitiate, who knew how to make practising medicine a service of charity by drawing his inspiration from the life of our Father Saint John of God.
The Provincial Superior, Brother Hugues Assou, received their vows and welcomed the Brothers into the Order in the presence of the delegates of the Provinces of Saint Augustine of Africa, Western Europe and France.
At the end of Mass, the newly professed Brothers gave thanks to God for the gift of their vocation, and thanked their formators as well as all the congregation who had come to accompany them. After the final blessing, everyone gathered for refreshments.