In Lomé, on 24 September 2022, at 9 am the chapel of the Interprovincial Novitiate of Saint Richard Pampuri in Togo was packed for the celebration of the temporary profession of 12 novices of 7 different nationalities: four (04) from Madagascar, three (03) from Malawi, one (01) from Congo, one (01) from Ghana; one (01) from Senegal, one (01) from Cameroon and one (01) from Togo who had completed the two years of their formation in the novitiate.

Among the guests who came to encourage, support and motivate them were four (4) Provincials: Brother Hugues ASSOU, Provincial Superior of the Province of St. Richard Pampuri; Brother Paulinus TOH KISAM, Provincial Superior of the African Province of St. Augustine; Brother Paul Marie TAUFANA, Provincial Superior of the French Province of St. John the Baptist; and Brother Donatus Forkan, Provincial Superior of the Western European Province.

They were joined by many other Brothers from the communities of Afagnan in Togo, Tanguiéta in Benin, Asafo and Accra in Ghana, and Mzuzu in Malawi; Religious men and women from several Congregations present in Lomé and in Togo, guests and other Christians, families and friends of the neo-professed Brothers who had gathered around the Novice Master and the formators.

Brother Christian CLAVE, a priest of the Hospitaller Order from the French Province and who had accompanied the neo-professed Brothers during their spiritual preparation for the vows, presided at the Eucharist accompanied by several priests, including Brother Hugues ASSOU, Provincial Superior of the Province of Saint Richard Pampuri and Brother Jacob KETCHEN, the Novice Master.

In his homily, Brother Christian, reminded the Brothers of their commitment to life in these words: "it is when the novitiate ends that it actually begins, by endeavouring to keep faith day by day with the promise you have made today".

Brother Donatus FORKAN, Delegate of the Superior General, Brother Jesús ETAYO, during the ceremony, received the profession of the 12 novices, welcomed them, and then presented them with the scapular, the Constitutions and the General Statutes as a sign of membership of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God.

It was a beautiful Eucharistic celebration, warmly animated and reflecting the cultural diversity of the professed Brothers.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration at 12 noon, Brother Dieu merci, representing the newly professed Brothers thanked all the people who had come for the occasion. He was followed by Brother Paul Marie, Provincial Superior of the French Province who delivered a word of encouragement to the newly professed Brothers; and lastly, Brother Dominique ADOKOU thanked everyone present and gave some practical instructions to be followed when leaving the Church.

After the Mass, the Formation Community offered a festive meal in honour of the neo-professed Brothers and all the guests who had come to be with these young men on this day of happiness. The whole event including the Eucharistic celebration was broadcast live by TV 2, a private television channel. The newly-professed Brothers joyfully responded to requests for interviews. And it was in this festive atmosphere that 24 September ended late at the Interprovincial Novitiate of Saint Richard Pampuri in Togo.

After this stage, the newly-professed Brothers will continue their spiritual and religious formation in the Nairobi Scholasticate where they will attend a two-year course at Tangaza University College.