We are still wrapped with joy at this moment to have celebrated twin birth by our mother HOSPITALITY in Cameroon. After the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Hospitality in Cameroon has witnessed a twin birth: that of the Solemn Profession of Br Stanford and the Inauguration of Boko Centre (Douala).

On the 14 January 2023 at the Paroisse St Jean Baptist Bwang Bakoko-Douala Br Standford Moore pronounced solemn vows of Chastity, poverty, obedience and hospitality. The Concelebrated Mass started at 10AM in the presence of all the St John of God Brothers on mission in Cameroon, the Hospitaller Sisters, some religious men and women, our co-workers and parishioners. Br Paulinus Toh, Provincial Superior of the St Augustine Province of Africa received the vows and Br Jacob Ketchen Provincial Councilor was also present to be part of the celebration. In his homily, Msgr. Joseph Valery Melone, Vicaire Episcopal de la Zone Wouri 10,   representing the Archbishop of Douala, encouraged Br Standford to be more faithful to his solemn YES pronounced solemnly today. This journey according to him depends on daily availability to the service of the sick.

Br Stand Moore is a Liberian on mission to Cameroon. He made his Simple vows on 1st May 2015 at the Interprovincial Novitiate in Lomé. He then moved to Nairobi for his scholasticate obtaining a diploma in spirituality. After this period of his spiritual formation, Br Standford moved to Cameroon and between 2017-2022 he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. He belongs to our community of Yassa-Douala and assigned to Boko Centre-Douala.

On the 21 January 2023 we all merged again at the St Jean de Dieu Boko Centre for the inauguration of the Centre. The celebration opened with mass presided over by Msgr. Joseph Valery Melone, Vicaire Episcopal de la Zone Wouri 10. Inspired from the Gospel of the day Mc. 3 :20-21 which Jesus was considered being « Out of his mind », for him only shows how Jesus was absorbed by his duty to serve humanity. And so we all especially servants of hospitality have to follow this Jesus who served tirelessly and even gave his blood for us. We all have to give out tireless our sweats for the sake of the sick and suffering humanity.

Present on this occasion was Br Pascal Ahodegnon, General Councillor incharge of Africa who recalled in his message that during his Canonical visit in 2015 the need to have a better place to offer quality health as the old centre was in a bad condition. He encouraged all serving at Boko Centre to take care of the place and also carry at heart our noble mission to serve the sick and the needy, putting them always first in our agenda.

Br Paulinus Toh in his address started by recalling that Boko Centre is ‘a dream come true’. This dream he mentioned started in 2011 when Br Bartholomew Kamara then Provincial of St Augustine Province of Africa authorised Br Raphael Teh then Provincial councillor to start small services in Douala while waiting for the planned construction of the Community and Hospital in Yassa. From then Br Samuel Akoni, Br Blasius Kum, Br Robert Makaloy, Br Linus Wirkar and now Br Benard Benda have headed the services in Boko.

We should note that the Boko Centre was purely local initiative with locally generated funds from the mission in Cameroon. The motivator of this idea was Br Bartholomew Kamara then Provincial Superior present at the ceremony who facilitated necessary processes giving enthusiasm to the brothers to go this extra mile.

Mr David Heyer of the Hospitaalbroeder (representative of West European Province) and Anna Meyer from Juan Ciudad were also present at this ceremony. Mr David in very few words expressed thanks to local efforts to come up with a wonderful reality and he ended by referencing the Kadji beer expression ‘Il a fallu du temps’ (it needed time) to come up with such giant effort.

The District Medical Director Dr Nogbe Guy only underlined that the brothers and co-workers have been rendering wonderful services to the population which he encourages them to continue with their assistance to the government in rendering health care services to the population of Boko. He said St John of God Boko is a reference centre. He reminded the collaborators and brothers that it is not enough to have a wonderful structure as we see today but there is also need to offer quality health care services tirelessly.