The 5^th African Regional Conference, of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, celebrated under the team “ Living Hospitality Boldly and Hopefully”, started on 1^st of February 2016 and schedule to end on the 5^th of February 2016 at St. Richard Pampuri Interprovincial Novitiate, Agoe-Nyive, Lome-Togo. This Conference, presided over by the Superior General, Bro Jesus ETAYO, brings together participants from the General Curia, St. Augustine Province of Africa, St. Richard Pampuri Vice-Province( Benin-Togo) and Western European Province( representing the work of the Order in Malawi).

During these five days the conference will deliberate on the following themes:

The revitalization of the Order

Leadership in hospitality

Economic management and study of the documents of the Congregation of Consecrated Life, and

The future of the Order in the African Region.

The region celebrated the closure of The Year of Consecrated life on 2^nd February, 2016, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Father General, Bro Jesus ETAYO, in his opening address to the conference as well as his Circular Letter on the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, which was read during the conference, invited the Brothers to thank God for the gift of vocation and the mission. He also invited and encouraged the brothers to remain faithful to the mission of hospitality to the poor, the sick and those in need in a world troubled by violence, war, terrorism and migration. He invited them, through the words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to carry out acts of mercy during this extraordinary year of the jubily dedicated to divine mercy.