By Pierre-Paul Dossekpli

SMA Plenary Council Lagos 2026 – Day 4

The fourth day of the Plenary Council was marked by an unexpected moment of grace: the testimony of Father Narcisse, Provincial Superior of Côte d’Ivoire, on his participation in the ICOF (Inter-Congregational Ongoing Formation) programme in Tanzania during the first quarter of 2026.

A word that came at just the right time, as the day’s proceedings focused on demanding topics such as finances, good governance, and the safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults.

A Personal Decision, Before the Second Term

It was on his own initiative that Father Narcisse chose to make this renewal retreat before beginning a second term in a position of authority — a gesture of both coherence and humility, which he graciously agreed to share with his brothers.

“There were twenty-six of us,” he begins simply. “I was able to take stock of my vocation, my motivations, my response to the Lord in missionary priesthood — what was positive, and what needed to be adjusted, in order to continue the journey.”

This time also gave him the opportunity to reconnect with spiritual practices that had often been set aside, overwhelmed by the pace of pastoral and administrative activities.

Coming Back Lighter. Coming Back Open.

Father Narcisse does not conceal the fruits of this experience: “I came back very light, with new habits in my spiritual exercises, as well as a renewed awareness of my well-being, of listening to myself and to my body. I returned with a heart that seeks to open itself to others.”

And with a certain lucidity, he adds: “I realised that if I had done this programme sooner, it would have helped me avoid certain mistakes.”

For him, the ICOF was neither a luxury nor a mere interlude: it was a response to the invitation of Christ himself. He quotes the Gospel of Mark (6:31): “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”

A Community of Seekers of God

When interviewed by SMA Media, Father Narcisse offers a striking picture of the atmosphere within the group:

“Priests, religious men and women, coming from all walks of life — doctors, university professors, community leaders, people preparing for special missions. There was, for example, a sister who came here, to Nigeria, to become novice mistress.”

What struck him most, beyond the various profiles and backgrounds? The inner disposition shared by all: “People who had emptied themselves in order to deepen their relationship with God, who wanted to renew themselves so as to face the future with new ministries.”

“For me, it was truly something different from what one had heard about the ICOF.”

An Invitation to Everyone

Father Narcisse concludes his testimony with a direct, warm, and heartfelt appeal:

“I would like to invite each one of us to take the time to have this experience. We will never regret it.”

The ICOF: A Space of Renewal for Africa

It is worth recalling that the ICOF — Inter-Congregational Ongoing Formation — was established precisely to offer priests, religious, and Catholic pastoral agents in Africa a space and time for personal renewal, with a view to better serving the Gospel in the concrete reality of today’s continent.

A timely reminder, in a context where the question of resources weighs heavily on the shoulders of those in leadership. As Father Francis Tayee Boley, Superior of the Liberia District, candidly shared, with a faith-filled hope: “It is a bit frightening, and at the same time, there is hope — there is hope for the mission to continue.” For the mission belongs to God. And it is precisely for this reason that the pastoral agent must find moments to reconnect with Him — the source of all life and all missionary zeal.