The sixth national congress of the OCDS was held in Bozoum from 22 to 25 May 2026, during the Jubilee Year of St John of the Cross. Eighty members from the country’s four OCDS communities (Bozoum, Baoro, Bouar, Bangui) were present, accompanied by their respective assistant priests and the OCDS Delegate for the Central African Republic, Fr Dieudonné Yahaka.
In an atmosphere of great fraternity, the participants attended various talks: ‘St John of the Cross and Creation’, ‘St Teresa of Ávila and Prayer’, ‘The Practical Life of the OCDS’, ‘Documents on the OCDS’. Before the final session, the participants gathered in small groups to discuss certain issues relating to the life of the OCDS and to propose solutions for its development and, above all, for its autonomy. A number of key needs were highlighted, such as the ability to study the writings of our saints, the need to encourage younger people to join the Secular Order, the formation of formators, financial self-sufficiency, and a more visible Carmelite witness within the Church and civil society… Finally, it was proposed to organise a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Venerable Brother Jean-Thierry EBOGO in Yaoundé. During the congress, the first National Council was also elected.
