The Inter-Congregational Ongoing Formation (ICOF) Program has been initiated by the Union of General Councils of four Missionary Congregations working in Africa, namely: the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritan Fathers), the Missionaries of Africa (White fathers), and the Missionary Sisters Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA), and the Society of African Missions (SMA).
In their meeting in December 2014, there was a concern shared by all members: there are many priests and religious in Africa who need ongoing formation but they don’t have access to it.
This union has formed the Inter Congregational Ongoing Formation (ICOF) Program, whose main objective is to make available opportunities for ongoing formation in Africa for priests and religious, both its members and members of the local churches (dioceses, local congregations and other congregations). The ongoing formation is focused on renewal of the participants. And the renewal is holistic, including the spiritual, the human, the pastoral, and the academic aspects of the person.