Cape Town 2018, what a memorable event! There were 43 of us from 14 different African countries, Germany and France. Some of our African brothers and sisters also represented other jurisdictions such as the Vatican and the USA.
We came from Ghana (who paraded the highest number of representatives -11, yeeeaaah), Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Botswana, Mali, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and Malawi to the beautiful Schoenstatt Retreat and Conference Centre in Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa. The event was the 2018 Congress of the Union Catholique Africain de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press. This Congress is held every three years.
The South African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), who helped put the event together and issued invitation letters to everyone, did not relent in making sure that every document required for the visa process was made available. Indeed, some of the demands from some of the embassies were, to us the Executives, outrageous, but the SACBC readily provided all documents making it possible for all the delegates to come and experience the cold, yet warmth, of our brothers and sisters in Cape Town.
From the moment we were welcomed at the Cape Town airport until the day the last delegate left the Schoenstatt Conference and Retreat Centre, where we spent those memorable days, to the departure hall of the Cape Town airport, it was sheer bliss. The food, the wines, fruit juices, desserts etc, etc, etc, mmmmmmm………., I’m salivating as I remember everything.
Our Chef and Logistics Manager, Thomas, Sr Heidi and the rest of the crew were simply awesome. We just cannot thank you enough and indeed all the Sisters at the Retreat Centre, for giving us a home away from home.
Day 1 began with mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Stephen Brislin, the President of the South African Catholic Bishops Conference and also the Archbishop of Cape Town. He called on Catholic Journalists to stand by the truth and defend the truth at all times.
Then we launched into the opening ceremony of the three-day Congress themed: “Using the Media for Promotion of Integral Human Development in Africa”. The morning session followed. The speeches were brilliant. Those of us who thought that we would be dozing off after the wonderful lunch were kept wide awake and excited by the afternoon speakers. Indeed, some of us were calling for more lectures after listening to the brilliant delivery by Dr Ben Nnamdi Emenyeonu.
We did not forget our 1st Vice President who passed on to glory in 2017, Desire Baere and all others who have left us. We prayed that their souls find eternal rest.
Day 2 also began with mass as is known with Catholics. We begin each and every day with mass. After breakfast, we launched into the 2nd day’s programme. More interesting discussions. Really worthwhile!
And then we had to break for a few hours to get our constitution translated into French before we could go on with the General Assembly. Went well. Then came elections. Also went well. Delegates decided to allow the executives to do a second term in office. The Executives had already eaten into the second term by failing to organise the Congress in 2017, which would have marked the end of their first term in office. In effect, they are left with 2 years to go and have to organise the next Congress in 2020. The vacant 1st Vice President position was filled with Charles Kojo Ayetan from the Republic of Togo.
Thus, the Executives are George Sunguh as President, Charles Kojo Ayetan as 1st Vice President, Victoria Lugey as 2nd Vice President, Rodrigue Dembele as Secretary General and Cleophas Samu as Treasurer. Day 2 ended late with some ready to drop onto their beds for a good night sleep, but the brave ones sat till very late to discuss, converse and drink South African wine.
Day 3, what was the feeling like – expectant, excitement? We were well covered to embark on our guided tour as we had been forewarned that the cold was going to bite us. Thomas, as usual, made sure we would not go hungry. We departed after breakfast with our packed lunch.
First point of call was the Isle of Seal or, Seal Island to see some wonderful seals. Hahahahahaha, my goodness, the boat ride to the Isle was another story. That will be another Chapter to talk about. We bumped up and down, side to side on the waves. Nice feeling? Yes, when you are safely back on dry ground, you recall that that must have been a nice feeling!!! Okay, I’m laughing all over again. Let’s move on.
Have you gone up mountains by road and just next to you, the ground drops hundreds of meters and you are looking down and praying seriously that the driver has his concentration at 100%, if not more? Woooow, those who dozed off were spared but those of us who chose to keep our eyes wide opened and even stood in the bus to get a better view, almost caught our hearts in our palms. But hey, constructing roads through rocks that have features nicely carved out of them took away the fear in certain places. Bravo, to those who did such great work! And you just can’t help but admire nature – the beaches, the flora and fauna, the animals, the rocks, the wild vegetation – such beauty and you look up to the heavens and say, thank you, Father, for giving me life and the opportunity to behold your wonderful work.
We journeyed forth to see Chapman’s Peak and Cape Point – not for the faint-hearted. The cold biting wind pushed us hard and all those wearing caps had to hold on to them or risk loosing them to the waters below where the Atlantic Ocean met the Indian Ocean. If you fear water like me, you wouldn’t want to look for long, but it was beautiful to watch – an endless stretch of nice blue water.
Then we went to the Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve – more mounting climbing. Don’t do it if you are afraid of heights like me and will feel dizzy descending. The Cape of Good Hope is home to, at least, 250 species of birds. The baboons were lovely but we were told that they could get very naughty and so we had to keep our distance.
And then on our way back we actually took another route round the mountain so you behold one view from one side of the mountain and another view from the other side of the mountain. You want to scream? You won’t, it is beautiful!
Okay, so we come up to Boulders Beach and the home of the penguins. Sweet sweet birds; they posed for us to take pictures of them, so so cute.
And the tour had to end as we needed to get back to the Schoenstatt Conference and Retreat Centre for our gala dinner and presentation of certificates night. Oh, we thought we were tired from the tour, but some of us do not sit down when there is good danceable music in the background. We danced and danced and danced until our bones ached. Only then did we remember that our beds were calling.
And then the dreaded Day 4, when delegates started departing. Awwww, couldn’t we be together for a few more days?
It was a good Congress and there is always this feeling that makes you so grateful to God for making you a member of a family that exudes so much love – a family of Catholic media men and women.
Thank you God, for this love and your ever flowing blessings. Thank you for each and every member of the UCAP family. Thank you for Cape Town 2018 and God bless us all.