Cape Town seminarian candidates ship visit

Two seminarian candidates in Cape Town Archdiocese went ship visiting to meet seafarers, thanks to Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS). 
              AoS South Africa National Director Nicholas Barends took Samiyano, from Zambia, and Narcisse from DRC Congo, on board a tug and two fishing vessels in port on June 8. 
              The visit was arranged after Fr Gerardo Garcia, AoS Cape Town port chaplain, asked Nicholas to introduce the seminarian candidates to the maritime world. 
 
              It was the first time both men had been on ships and they enjoyed interacting with the seafarers on board; having only heard about seafarers prior to their visit.
              They saw for themselves the living and working conditions of the vessels they visited. 
              Nicholas said, “They were both happy and dismayed when they first were shown the seafarers who are generally well looked after, and then the ones from the very same countries who were treated very badly and were neglected so far away from their homes. 
              “Samiyano and Narcisse expressed their interest in working with seafarers and being of service to them should their application to the seminary be accepted,” Nicholas added.