FR THOMAS KEATING'S VISIT 
TO SOUTH AFRICA

19th October - 6th November 2001

It was with great joy that South Africa learned that Fr. Thomas would like to visit with and encourage those who practice Centering Prayer in South Africa, and an even greater joy when after a year of preparation he actually arrived on South African soil.

He touched down in Cape Town in the early morning of Friday 19th October surprisingly fresh despite the time difference, and having spent 17 hours on a flight from Atlanta in Tourist Class, immediately after having attended the Annual General Meeting of Contemplative Outreach, Limited in the Dominican Republic.

He was taken to a beach house by the Cape Town Committee, where he stayed for the 6 days he was in Cape Town, commuting to and from his various engagements. He particularly loved being at the sea, as it reminded him of his childhood.

Since his purpose in coming to South Africa was to speak primarily to those who practiced Centering Prayer, his visit was not widely advertised except in the local Contemplative Outreach newsletters. The 250 people who attended his talk in Cape Town were totally enthralled, and his Question and Answer sessions proved almost as interesting as the talks he gave.

His 6 days spent in Durban encompassed a weekend retreat for almost 100 people, and a talk to 250 people at a local church hall. Again, his talks were inspiring and again the Question and Answer sessions evoked great interest.

Fr. Thomas next visited Gauteng (both Johannesburg and Pretoria regions fall under this province).

He gave a talk in Pretoria to 220 people whose enthusiasm inspired him to talk for almost two hours - standing and holding a hand-held microphone! - and then to spend another hour in private interviews.

In Johannesburg he spoke to 245 people at two separate venues - 135 at the one, and 110 at the other. He preached a homily on All Saints Day, (celebrated in South Africa on the Sunday nearest to 1st November), which left his listeners in awe. And then went on to give two talks and Question and Answer sessions on the same day - all received with great enthusiasm.

The talks alone would have been tiring enough, as we noticed that he gives his all when talking about Centering Prayer; but in each region he spent several hours with each committee, addressing them on the Theological Principles on which the Vision Statement is based, and taking them through a Lectio-type examination of some of the Principles, which proved most enlightening.

Besides these he was introduced to various clergy of all denominations and spent time talking to them.

In Cape Town he was given a pair of wooden hippopotami to commemorate his visit there. In Durban he was given a stole with an ethnic border, hand-made by one of the members. In Pretoria he was given an Ndebele candle. And in Johannesburg he was 'crowned' a chief with a Basuto blanket, hat and stick - which inspired him to join in the Blanket Dance which preceded his 'investiture' and was performed again after his 'crowning'. (We are very sorry - though he isn't - that we had run out of video tape by the time this took place.) Nevertheless, there are some very good photographs of the event the negatives of which we are thinking of using as blackmail to get him back here again!

All regions tried to interest him in sightseeing, all anxious to show him the beauties of South Africa, but he is a man quite obviously far more interested in people than in places. His ability to 'detach' at times when he was relaxing was an inspiration, in that he was living proof of the prayer he advocates.

We are hopeful that this will not be the only visit he makes to our country, and that we will be able to entertain him here at least once more in the years to come.