Family – School of Love
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Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) – Lower Austria held a joint public meeting with Family Forum Austria to introduce the theme “Family – School of Love” in Krems on the Danube on Friday 23rd June 2006. Twenty-one people came to Hotel Klingelhuber in the Danube University City of Krems to hear the presentations by Josef Gundacker from the Family Forum and Gaby Zoehrer from the Family Federation for World Peace. |
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There were 6 guests including Pater Severin, a Roman Catholic priest who is an Ambassador of Peace. After the presentations Pater Severin said this is our daily bread. Two ladies from an Interreligious meeting also attended and commitments were made for further cooperation. One lady came as a result of the newspaper notice and one couple came on the invitation of their neighbours, Franz and Rita Streibl, at the Koch Candle Factory in Gfoehl. |
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Three WFWP UN Representatives came to support from Vienna: Dr Maria Riehl, the honorary president of WFWP Austria, Renate Amesbauer President and Irmgard Maentler. The second generation was also represented by four young students, who attended with their parents. |
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Lilly Gundacker, local WPWP representative introduced the activities and goals of WFWP mentioning a few of the activities which have already taken place, including the recent international weekend seminar in Melk over Pentecost. |
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Josef Gundacker made a PowerPoint presentation about the Family as the school of love based on the IEF teaching materials. The presentation was very well received and suited the Interreligious audience who were attracted to the topic. The statement that: “love is a force not a feeling” stimulated questions by one of the participants. The concept that “falling in love” needs to be replaced with a recognition that love needs to be worked at, was an important statement made. The next personal question directed at the organising couple, Josef and Lilly immediately awoke a vivid interest on the part of all participants.
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Mrs Gaby Zoehrer, the wife of Peter Zoehrer, President of the Family Federation for World Peace, who inspired Josef Gundacker to establish the Family Forum in 2004, presented “The Five Principles of Peace and the Role of Peace Ambassadors” introducing the religious and Interreligious dimension, including the works and vision of Rev and Mrs Sun Myung Moon. |
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Despite very hot weather, everyone stayed till late and there was friendly discussion with drinks and snacks afterwards. |
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WFWP Lower Austria is a small informal group and enjoys local monthly meetings on a friendly basis including herbal walks, candle decorating, calligraphy, Christmas wreath making, slide shows about New Zealand and Australia and coffee and discussion meetings, as well as supporting various projects including collection of school bags for girls in Morocco in 1999, collecting clothes and goods for Albania in 2003 and 2004, and a monetary donation for the earth quake victims in Pakistan in 2005. |
© 2006 Lilly Gundacker lilly.austria@flashbox.at www.herzundhand.at
Last updated: June 25th 2006