True Family Award Banquet 2007
Austria-Vienna, December 2, 2007
Hotel Marriott
In the afternoon of Sunday, 2nd of December, more than 220 guests gathered
at the Hotel Marriott in Vienna in order to participate in the second “True
Family Award Banquet” , organized by the peace organisations of the
Unification Movement of Austria, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), the
Family Federation for World Peace and the Women’s Federation for World Peace.
Christmas carols and spirituals, presented by the “Vienna Peace Choir”
prepared the atmosphere for the first speaker, Mrs. Marie-Therese Kiriaky.
Her topic: “Oriental Christmas”. As the President of the Arabic Women of
Vienna and the Vice President of the Oriental Christians of Vienna she was
most authentic to give insight in the life of the Christians of the Middle
East.
Dr. Park presents the True Family Award
The presentation of the second speaker, Dr. Wolfgang Czerny, picked up the
topic on purity before marriage as preparation for a stable family life. Dr.
Czerny’s initiative “Pure Love Alliance” offers a chance for young people to
join this idea.
In her speech, Mag. Caroline Klade, owner of the “Communications’ Academy”
and professor at the University in Krems, made us all reflect on our way of
communicating with our spouse or children.
The next speaker, Mag. Herbert Wolf, explained about “Family ethics in the
Far East”, pointing out the importance of the parent-child relationship,
filial piety and respect for the elder in Confucian ethics. He pointed out
that these are values which need to be
revitalized in today’s western society.
Rev. Peter Zöhrer introduced the guest speaker of the evening, the Rev. Dr. Joong Hyun Pak, president of UPF- Central Europe. As the initiator of the “True Family Award Banquet”- project in Austria, Switzerland and Italy, he explained and summarized the idea behind, stating that “ Tonight, we are promoting a marriage culture, where marriage is encouraged, supported and expected, where marriage means strength and perpetuity. Marriage and family are in crises today, and we want to guarantee that it is not the institution of marriage that is blamed and finally sacrificed, but the failed application that needs adjustment.”
Rev. Peter Zöhrer
After his speech “The four realms of love” Rev. Pak and his wife, as well as
Rev. Zöhrer and his wife presented the “True Family Award”- plaque to 10
exemplary families. The MC introduced each one of them, explaining why they
had been chosen for the award. The highlight of the evening was when these
families gathered on the stage, some with their beautiful children. Their
lively example of practising true family values was a great inspiration for
everybody in the room.
Among the awardies were families from various cultural and religious
backgrounds, ie. from the Coptic Church, the Allevians, the Syrian- Orthodox
Church, the Islamic Community as well as Catholic families. Some of them
have 8 and 10 children on their own and still find time and energy to invest
themselves for people outside their family. One lady, mother of 10 children,
said: “One important lesson our children have learned is: not everything you
do for others can be paid for with money!”
After the Award-Ceremony dinner was served and there was time for sharing
among the guests. The program ended with Christmas-songs by the “Vienna
Peace Choir”, which was greatly appreciated by the audience.
The Vienna Peace Choir
As we left, we could see the purpose of the evening fulfilled:
“Tonight we are strengthening our network of marriage and family culture and
we feel great joy in being able to honor those who have worked so hard for
it. “Family” is the cornerstone of an ethical and moral society and is the
most natural way for each family member to fulfill their greatest potential
and joy in life.”
(excerpt of Rev. Pak’s address)
Elisabeth