by TogetherforEurope | Oct 30, 2017 | 2017 Friends | Vienna, Austria, News
From 9th to 11th November 2017, the Friends of Together for Europe will come together in Vienna, a bridge between Easter and Western Europe, for their annual congress.
A total of 120 participants from around 20 Eastern and Western European countries and 40 Movements are expected to attend. Their main aim will be to pool ideas on three topics:
- What culture is generated by the history of Together for Europe?
- What is our specific contribution to Europe?
- Dialogue between East and West: a mutual enrichment
This network of people embraces all of Europe from England to Russia, from Portugal to Greece. Their shared mission: through the upcoming meeting, to strengthen communion among their individual charisms and build united and multifaceted Europe, with strong social cohesion and cultural diversity.
The meeting will open, on 9th November 2017, in the Stephansdom Cathedral of Vienna, with an Ecumenical prayer for Europe. All those who wish for peace in Europe and in the world, are invited to take part in this moment of prayer.
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Helmuth Kraetzl, Catholic Church, Archpriest Vicar Ivan Petkin, Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Austria, Chorbishop Emanuel Aydin, Syrian Orthodox Church in Austria, Patriarchal Delegate Tiran Petrosyan, Armenian Apostolic Church, Patrick Curran, Archdeacon of the Eastern Archdeaconry of the Anglican Church in Europe, together with all the present will bring before God needs and opportunities of our continent. The intention of the prayer is extremely timely: unity in diversity, peace in justice.
Following personalities will address the gathering: Thomas Hennefeld, Superintendent of the Reformed Church of Austria and President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria, and Joerg Wojahn, Head of the European Commission Representation in Austria.
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Invitation TfE Vienna 2017_1
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Invitation TfE Vienna 2017_2
by TogetherforEurope | Sep 30, 2017 | 2017 Friends | Vienna, Austria, Experiences, reflections and interviews, News
Dialogue, Párbeszéd, Dialog, диалог, Dialogo, Dialóg…
A word fundamental to today’s Europe. How can we deepen our understanding of this word? We feel the need for Eastern and Western European countries to continue, or rather, to begin again getting to know each other. This is the premise for the upcoming meeting of Friends of Together for Europe in Vienna (9th -11th November 2017) which will be a ‘workshop’ on this topic.
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click to enlarge the cartoon
We have been looking for speakers on this extremely pertinent theme. Many of you no doubt would have something of value to contribute. To date we have considered including experiences from the following people:
Gennaro Lamagna A view of the Balkans by a man from Naples>
Beatriz Lauenroth Further and further East>
Tanino Minuta (to be published online in October)
Maria Bruna Romito (to be published online in October)
by TogetherforEurope | Sep 25, 2017 | Austria, News
WILLKOMMEN, BENVENUTI, WELCOME, VITAJTE, BIENVENUE…
The group „Friends of Together for Europe” will meet in Vienna.
We are looking forward to this being a great, profound, visible, inviting, serene and European event held Together.
The TfE Coordination Team in Vienna has reflected and consulted at length with the International Steering Committee in preparation for this meeting. Our focus recently has been preparations for the opening of the meeting on 9th November in St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) which will take the format of an ecumenical prayer. We have picked a location in the centre of Vienna and have invited public figures to attend. The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Schönborn has confirmed his participation while the mayor of Vienna issued an invitation to an “Agape” to follow after the liturgy.
“9th November, Stephansdom – you are coming, aren’t you?” – everyone we speak to is eagerly looking forward to the event.
Will we succeed in filling the Stephansdom Cathedral? We entrust this aspiration in the spirit of what Chiara Lubich used call: “The music sheet already written in heaven”.
Coordination Team of TfE, Vienna
Stephansdom_kl3_mdb – edw
Stephansdom_(c)_Kathbild-Rupprecht
DOWNLOAD THE INVITATION (in german): Treffen Trägerkreis Wien 2017 – Einladung zum Gebetsabend>>
by TogetherforEurope | Feb 27, 2017 | Austria, News
On Friday 27th January 2017, in the “Green Room” of the Provincial Government building of Carinthia (South Austria) an unusual event was held: a gathering to pray for the province.
The initiative came from the group Together for Europe, which has as its aim to give expression to Europe’s Christian identity. Representatives of different Churches and from different social, political and cultural spheres came together in prayer. The Outi & Lee duo provided musical accompaniment at the event.
“We hope this initiative will benefit this House”, commented Mr Reinhart Roth, President of the Provincial Government of Carinthia, while thanking organisers of the event. Local Councillor Ms Ruth Feistritzer, representing the Mayor, was also in attendance.
Together for Europe numbers more than 300 Christian Movements, Communities and Missionary Works around Europe. “We seek that which unites – among Christians and in society in general; we say Yes to Life, Family, Creation, Fair Economy, Solidarity, Peace and Responsibility”, said Manfred and Fini Wieser, Coordinators of the Together for Europe group of Carinthia.
by Koni Brand | Feb 29, 2016 | Austria, News
“Christians’ hope for Europe” is the subtitle for the evening gathering at the YMCA’s Hall of Fame, Vienna, February 11th, 2016
Introducing the evening’s welcoming address, the piano and saxophone performance conveyed an immediate sense of enthusiasm and professionalism. In her address, the host Sascha Becker (YMCA), transmitted the spirit underlying the Together for Europe events in Stuttgart in 2004 and 2007 and invited the audience to the upcoming event “Munich 2016”.
The theme of the evening was modeled on the question Jesus asked of his wavering disciples: Why are you afraid? (Matthew 8:26) Whilst the “boat of Europe” rocks amidst a storm of discouragement and resignation, the contribution offered by Together for Europe to help face the current challenges of our continent was summed up by the subtitle of the evening “Christians’ hope for Europe”. Pastor Eduard Griesfelder’s illustrated the point further in his talk entitled “Ways of Reconciliation – Round Table – Austria” which spoke of a meeting among free Churches and Communities of diverse traditions and the acknowledgment they received from the Austrian State.
The picture of a recurring failure of politics in the face of the inevitable influx of refugees was painted with openness and sincerity by Heinz K. Becker, MEP. As spokesman for matters of Security for his fraction of the European Parliament Mr. Becker acknowledged the concerns of many, whilst observing how: “Christian values such as availability and solidarity are becoming increasingly valued”.
Examples were offered of how this can translate into practice helping politics and civil society work together, by the deputy mayor as well as by an active citizen with whom she collaborates and by a refugee from Eichgraben.
At the end of the event, the stage resounded with the hopeful feedback of participants. The meeting concluded with a moment of prayer expressing the hopes and concerns of the participants as well as their gratitude for the experience of being Together.
Herwig Sturm – Coordination team of Together for Europe for Vienna and Austria
Wien_11.2.2016 Bild: Jo Hoffmann
Heinz K. Becker_Member of the European Parliament Bild: Jo Hoffmann
Heinz K. Becker mit Chiarina Marent_11.2.2016 Bild: Jo Hoffmann
by TogetherforEurope | Oct 15, 2009 | 2009 Local Events, Austria, Italy, News
Together for Europe multiplied. With the 2004 and 2007 events in Stuttgart, continental in scale, many Christian Movements and Communities all over Europe set on a journey of Together.
In 2009 in order to ‘sow’ locally national meetings were held in 12 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Hungary. The presence of a representative of another European country at each national meeting helped maintain a broader European dimension.
Each of these events were unique in character and coloured by the culture of the region as well as the Communities and Movements involved in its organisation. A shared objective was to face up with responsibility to challenges facing today’s Europe, beginning within each country’s own borders.
Several of these local events were closely followed in the national media including TV, radio and press of the individual countries. Effective testimonials of Christian life were offered for a variety of life situations: with themes ranging from the welcoming and safeguarding of life to complex issues affecting the family today, the relationship with nature, solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable, commitment to peace and to safety in cities among others.
Testimonials such as these conveyed an assurance that viable solutions to issues faced by the society today could be found in the Gospel.
See the video “10 years for Europe”
by the International Secretariat of Together for Europe
