Poland: Turning Sorrow into Joy

Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, UPF Secretary General
Warsaw, Poland
July 2, 2006

Mother Moon and Kook Jin Moon arrived in Warsaw around noon on July 2. Poland’s history as a nation dates back to about the 10th century. In 966 Christianity came to Poland through German missionaries, many of whom were martyred. Christianity grew strong in Poland. Poland’s Karol Wojtyla (1920-2005) took the name John Paul II when he became Pope. Poland also had a strong Jewish population. During World War II, Nazis killed 90 percent of its Jewish population, along with one million Catholics. Six million Poles were killed in World War II. Two and a half million were deported to Germany for forced labor. Three million Polish Jews were killed in death camps such as Auschwitz, Treblinka and Majdanek. Poland’s Solidarity movement and its strong religious commitments contributed significantly to the breakdown of the Soviet Empire. Since independence, Poland has steadily developed, joined the European Union, and has an economic growth rate among the highest of European Union nations. Poland is a close ally of the United States and United Kingdom.

Prior to the main event there was a reception for about 40 Ambassadors for Peace and distinguished guests. Dr. Yong Cheol Song, regional chair of UPF-Europe, and Dr. Thomas Walsh hosted the reception and gave brief remarks.

The main event was very well organized, and the stage was designed beautifully. The emcee was Mr. Grzegorz Galacki. The hall itself was packed; an extra room was opened up, and extra chairs brought in. The unity among organizers from Poland and Germany and among elder and younger generations contributed to the success of the event. 

Dr. Marceli Burdelski, Associate Professor at the University of Gdansk Institute of Political Science, gave the welcome remarks. He spoke about the importance of the vision and work of Father and Mother Moon and especially of the importance of the Universal Peace Federation.

Following the presentations of Kook Jin and Mother Moon and the prayer for blessing of marriage, several people offered reflections: Mr. Jan Roman Braun, President of the Polish and European Budo Sports Association; Rev. Jean-Luc Faure of the Pentecostal Church of Germany; Mr. Karl-Christian Hausmann of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Germany; and Mr. Krzysztof Gago of the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace in Poland. Each expressed what inspired them about the evening. Rev. Faure spoke of seeing a golden aura around Mother Moon.

The following morning, Mother Moon thanked the organizers for their hard work and creating such a wonderful event: "True Parents and True Family have now planted the seed in this nation. My heart has been broken to see how there is still so much discord among religions and still struggle and conflict. I know your history has so much sadness and sorrow, but it also has joy. So many people in this nation have been praying for this day. We are so fortunate to have God as our Heavenly Parent. True Parents who have established such a victorious foundation. If you share this joy, greater happiness and joy will return to you. The more you enlarge your capacity, the more people will come under your realm of Blessing."

She reflected on the warm receptions she received in India, Nepal and the Philippines and encouraged the young people to learn Korean and develop their musical abilities. After listening to songs in Polish, German and English, Mother Moon invited her son Kook Jin and his wife Ji Hye to join her in singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" in Korean.