World Peace Blessing

Buenos Aires, Argentina - El 15 de mayo UPF Argentina celebró una nueva edición del Día Internacional de la Familia (Fecha ONU), cuyo tema este año es “Integración social y solidaridad intergeneracional” en la Sede de la UPF.

Chiangmai, Thailand - Around 400 couples participated in an Interfaith Peace Blessing Festival on December 23 at Hangdong Municipality Hall in the Hangdong district of Chiangmai province in northern Thailand. This continued a series of Interfaith Peace Blessing Festivals in northeast Thailand that started with 650 couples in Khonkaen on December 1-2, followed by 550 couples in Thatum District, Surin Province on December 16.

Hat Yai City, Songkhla Province, Thailand – Terrorist insurgencies have taken place in the provinces near the southern border of Thailand since 2004, with thousands of violent incidents, hundreds of people killed, and tens of thousands of people injured. On October 7, a new image challenged the news headlines—interreligious wedding and marriage rededication of 1,100 couples with the support of the highest political, community, women, and religious leaders promoting peace and healthy families in Hat Yai and Songkhla.

Bacolod, Philippines - More than a thousand married couples assembled in Bacolod's Garden Royale for an Interfaith Peace Blessing Festival on August 26. Couples arrived excited at the opportunity to jointly renew their wedding vows.

Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines - The provincial government of Sultan Kudarat joined with UPF to co-host an Interfaith Peace Blessing Festival in southwestern Mindanao on March 31.

Cheong Pyeong, Korea - People from 54 countries filled a new stadium in Cheong Pyeong in the mountains east of Seoul for the World Peace Blessing on March 24. More than 2,500 couples participated as newlyweds and 1,100 couples joined to re-affirm their marital vows.

Next year, 2011, we are celebrating “Nepal Tourism Year.” I would like to invite you all to come to Nepal for your honeymoon.

Vienna, Austria - A World Peace Blessing Ceremony was held February 21 at the Radisson Hotel in Vienna, with prayers of marriage consecration offered from various traditions.

Remarks given by the Hon. Hamilton Green, Mayor of Georgetown, Guyana, at the World Peace Blessing held in Seoul, Korea on February 17, 2010.

A European Leadership Conference on ‘The Significance of Marriage and Family for Peace in the 21^st Century’ brought together Ambassadors for Peace from 17 nations and four major religious traditions in the World Peace Blessing held in San Marino’s national theatre.

Brochure on the World Peace Blessing
English (en), Arabic (ar), French (fr), German (de), Portuguese (pt), Russian (ru)

Cick here to read the report on the October 2009 World Peace Blessing and ILC



World Peace Blessing and Marriage Rededication

French Version | Spanish Version


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Wednesday, February 17, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM

Onsite at the KINTEX Center

Congratulatory Remarks by Hon. Hamilton Green, Mayor of Georgetown, Guyana

Building a culture of peace is the most effective way to prevent conflict, violence and poverty. The Universal Peace Federation promotes family-based peace building. A culture of peace grows out of healthy family relationships grounded in true and selfless love, mutual respect, interdependence and “living for the sake of others.” In other words, a family culture of heart is the wellspring of a culture of peace.

A pledge of fidelity. Following a calling from God to serve as True Parents of humankind, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon teach that husband and wife should love each other faithfully forever, never hurt or abuse each other, and raise their children and grandchildren to abstain from sex before marriage. In addition, they should encourage all families to lift up these ideals.

Transcending boundaries. Rev. and Mrs. Moon have traveled throughout the world affirming the sanctity of marriage and inviting people to participate in a World Peace Marriage Blessing. Participants in these joint celebrations declare their commitment to peace across all boundaries including national origin, culture, race and religion as they make the most sacred of commitment of their life: marriage and family.

In recent years, participants in the World Peace Blessings have included many international and interreligious couples who are bridging the divides of race and religion and pledging that they and their families will work towards peace.

Widespread support. This emphasis on the sanctity of marriage has received wide support. World Peace Blessings typically include invocations by leaders from Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and other world religions.

Participants make a solemn promise for the entire world to see that they will build families of peace and remain faithful to the this calling. They promise that they and their families will be Ambassadors for Peace upon whom the world, national and religious leaders can rely.

Building a culture of heart: The United Nations declared the first decade of the new millennium the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. In the midst of ongoing threats to peace and security, we need grassroots initiatives that can help build a culture of peace.

QUOTES

“The best way to receive the Holy Blessing is with someone from another race, nationality or religion. This contributes to the enormous task of transcending the barriers of race, culture, nationality, ethnicity and religion and creating one family of humankind.”

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, World Peace Tour 2006

“God told me to stand with Father and Mother Moon and I would be blessed. The most unexpected blessing came. I was reunited with my wife and the mother of our seven children! We are so happy now.”

Pastor T.L. Barrett, Family Life Church, Chicago

“Through the efforts of the Universal Peace Federation, I have come to love Jews and Christians as my brothers and sisters. We are working together to bring peace.”

Imam Haitham Bundakji, Orange County Muslim Association

Bergen aan Zee, The Netherlands - On October 25, the World Peace Blessing was celebrated at the UPF conference center, Huize Glory. A video was shown of the October 14 event in Korea.

Seoul, Korea - The Universal Peace Federation represented by several hundred Ambassadors for Peace was delighted to participate in the World Peace Blessing of 20,000 couples just concluded in Korea. It was an extraordinarily rich festival of love, friendship, and reconciliation.

Cheonan, Korea - Former President of Belarus and member of the UPF Presiding Council, H.E. Stanislav Shushkevich was among those offering congratulations to the 1,634 couples participating in the July 5 World Peace Blessing celebrated in Cheonan, Korea by Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. It was an entirely festive and happy moment, with thousands of well-wishers in attendance as the couples – some newlywed and others rededicating their unions – exchanged rings and recited vows of peace and fidelity.