A Unification Saint is Laid to Rest
The SeongHwa (ascension) of Rev. Reiner Vincenz, held at the Wyndham Garden Schaumburg Chicago Northwest Hotel in Schaumburg, IL on Saturday, January 24th 2015, was a joyful and victorious celebration of a life well lived in the service of God and True Parents. Almost 300 members from the Chicago Family Church were joined by Unificationist leaders from around the United States and the world who had come to pay their respects to one of the great saints of our early church. The ceremony was broadcasted live throughout the world. Over 8,000 people attended this ceremony via internet.
True Mother personally bestowed the special grace of an International-level Seonghwa ceremony upon Reiner, who received the Marriage Blessing in 1969 at the 43 Couples’ Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony. He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter and son-in-law Leena and Jario Vincenz-Gavin, and granddaughter Mirelle.
Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, North America Continental Chair, told the congregation in his Seonghwa message that True Mother had been meditating and praying for Reiner and his family in recent days, remembering him as a courageous missionary in France and later as one of True Parents’ most trusted international leaders. In addition to the special ascension calligraphy, “A Victorious Son returns to the Heavenly Palace,” True Mother also sent their daughter, Leena, a pearl necklace made from three pearls found in a single oyster True Mother handpicked in Hawaii as a special gift of encouragement.
“The Seonghwa ceremony is a time for joy and appreciation, not sorrow,” said USA Family Federation president Dr. Michael Balcomb, who served as the Officiator. “True Father taught us that we all go through three stages of life: 40 weeks in the womb, surrounded by water; 100 years or so on earth, breathing air, and then an eternity breathing love in our true home, the spiritual realm in the presence of our Heavenly Parent. So let us honor and encourage Reiner with our happy memories.”
After joining the Unification Church in 1964, Reiner, who later served in Germany, Britain, Japan, Korea and the United States, volunteered to be a missionary in France. There, he persevered for three years before finding his first spiritual child and convert, the late Henri Blanchard who was later to serve as president of the French church for many years. Together they planted seven churches and raised 100 new Unificationists in France before being called by True Parents to work in the United States. True Mother sees him not only as a faithful individual, but also as a representative of many sacrificial and dedicated people, especially European Unificationists, who took on life-threatening, underground missions in communist countries in the early days. Slide shows and historical materials from Rev. Vincenz’s personal archives chronicling his life, were on display for all to view. This was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to understand and inherit his life of faith and his love for our True Parents and Unification families worldwide.
“Rev. Vincenz was the truly spiritual father of our nation, every bit as important to us as Joan of Arc,” said Mr. Patrick Martin-Prével, who came from Paris with Mrs. Hilde Blanchard. “We owe him everything, and we are deeply grateful.” Mrs. Genie Kagawa of UPF International who was herself the fourth person to join the Unification Church in France, vividly remembered Reiner’s spiritual advice: “Be humble, serve and sacrifice so you can make Satan, who can do none of those things, so uncomfortable that he has to leave!”
Dr. Dieter Schmidt, from Germany, offered the Invocation and read a message from European Continental Chair, Rev. Paul Ahn. Rev. Franco Famularo of Canada, who served with Reiner in Germany and England, offered some personal recollections of Reiner’s years at the helm of the German movement and as one of the leaders of the 1978-1980 European evangelical crusade to Great Britain.
Mr. Farley Jones, a former Unification Church President in America, and current member of the Supreme Council of the United States, read a moving message of congratulations from Dr. Bo Hi Pak, who led the IOWC (International One World Crusade) working closely with Reiner in Japan and Korea, culminating with the Yoido Island rally of 1.2million people in 1975. “True Parents really trusted Reiner, especially in times of crisis,” said Dr. Pak in his letter. “True Father told me: If there is a difficult task or mission to be done, I’ll give it to Reiner Vincenz. He will do it. He is such a loyal, faithful, and hard-working man. He always brings one victory after another.”
The Vincenz family asked Rev. Phillip Schanker, who served for many years as director of the both the Blessed Family and Education ministries for FFPWPU USA, to share a contemporary testimony, wanting the community to know something about the very real trials of the final years of Reiner’s life as he wrestled with Parkinson’s disease. “Today Reiner is released from the prison of his rebellious body,” said Schanker, who supported and counselled the family, “but he is also freed from the spiritual challenges of doubt and regret we all must face. He always felt that he hadn’t done enough to serve God and True Parents, and almost to the end, held onto the dream of buying a Winnebago mobile home so he could go on one last missionary tour with his family to save America. It was only in this last year that he was able to come to peace with the realization that his true legacy lives on through his family, his children, and the hundreds and even thousands of men and women that he helped bring to True Parents.”
Following the SeongHwa ceremony, the WonJeon (burial) service was held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington, a Northwest suburb of Chicago. To the great but unspoken relief of the congregation, the weather was unusually mild for January, where temperatures can often fall twenty degrees below zero. “We are celebrating the completely victorious life of a true son of True Parents,” said Dr. Michael Jenkins in his Wonjeon address. “As Reiner goes to work with True Father in heaven, let us all promise to ‘March On’ to complete the work ahead of us.”
After cheers of “Og Mansei” led by Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, all Reiner’s family and friends gathered for a joyful reception at a nearby restaurant where further testimonies were shared, including messages from the British Church President, Rev. Jack Corley, close family friend Linda Nagai, and several of those who had worked with Reiner on the IOWC.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” said Pastors Jario and Leena Vincenz-Gavin on behalf of all the family. “You helped us create an atmosphere that was bright and uplifting, and we all felt Reiner’s spirit very close and clear. We are again grateful to True Parents for their love, grace and blessing upon us all.”
Brenda (Lawrensen) Miller
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We are grateful that we all could be a part of the seung hwa through the transmission. Thank you.
There are many fond memories of working under the direction of Rev. and Mrs. Vincenz, including the 8 city tour in America in 1974 and the 1st Global Team in 1975. Rev. Vincenz has absolute faith, love and obedience to True Parents and is totally determined to accomplish the will of heaven. Thank you for leading us with this example, and for being a person that True Parents totally trust. Your spirit lives on in each of us.
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Ibrahim Tabbara
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I knew Rev. Reinhard Vincent in person, I was honored. May his glorious spirit continue the good work side by side with true Father supported by all divinely filled true children of true parents. As for the brothers and sisters on Earth, please keep on spreading the good news true Father brought to the light.
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Reinhild
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Dear family Vincenz
In the name of our family Paul and Reinhild Frank with their children Pierre Jacques, Jacqueline, Victoria and Marierose and our grandchild Jamila we congratulate our brother Reiner to his very successfull life on earth. May he be well received and find his proper place in Heaven with our True Father and True Children, and brothers and sisters, who already entered there. Dear Barbara, pleace be in peace and embraced by us with your family he left behind.
I want to extend this congratulation also in the name of the Womens Federation for World Peace (Federation des Femmes pour la Paix Mondiale) as representative in Luxembourg.
May God bless everybody in the establishment of the CIG on earth and in Heaven.
With love beyond the globe, Reinhild Frank (118 Couple European Blessing)
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Janine Hougron Waldmann
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My words are far not enough to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to You Rev.Reiner and Mrs Vincenz! I owe my life to you. Indeed you have saved it a couple of times. I will never forget it. I was just a new born baby 3 weeks old when you called me to go in Sept.1973 to join the team in the USA. I have been with you in the entire IOWC and later on you asked me to work with you in Germany . So many intold stories!…..I am eternally gratefull. My prayers and love are with you till we meet again in the eternal world.
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manzi santus
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thank you true parents,thank you true mother for such worm loving heart.its a blessing for,Rev vincenz life,front-lining with true parents,always winning with a loving heart.i didnt meet you personaly,but your deeds will always justify your faithfull life.love you so much!
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roberto turconi
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Thank you Masako for your beautiful testimony ! I watched the Seonghwa cerimony, it was very beautiful and moving ! I was lucky to have met Rev.
Vincenz when I was with the IOWC in Munich, Germany and then in England, he was really a heavenly soldier with incredible faith and loyalty to God and True Parents ! I am sure He and True Father will do many miracles in the spirit world !!!
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Masako Phillips
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When I was working as a member of the One World Crusade in England, he was our wonderful leader for German families. His heart was so big to embrace all members and listened carefully to even small voices. When we came back from 40 days pioneer mission with no result, he still appreciated for everybody’s hard work. He has worried so much for us. He said he is glad that nobody left church, everybody safely returned. When he told us that each member at least bring 3 guests to the event he was speaking in Oxford, I was really determined to fulfill the goal and when I have accomplished I was really happy. He taught us so many things. For members he was a good father and a good brother, to God and to True Parents he showed Absolute Love, Absolute Faith, Absolute Obedience. It was blessing to work with him.
I thank God for his precious life.
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Joerg Ruwwe
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Hi, dear Masako-san, very nice to hear from you! How are you? Do you remember me? Georg asked me that time, to be the MC for that evening. In the end Reiner said to me that my introduction was a bit too long. I have been always falling short and I think he did not like me so much. Anyhow, now I suffer from Parkinson too and I wander how my damm life will end.
Thank you dear Masako of your help and kindness to me in that difficult Homechurch mission in Oxford. Take care of yourself, with many greetings, Joerg.
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Margaret
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Dear Joerg,
We have all fallen short and so have many of the great central figures of history. But we can continue to make good conditions and do our best. Joerg, you worked hard and lived an exciting life, making great effort to support True Parents. Look back with pride and gratitude. ….and keep “marching on!”
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Bengt de Paulis
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Enjoy listening to Reiners own Testimony (from late 1970s)
http://www.euro-tongil.org/swedish/english/audio/
4 audio files:
French_beginnings_ReinerVincenz.mp3
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Chantal-Marie
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Thank you so much for this link, Bengt!
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Gary Fleischman
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Thank you, Reiner, for your incredible life. I am grateful I could be a part of it, even in a small way, and could know you. Thank you, True Mother, for honoring Reiner with such a beautiful sendoff and with your gift of the pearl necklace. Thank you, Vincenz family, for this beautiful occasion and for allowing us all to be a part of it. Reiner, we will march on with you.
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Randy & Kumiko Francis
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Thank You, Vincenz family, for letting us share in Reiner’s beautiful homegoing accession. The encouraging words of “Marching On” continue to give us hope of a bright and victorious future. True Parents are so proud of all of you. With love, from Maryland.
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Bento Leal
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Thank you for this beautiful report. Rev. Vincenz is a Unification hero, a towering example of faith and determination. He is now free to continue his mission in and from the spiritual world. Thank you, brother Reiner Vincenz! Og Monsei!
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Mary Hida
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I left a message this morning, but don’t see it. Just wondering.
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