Get out of your own four walls, take care of yourself, share experiences in an appreciative community, hear new things, reflect and finally take action. What started in 1973 in the first seminars, for which young mothers in the Archdiocese of Vienna came together at the time, has developed into a parish project that is unique in Austria: since then, thousands of women of all ages have taken part in events organized by the ANIMA educational initiative in their parishes. Twice a year, they choose a specific topic for their meetings under the leadership of a volunteer seminar leader. The catalog covers a wide range of personal development, aspects of faith as well as art and culture. Greater attention is paid to society and sustainability. The goals of ANIMA are: to sharpen one’s own perception, to recognize options for action in order to courageously face the challenges.
“ANIMA is about the fact that we as women are not alone with our worries and hopes, but can make a difference in this world as a community – each of us!” says ANIMA director Birgit Rümmele and adds. “Women are active in their families, at their workplaces and also as Christians in their parishes.” Openness and tolerance are essential building blocks for good cooperation, which is why people of different religious denominations also meet in the seminars. Last year more than 1000 women came together in 150 events.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn congratulates on the anniversary
“As Christians, we have the mandate to work in our environment and in society. In order for us to meet the challenges of our time with hope, confidence and solutions, we need knowledge and understanding of the connections. ANIMA – the educational initiative for women – makes an important contribution to this. Only when I know what carries me and what it’s about can I be reflected and stable. I warmly congratulate ANIMA on its 50th anniversary and wish everyone who is involved in the educational initiative lots of energy.”
Voucher for seminar
All women with an active church contribution account will receive a voucher for €65 when their child is born. Free childcare is offered for all seminars.
“Each ANIMA seminar is a piece of the mosaic in my life”
Petra Nürnberger, 53, came to ANIMA in the parish of Perchtoldsdorf more than 20 years ago with a trial voucher after the birth of her children.
“The addition to the existing group was phenomenal. I was given a very warm welcome and had no docking difficulties whatsoever. That wasn’t natural for me at all. I’ve stayed with ANIMA to this day and look forward to the weekly meetings. The fact is that I really like the women there! Where else do I have the opportunity to take part in such a colourful, mixed-age group? I sense a real wealth of wisdom in this group. I see that for many women, life isn’t just straight and smooth either. That gives me a certainty that it will always go on.”
Festive service in St. Stephen’s Cathedral
A highlight of the anniversary year will be the festival service on Friday, September 22, 2023 with cathedral priest Toni Faber.
Everyone who feels connected to ANIMA is invited.
Thank you to the volunteer facilitators
“For 50 years, “ANIMA Education Initiative for Women” has made an important contribution to the broad spectrum of adult education offered by the Archdiocese of Vienna. The range of topics covered by ANIMA is as diverse as life itself. Religion, theology, personality development, pedagogy, art, culture, literature and many other topics are carried out in mostly 8-part seminars by expert speakers and volunteer seminar facilitators in the parishes of the Archdiocese of Vienna. The speakers and, above all, the seminar leaders on site deserve special thanks in the anniversary year. With their high-quality work, they have guaranteed the success of ANIMA for 50 years, supported by the ANIMA director at Stephansplatz. I wish ANIMA continued success, a lot of creativity in the conception of the seminar offer and many interested participants!” says Hubert Petrasch, head of the adult education department.
All information about ANIMA
