My journey to Graz began with a wonderful relaxing meeting in Vienna, in Evelyn's house. Also present were: Inge, Caroline, Gabi, Michaela, Heidi, Renate, Alison and several others - women involved in the Ecumenical Forum, in the Synod, or in the Women Theologians Association. The first contact I had with "EEA 2" was through the Women's Centre at Heilandskirche. For the whole week, the Women's Centre was the best place to meet other women and men, to listen to interesting speeches, to take part in workshops, to meditate in the Room of Silence, to eat delicious cakes baked by women from Graz and drink fresh coffee in the Women's Cafe.

The second contact was through Grazer Messe, the place where organizations presented themselves. The Ecumenical Forum had two booths, one to present itself and one for the Commission of Ecology and Bioethics. During the week thousands of people, women and men, showed their interest and wanted to learn more about the Ecumenical Forum, its programmes and activities. Within Grazer Messe - a market of organizations- many exchanges between people and organizations took place.

I will come now to the workshops and hearings that took place in the Women's Centre. The themes reflected the issues that women are interested in:

Reconciliation between Jewish and Palestinian Women; Dreams and Realities of Women from Eastern Europe; Women and Politics; Refugee Women in Transition; Living with Differences; Feminist Theology; Women and Welfare; Women and Poverty; Genetic Engineering; Reconciliation and/or Justice in Gender Relationships; Reconciliation Work in the countries of Former Yugoslavia; Ecumenical work in Romania; Violence against Women; First European Women's Synod; Empowerment of Women in All World Religions; The influence of religion (positive and negative) on people's lives; How do the Churches deal with Sexual Abuse?; How do the Churches treat women?; Chernobyl; Trade with Women; Feminist Spirituality; Global Economy and Home Economics; Discussion with Orthodox Women; Women's Ministry, Feminist Economy; Leaving the Church and the last hearing was from a Feminist Liberation Theology Perspective.

Due to the transformation from 1989, Eastern European countries were able to be represented by many delegates. From Romania many hundreds of persons came to EEA 2. A great deal of interest was shown in us not only by individuals but also by the media. As an Eastern European Orthodox woman I appreciated very much the tremendous support and the space given in the programme to the women from Eastern Europe and especially the Orthodox, in the Women's Centre.

I hope that it was obvious to everybody that we Romanian women are open to Ecumenism and Ecumenical work. All women in fact, no matter where they came from or their background, proved their oneness towards ecumenism. In the last day I heard someone who attended the last press conference saying : "Here are two parallel worlds, one of the men in the plenary Hall and one of the women's world. The discussions from the press conference were in a totally strange language"!

Maybe women sensed that the long way to a united peaceful Europe has also to pass through the colouful garden of ecumenism and that ecumenism is a way of living. Women are willing to live it. From the exchange of recipes to the exchange of profound and original ideas, no matter the differences between confessions, women are able to do this without prejudice.

I just wonder if women's voices were really heard by the hierarchies of the Churches and if they will listen. Also I wonder if, when decisions are made, those who design the decisions are really thinking of all the people.