Saturday, September 27, 2014

RECTORS AND LEADERS' MEET AT DON BOSCO, NEW DELHI

The meeting of the Rectors and Leaders of Don Bosco institutions in the Province of New Delhi was held at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Okhla, New Delhi on 24, 25 and 26th September.


Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, was one of the participants.

On the 26th Parappully made presentations on his experiences at the General Chapter of the Salesians of Don Bosco held at the Salesian Head Quarters in Rome in February- April this year. Parappully was the elected delegate of the New Delhi Province at the Chapter


At the New Delhi  meeting he shared his experiences of the Chapter, described the various dynamics that were part of the Chapter and presented priorities and the action plan drawn up for the next six years on a world-wide level. 

His presentations were highly appreciated.


Sunday, September 21, 2014

RETREAT FOR THE RECTORS AND LEADERS OF THE SALESIAN PROVINCE OF GUWAHATI

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, animated the annual spiritual retreat of the rectors and leaders of the Don Bosco institutions in the Salesian Province of Guwahati, Assam from 13th to 19th September. 

Parappully had done the same last year as well.

The  retreat was based on the theme of the 27th General Chapter of the Salesians held in Rome from 22nd February to 12th April this year - "Radical Following of the Gospel." Parappully was a delegate at the General Chapter.


There were 36 participants.

The  following are sentiments expressed by the participants at the conclusion of the Retreat:

"We thank God for this wonderful experience, for some of us a profound experience, a felt experience of God during these days of retreat, encountering God 'as we are'. 

A wilderness and paradise experience, confronting the demons of our lives and feeling the closeness of God, a burning bush experience, vine and branches experience.




As leaders of communities we are asked to be seekers of God, passionate pilgrims of the absolute. It was a call to shed our cultivated appearances and superficial securities.

We say, a school or college or a Parish is as good as the Principal or Parish Priest. Now, after this retreat, that a retreat is as good as the preacher. The preacher (Fr. Jose)  was excellent. He put us into the right mode, he created the atmosphere, the climate and he knew exactly what the desired objectives were for this retreat.

Fr. Jose, a Salesian who is convinced of his life, and believes in what he says, who walks the talk, who has a passion for living life to the full, who does not shy away from saying what needs to be said and says it with diction, clarity and stress wherever needed. 


Here are some impressions of the participants of the retreat:

1. Januarius Sangma: The preacher combines many essential elements for a fruitful retreat very well: well prepared reflection talks, animation at Eucharist and adoration and lots of time for personal reflection and prayer. Insistence of solitude and silence was really helpful. As leaders, the retreatants showed admirable maturity and seriousness.

2. Joe Almeida - It was thought-provoking - inviting to living GC 27 and bring about a change in our way of living salesian life.

3. Joseph Teron - This is a truly deep Salesian Retreat. So rich in input and deep in reflections!

4. Charles Sangma - In the light of GC 27, the retreat was excellent and the preacher really wonderful, who understood the minds of two Rector Majors Fr. P.Chavez and Fr. Artime.

5. Marcus Lakra - good, inspiring knowledgeable about salesian way of life and living. It was really good. Fr. P.O. Jose - excellent in delivery, makes people think - what and how a salesian should be.

7. KJ Thomas - Powerful, convincing, competent, well-prepared presentation of the radicality of salesian life, mission and governance by animation.

8. Johnson Parackal - very well prepared talks with great content, insights and reflections helped me make a good retreat and very well delivered too.



9. MC George - In his typical salesian approach, powerful messages were passed on with a smiling face and gentle persuasion. 

10. Emmanuel Marangar - Retreat was a unique one for me. The preacher excellent, well-versed with the Bible. He has a profound knowledge on the GC and Church's Teachings.

11. Abraham Kanattu- The preacher was convinced and passionate about the subjects he dealt with.

12. Milon Narjary - It was touching and evoking in the heart.



13. K.O. Augustine - It was so convincing that we get convinced.

14. Albert Tyrniang - Meticulous preparations of presentations, Mass and Adoration

15. Barnabas Mardi - Presenting the most up to date knowledge about the congregation.

16. Denis Sangma - Thought-provoking, forceful, fruitful and up to the point.



17. CA John - Excellent Job - well prepared talks on relevant topics presented with passion and conviction.

18. Stephen Mavely: You strike the right chord all the time...every time!

(Collated and presented by by John Parankimalil)


Saturday, September 13, 2014

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN THE PHILIPPINES

The director of Sumedha Centre was invited to conduct three workshops in the Philippines by the Salesians of the Southern Philippine Province.

These workshops were held at the Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Cebu City. It is a beautiful location set on hill top from where you can see the ocean in the distance.

The  first two one-day workshops were meant for perpetually professed religious, both men and women.

The third workshop  (two-days) was for the Heads of the Salesian institutions in the southern Philippines and for members of the Formation Commission of both the Salesian Provinces in the Philippines, North and South.

The topics covered during the workshops included: Psychosexual Integration and Human Maturity, Some Problematic Sexual Behaviours; Sexual Boundary Violations; Celibate Maturity; and Psychosexual Integration and Spirituality.

The Workshops were based on the two-volume book "Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity" published last year, of which Jose Parappully is the primacy editor.

The workshops were very much appreciated by the participants. A general observation expressed was these were "very enlightening and useful."

Friday, September 12, 2014

26th SUMEDHA SADHANA Participants’ Appreciation

The last two months (July 4- September 4) we had been journeying together in quest of wholeness. We started from where we were, looking at our “Now Period” of life and what is happening on life’s journey.

Fr. Jose Parappully helped us to explore the current realities of our lives and also our spirituality in the context of changing paradigms. He also helped us to explore the psychological dynamics that are affecting our spiritual life, particularly the midlife dynamics of identity, intimacy, generativity and integrity. He used various psychological theories of development to help us explore these issues.

Fr. Parappully also helped us integrate body, mind and spirit through Somatic Meditations – a combination of Yoga, Music and Dance at the dawn of the day.

We had sessions on “Trauma and Healing” by Sr. Agnes Panikulam. She helped us explore the adverse emotional effects of trauma and provided some techniques to heal from them.

The sessions on “Befriending Our Emotions” by Sr. Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam presented the meaning of emotions and emotional maturity. She helped us explore and understand some of our major positive, negative, hidden and dominant emotions through art, role play, group exercises and by sharing her personal experiences.

Through sessions on “Sexuality, Celibacy & Intimacy” Fr. Parappully helped us to understand the impact of sexuality and affectivity, particularly hetero-sexual friendship, on our celibate commitment and lifestyle.

The sessions on “Sexual Abuse and Healing” by Fr. Parappully helped us explore and understand the impact of sexual abuse and learn about various approaches to healing from them.

In “Feminist & Women’s Spiritualities” Sr. Shalini Mulackal explored the meaning and scope of Feminist spirituality and their implications for us. We also looked at the salient features of spirituality from women’s perspectives.

We had ample opportunities throughout the programme to reflect on our experiences and to share them with one another.  This helped our growth in psychospiritual integration.

We experienced further healing and transformation through Group Therapy. Fr. Parappully facilitated the process, helping us create an atmosphere of freedom and trust in the group wherein we could openly share our brokenness and work through our unresolved issues.

We concluded our Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey integrating all our wonderful experiences at Sumedha in prayer and reflection on the Word of God during our Spiritual Retreat which was also facilitated by Fr. Parappully.

Today as we celebrate the conclusion of our psychospiritual wholeness journey we thank God for the healing and transformation we have been privileged to experience at Sumedha Centre.


Sumedha Sadhana Participants

 September 4, 2014

Thursday, September 4, 2014

SUMEDHA SADHANA – A UNIQUE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL PROGRAMME

The 26th Sumedha Sadhana concluded today (4/9). 


Participants in general experienced it as a “unique” programme that wonderfully integrates psychology and spirituality.

Those participants who had attended similar programmes observed the kind of psychology-spirituality integration in Sumedha Sadhana is something that they have not experienced elsewhere.


Participants evaluated the programme as “excellent. ”Some commonly mentioned observations:

“gained much more than what I had hoped for.”

“a precious experience.”

“a journey deep into my soul.”

“experienced lot of healing.”

“a real gift from God just when I needed it.”


“every aspect of the programme helped to renew myself.”

“the whole progrmame from beginning to end was a growing experience.”

“feel more integrated within myself.”

“very competent resource persons.”

“very well-organised programme.”



“felt very much relaxed, comfortable and welcomed.”

"wonderful environment and atmosphere."

“the food and accommodation was excellent.”


Most participants found group therapy and the concluding spiritual retreat – as a desert experience of “wilderness and paradise” - most enriching segments of the programme.



Next Sumedha Sadhana commences on September 29th and concludes on November 30th.

Monday, September 1, 2014

2015 PROGRAMME SCHEDULE AND DESCRIPTION

2015 Programmes
  
1.      (SS-28) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) - (9 weeks)
March 15-May 16

2.    (SS-29) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) – (9 weeks)
June 1–August 2

3. (MP-1) Male Psyche, Masculine Spirituality: A Programme for Men (10 Days). (NEW)
August 13- 22

3.   (SS-30) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) - (9 weeks)
October 2- December 3



Sumedha Sadhana
Course Description: This is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their spiritual journey. They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality and integrate them in healthy ways to create more satisfying life patterns and make one’s ministry more fulfilling.

Course Content: Holistic, Process & Formative Spiritualities; Cosmic, Creation & Feminist Spiritualities; Religious & Community Life; Prayerfulness & Healthy Emotional Life; Midlife Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey; Identity & Vocational Commitment; Intimacy, Celibacy & Sexuality; Generativity, Stress & Burnout; Shadows & Subpersonalities; Trauma, Healing & Reconciliation; The Universe story, Jesus Story and Our Story; Core Transformation -- are some of the major topics that will be explored. Special place is given to group therapy where participants have the opportunity to face their brokenness and fears, their unhelpful patterns of living and relating and move on to healing and wholeness. The programme concludes with a spiritual retreat.


Tools & Techniques: Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, multi-media, prayer & meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey. (Age limit: 32-62 years)

Faculty
Ajoy Fernandes PhD (Personality & Spirituality). Alba Rodrigues MA (Cosmic Spirituality, Yoga). Gerard Alvarez MA (The Storied Word: Ours, Jesus’ and the Universe’s). Joe Mannath PhD (Sexuality, Celibacy & Intimacy). Jose Kuttianimattathil PhD (Core Transformation). Jose Parappully PhD (Psychological Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey, Trauma & Healing, Group Therapy, Retreat). M. Goretti Kanakarathinam MA (Group Therapy, Befriending Our Emotions). MC Abraham PhD (Group Therapy). Shalini Mulackal PhD (Feminist & Women’s Spirituality)



MALE PSYCHE, MASCULINE SPIRITUALITY (New Programme)

Course Description: Men have a distinctive way of seeing themselves and relating to persons and the world around based on the way the male psyche has evolved. This has an impact on their spirituality as well.
In this module we shall explore the uniquely male personality features and their development and impact using various developmental theories, myths and metaphors, following especially the Hero’s Journey. Masculine spirituality will be explored through the lens of Mark’s Gospel.

Faculty: Gerard Alvarez, Jose Parappully

For further information and application form, please contact:

Sumedha Centre. Jeolikote. P. O.  Nainital Dist. Uttarkhand 263127
Ph. 05942-224328. mob. +91-9410941799 (Director). +91-9450915833 (Administrator). email: sumedhacentre@gmail.com
Blog. http:/sumedhabani.blogspot.com