ENHANCING INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE AT DON BOSCO.

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, facilitated a workshop on “Enhancing Institutional Excellence” for the staff of Don Bosco Sr. Secondary school, Jharmari, Punjab.

The workshop was held on June 30^th at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, situated on thee campus of Don Bosco School.

There were 37 participants.

Dr. Parappully began the workshop with a short meditation and moved on to present what Organizational research shows in regard to factors that enhance institutional excellence.

He then led the group to assess the situation at Don Bosco in the light of the research findings and to commit themselves to actions that will enhance institutional excellence at Don Bosco.

The participants found the workshop immensely useful – “informative and beneficial.”

MIDLIFE DYNAMICS & THE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL JOURNEY

 Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha centre, was invited to facilitate a seven-day workshop on “Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey” by the director of Gyan Deep Bhavan, the Pastoral Centre of the diocese of Jaipur, situated on the campus of the Bishop’s Hose in Jaipur.  

The programme was held from June 13 to 19, 2023.

There were 18 participants – 14 women and four men, including the Director of the Pastoral centre.

The programme was inaugurated by Most Rev. Oswald J. Lewis, the Bishop of Jaipur. In his inaugural address Bishop Lewis emphasised the importance of holistic development of the person, giving due attention to body, mind and spirit dimensions.

In regard to the content of the programme, Dr. Parappully explored with the participants the following: Awakening to Midlife, Midlife Dynamics such as Loss of Meaning and Purpose, Emotional Awareness of Mortality, Sense of Time Restriction, Re-Assessment of Life and its Priorities, De-Illusioning, Emergence or Re-emergence of Sexuality and Intimacy Needs, and Transformational Processes such as Increased Self-Direction, Mourning Our Losses, Integration of Sexuality, Intimacy and Celibacy,  and Atonement.

Participants in their feedback reported that they found the entire programme very relevant for their lives and that they benefitted immensely from it. Several participants gave a 10 out of 10 on the Scale of Usefulness.

Some Comments:

“It was a wonderful journey going within oneself. It has touched the core of my heart. It was such a transforming experience.”

“It was a wonderful course which enlightened me in many ways, cleared many of my doubts.”

“The programme has helped me a lot in my understanding of the journey of midlife. It has taught me how to unburden my baggages of the past and look forward to the future with energy and hope.”

Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey is also part of the “Sumedha Sadhana” Programme offered three times a year at Sumedha Centre.

For the 2024 Sumedha centre programme brochure, please contact at: sumedhacentre@gmail.com

ENHANCING LEADERSHIP SKILLS

 The “Enhancing Leadership Skills” Programme at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing concluded yesterday (11/-06/23). This short two-week programme commenced on May 27 and had five religious sisters as participants.

Jose Parappully and Philip Pinto facilitated.

This workshop explored concepts, styles, functions and challenges of effective leadership. Through

didactic input and experiential exercises, participants were helped to examine their leadership style,

evaluate their leadership potential and learn new styles and more effective ways of functioning as a leader, particularly from a Christian faith perspective.

Topics covered included the following:

 Self-Awareness

 Leadership Basics

 Theories of Leadership

 Assessment of Leadership Styles

 Being an Emotionally Mature Leader

 Transformational Leadership

 Spirituality of Leadership

 Today’s world, Today’s Church, Today’s Leader

 Jesus Today: Our Model of Leadership

 Synodality: A New Way of Governing

 The Leader as Hero and the Leader as Host

 Strengthening the Soul of Our leadership

Methodology was very experiential using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction

and Intercession.

Course requirement included reading assigned material, active participation in group work,

liturgy, and journaling.

Participants were immensely satisfied with the programme. Four of the five particpants gave a 10 out of 10 score for Usefulness of the programme. The other gave 9 out of 10.

Some comments.

·         “The programme was very well organised with lots of time for introspection.”

·         “The inputs were very good and presented very effectively, systematically, with lots of practical examples. The sharing among participants helped to deepen insights from the inputs.”

·         “The atmosphere was very friendly. Facilitators were experts on the topic.”

·         “Very relevant topics for our life as leader. I was deeply contented and happy to be part of this programme.”

·         “Stay was very comfortable. Food was very tasty. Staff very friendly. Relaxed time table.”

Our next programme is the Sumedha Sadhana- A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey from July 1 to September 18. All seats are taken.

Seats are available for the September 27 – December 15 Sumedha Sadhana. Contact; sumedhacentre@gmail.com