A VERY FRUITFUL “PSYCHOSIRITUAL WELLBEING IN THE POST-MIDLIFE YEARS” PROGRAMME AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

 The 2^nd “Psychospiritual Wellbeing in the post Midlife years” Programme at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, concluded on the 5^th June. This four-week residential programme commenced on the 9^th May, 2026

There were 7 participants – 6 men and 1 woman (from Brazil).

The programme was based on the book “Psychospiritual Dynamics at Midlife and Beyond: Pathways to Health and Happiness in the Second Half of Life” authored by Dr Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre. 

The programme content included:

·         An Assessment of the current state of one’s psychospiritual journey

• Self-Awareness and Self-Transformation
• Somatic Meditation
• Holistic and Process Spiritualties
• Awakening to Post-Midlife
• Psychospiritual Dynamics During Post-Midlife years.
• Post-Midlife Journeying  Inward and Outward
• Emotional Awareness of Mortality
• Awareness of Time Limitation
• Assessment of Life and Priorities
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• Post-Midlife Transformational Processes
• De-Illusioning
• Mourning Losses
• Atonement
• A Re-Look at  Sexuality, Intimacy and Celibacy
• Enhancing Interiority
• Attaining Integrity/Wholeness
• Spiritualties for the Post-Midlife Years.

Methodology was very experiential, using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction and Intercession. This was supplemented by Expressive Arts and Dance, Bioenergetics, Yoga, Qigong and creative liturgies.

Course requirement included reading assigned material and writing Journals and time spent in introspection and integration and active participation in group work and sharing of responsibilities.

Life at Sumedha included celebrations and visits to tourist spots and famous town nearby and a full-day group picnic to Chandigarh.

The participants found the programme immensely beneficial and life at Sumedha very satisfying. Some feedback observations:

·         “It was truly a journey inward and journey outward. It helped me get in touch with myself and plan for the future. I feel more connected with myself now and more energetic. I got help to improve my relationships. It was a wonderful programme. Well thought-out and well executed. I received more than I expected.” R. 53 years

·         “It was helpful to integrate my psychological, emotional, spiritual and relational life. It was helpful to develop appropriate intimacy, empathy, listening skills and healthy boundaries. It helped me look honestly at my life journey. It assisted me to accept my past without regrets, live in the present with gratitude, and face the future with hope” J. 56 years

·         “Sumedha is a powerhouse for body, mind and spirit. The programme led me into the core of my being. It touched me deeply. It has opened up some of the dormant or stagnant areas of my life. It has helped me to get rid of some resentment, doubt, fear, rather helped how to deal with these. It has helped me to turn “crisis” into “Kairos.” It has helped me to deal with declining health and strength and stress.” G. 62 Years

·         “I was really surprised that the programme offered me what I was genuinely longing for. It led to an overhauling of my rigid values and convictions, particularly my perfectionism which were destructive to my happiness and my relationships.” J. 65 years.

·         “Sumedha caused a thorough churning within me – backward and forward. I was amazed at the selection of topics. Just at appropriate depth each topic was covered. The process was just right. It was engaging. The facilitator was awesome. Kindness, acceptance, availability was the hallmark of the Centre. What I carry with me as a result is real joy.” J. 68 years

·         “The programme has brought me healing and wellbeing. It really helped me to look into myself and make an evaluation of my life and prepare myself to grow old gracefully. It helped me let go of my rigid values and expectations and accept people as they are. The input sessions were deep.” A. 69 years.

·         “It was providential I came to Sumedha. The programme helped me to reflect on the emotional awareness of mortality and the brevity of time available. It opened my eyes to a broader and deeper understanding of realities and paradoxes of life and their implications for future life. It helped me understand the nuances of various psychological dynamics of and the scope for gaining gracefully.” J. 73 years.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH: WORKSHOP FOR HYDERABAD SALESIANS

Dr Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, Punjab, was invited to do a Workshop on Growing Toward Psychosexual and Celibate Integration.

The works are in three batches. The first Workshop was from 6 to 8 August 2025.  There were 26 participants.

The second was held on 1-3 December 2025. There were 28 participants. The third workshop is scheduled for 3-5 February 2026.

The content of these interactive Workshops included: Requisites for Psychosexual and Celibate Integration; Sexual Re-Awakening at Midlife; Understanding Sex, Sexuality and intimacy; Problematic Sexual Behaviours (Sexual Boundary Violations, Online Pornography); Celibacy and Chastity; Friendship as a Pathway Toward rowing in Psychosexual and Celibate Maturity. The process included Input, Introspection and Interaction in micro and macro groups. The presentations were enriched with the use of Media (Music and Videos.)

Participants in both the completed Workshops were immensely satisfied with the Workshop, finding the contents extremely relevant and useful at this perio0d in their lives. Most parti9icipants were he 40’s.

First Workshop

In the first Workshop five participants gave a 10 out of 10 on usefulness of the workshop, seven gave and six gave an 8.

Some typical feedback comments from the First Workshop participants:

·         “These three days’ workshop helped me to be aware of my life and relationships and to make the necessary changes in my life.”

·         “It gave me a comprehensive idea of sexuality. Topics on Intimacy, Pornography, and the Purpose of Celibate Chastity were most useful for me.”

·         “It was a good opportunity to look back at my sexuality and the vow of chastity and come to terms with myself, my past and see the beautiful possibilities ahead that can emerge from now.”

·         “It has shaken and broadened my understanding of sex, sexuality and intimacy.”

·         “The topics on “Online Pornography” and “Celibate Friendships” were very enriching and beneficial.”

·         “The topics covered in this Workshop were all very useful and important to me. It has given me lot of knowledge about my psycho-sexual life and how to integrate it into my celibate life. The sessions and group discussions have given me lot of clarity about my boundaries.”

 

Second Workshop

Four of the participants of the second Workshop gave 10 out of 10 on Usefulness. Ten gave a 9; Nine gave an 8.

 

Some typical feedback observations:

·         “The workshop was refreshing, challenging. “

·         “I greatly appreciate the clear and thought provoking presentation.”

·         “The workshop has had a tremendous on my life.”

·         “The content was very good and informative. The process was comfortable, helpful for reflections and self-analysis.”

·         “The content on Online Pornography especially was very useful for me. The process or methodology was very useful to learn, to remember, to focus.”

·         “It gave me clarity about concepts like Intimacy, Celibacy, Chastity. It explained how one need to handle himself as a Celibate.”

·         The programme was well planned, made maximum use of available time. Most useful was Requisites and Helps for Mature Celibate Friendship.” The content offered in this 3-day workshop will be explored in greater details during the 12-Week Sumedha Sadhana Fe 07-May 01, 2026 at Sumedha Centre Jharmari. Registration is open. contact: sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

 

49th SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES AT SUMEDHA CENTRE, JHARMARI

The 49^th Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey concluded at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, Punjab on 4^th May. This 12-week programme had commenced on February 11^th.

Sumedha Sadhana is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wellbeing.

Insights from faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development as well as experiential tools and techniques from Bioenergetics, NLP, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, Multi-Media, Qigong, Breathwork, Prayer and Meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual wellbeing.

There were 13 participants – 4 men and 9 women from 10 different religious congregations and one diocese in this edition of the Sumedha Sadhana.

The various modules were facilitated by Alex Clement, Edison Fernandes, Johny Padinjar, Jose Parappully, Philip Pinto and Thomas Kurianthanam.

Besides the academic programme there was time each weekend for integration of the week’s experiences, as well as for relaxation in group through picnics and visits to famous tourist locations.

There were two special events during the programme. One was the celebration of the Sumedha Foundation Day on 19^th March, the Feast of St. Joseph who is the Patron Saint of Sumedha Centre. Most Rev. Ignatius Mascarenhas, Bishop of Simla-Chandigarh Diocese was the main celebrant on the occasion.

We also had Br. Kurias Cyriac SDB, a great friend of Sumedha Centre and who had helped to renovate the building to make it suitable for conducting the Sumedha programmes, as chief guest on the occasion.

The second was the visit of the Extraordinary Visitor to the Salesian Province of New Delhi, Rev. Fr. Biju Michael, a member of the General Council of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Rome. He met the participants and interacted with them.

The participants were immensely happy with their entire Sumedha exprience. Five of them gave a perfect 10 out of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 on Usefulness of the Programme. Four gave 9, three gave 8 and one gave 7.

Some typical comments;

“The programme helped me personally to open up myself. I was able to let go of many things, forgive many people who have hurt me, accept situations, and move on with my life. I feel I am healed of many things, especially emotional wounds. As I go back, I want to begin a new life, looking at things in new ways with the insights I received here. I am leaving this place with a light heart and full of happiness.”

 “I am fortunate to attend this programme. It has changed my perspective about my life and it gave me new life. It gave me opportunity to look back at where I am and challenged me to live a better life. I could work with my hurts and emotional imbalances and discover the root cause for it. This programme has changed me a lot.”

“When I entered Sumedha there was lot of questions in my mind, my heart was heavy, full of confusion, no clarity etc… But at the end now all my questions are answered. I feel light hearted, and have clarity into my life.”

“I am so delighted that I am enlightened and awakened, to be a better version of myself – to be fully human with a compassionate heart. I am grateful.”

“I came to Sumedha at a time when I was searching for greater understanding of myself. At the end of the programme, I feel my objective has been realized.”

“I was at breaking point when I arrived at Sumedha. This was where I needed to be at this time in my life. I experienced healing of body, soul and spirit.”

“Sumedha enabled me to accept my past and my present and learn to see God in the bits and pieces of my life’s journey.”

“This is the place where I was purified, renewed and felt that I needed to follow Jesus more passionately.”

Living together with fellow Sumedhans has been a very enriching experience of community life.”

“Welcome and hospitality was excellent. Felt very much at home.”

“Sumedha provided the best for our stay here.”

The 50^th edition of Sumedha Sadhana is from June 23 to September 14, 2024. Registration is open. A few seats are available for this programme. Please contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com.

Please go to our updated web-page for more information: https://sumedhacentre.org  

 

A LONG AWAITED DAY - BLESSING OF FOUNDATIONS OF NEW SUMEDHA CENTRE

Today, 19^th March 2017, was a long awaited day- An important milestone toward realization of a big dream!

On this feast day of St. Joseph, the Patron of Sumedha Centre, we held the Ground Breaking Ceremony and Blessing of the Foundation Stone for the new Sumedha Centre buildings.

The Ceremonies began with the Holy Eucharist at 10.30 am.  His Lordship, Most Reverend Dr. Ignatius D’Souza, Bishop of Bareilly, presided. He was joined by Most Rev. Antony Fernandes, Bishop Emeritus of Bareilly, Rev. Fr. Jose Mathew Koorappallil, the Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco, New Delhi, Fr. Charles Lobo, former Salesian Provincial of Delhi, Fr. Harry D’Cunha, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Bareilly, Fr. Julian Pinto, the Episcopal Vicar for development in Uttarakhand and former Vicar General, Fr. John Kuzhikottayil, Salesian provincial Economer of Delhi, Fr. Arnold OFM, Cap, four priest participants of the ongoing Sumedha Sadhana, and Fr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre.

Fr. Parappully introduced all the celebrants at the Mass and welcomed them and all the congregation. There were about 30 invited guests, mostly religious nuns from the diocese, besides the 15 participants of the Sumedha Sadhana in the Congregation.

In reflecting on the Word of God for the 3^rd Sunday of Lent, Bishop Ignatius D’Souza focused on the metaphor of water and how Jesus entered into a very intimate conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, leading her to reveal her very personal and private life and thus open herself to healing and transformation.

This is a work that Sumedha Centre is engaged in, Bishop Ignatius said. Sumedha participants are encouraged to face up honestly to their inner world, disclose them in their interactions with one another and in the process open themselves to the transforming grace of God.

The participants of the ongoing Sumedha Sadhana had organized the liturgy very beautifully, including a well-choreographed and executed liturgical dance at the Offertory.

At the conclusion of the Eucharist all  to the site where new buildings for Sumedha Centre will be constructed proceeded reciting the holy Rosary, led by Bishop Ignatius. Fr. Parappully carried the Foundations Stone, which had been offered at the altar during the Eucharist to the building site.

The Ground Breaking Ceremony and the Blessings of the Foundation Stone began with Prayer Service led by Bishop Ignatius. He was assisted by Fr. Jose Mathew, Fr. Charles Lobo, Fr. Harry D’Cunha, Fr. Julian Pinto, and Fr. Jose Parappully. These had climbed several meters up the hill to the site where ground would be broken and the Foundation Stone placed. They were joined at the site by Shri Ram Dutt Chaniyal, the Gram Pradhan of Jeolikote, and local police chief.

Fr. Parappully read aloud the “Time Capsule” which would be embedded in the Foundation Stone. 

Bishop Ignatius then blessed the building site and the Foundation Stone and he along with Provincial Fr. Jose Mathew initiated the construction work, breaking ground by shoveling some mud and creating space to place the Foundation Stone.

The Ceremony ended with blessing imparted by Bishop Ignatius on all those gathered at the site.

A festive lunch concluded the day’s celebrations.

This was indeed a long awaited day. Since Sumedha Centre started functioning at Jeolikote on 19^th March 2009, from the Pastoral Centre belonging to the diocese of Bareilly, the Salesians had been wanting to have their own buildings for Sumedha Centre. A big step toward realization of that dream was taken today.

Sumedha Facilitates Rectors and Leaders’ Meet

Sumedha Centre was invited to facilitate the annual Rectors and Leaders’ Meeting at the Salesian Provincial House, New Delhi on 7-9, September 2016. There were 29 participants.

Johnny Dominic, the Assistant Director of Sumedha Centre facilitated sessions on “Spiritual Accompaniment.” He provided an understanding of spiritual accompaniment” emphasising especially the mystical dimension of spirituality. He also explained the recent document from the Councillor General for Formation on “Personal Accompaniment of Salesians.”

Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, presented the revised “Periodic Assessment of Salesians in Formation (PASIF). Parappully had been involved in the construction, testing and revision of this evaluation instrument from its inception. He described the evolution of the PASIF, explained how it is to be administered and scored and conducted a practice session.

There were also sessions by other Resource Persons. K. C. John, the Economer of the Province presented a letter from the Economer General on the spirituality of stewardship. He also presented the financial status of the Province.

A. M. Jose, Director of Don Bosco Tech, presented the activities of the Organization and the possibilities that are opening up for collaboration with the government and corporates in the area of skills development.

There were report from the chairpersons of the various Provincial Commissions an also an Open Session led by the Provincial, Jose Mathew, where the participants had the opportunities to discuss various issues related to the Province.

The three day meeting ended with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Priestly Ordination of two members of the Province – Hilarius Kullu and James Pazhayajpallil and that of the Religious Profession of two – Thankachan Kollapallil and Mukul Kujur.

Thank You, Sumedha!

Dear Sumedha,

Each companion of mine and I came over here with our own inner story of struggle and pain, and slowly, we began to realize that we hold our destiny in our own hands. The one thing needed was for us to open our palms and let go of our past self and feel the new energies in our souls wanting to burst out in freedom.

Sumedha Sadhana, the psycho-spiritual course renewed our body, mind and spirit and gently evoked in us desire to enter deep down into our own well and centre in it in order to move toward greater healing and wholeness.

We began by looking at ourselves and all that was happening on our spiritual journey. We gradually moved on to explore our inner struggles and strove hard to achieve healing and holistic integration.

All the modules of this course, the Eucharist, Adoration, reflection times, sharing, recreation, meals, and evening walks with our companions were holistic helps on our psycho-spiritual wholeness journey.

The early morning somatic meditation, dance, and Qigong let our old spirits out of ourselves into freedom and the new energies rejuvenated us with greater well-being and wholeness.

Sumedha Sadhana is indeed a holistic programme with well-planned modules aiming toward helping those seeking healing, wholeness and fullness of life to achieve them.

Terrific of the Salesians of Don Bosco to set up the Sumedha venture to provide these wonderful services for wounded seekers like us.

We pray with uplifted hearts and hands to Almighty God that the dream of a new Sumedha Centre, with land and buildings of its own, become a reality soon, so that this beautiful venture can continue and develop further.  

Thank You, Sumedha!

Flavia Fernandes, RJM

(On Behalf of Sumedha Sadhana Participants. June-August 2016)