SUMEDHA OUTREACH TO THAILAND – 6

The 6^th Outreach programme that Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre facilitated in Thailand this year was a module on “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey” from 3^rd to 12^th March.

This 10-day module was part of a one-month Sabbatical Programme held at the Redeptorist Institute for Spirituality at Minburi, organized by the Association of Major Superiors of Men and Women Religious of Thailand and Laos.

The Institute of Spirituality is located on the sprawling campus of the Ruamrudee International School, run the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer. The provincial House of the Congregation in Thailand is also located on the school campus. Close by there is also the Church of the Holy Redeemer, a very popular place for Christian worship.

There are some very upscale housing complexes close by around a huge lake.

There were 24 participants – 22 women and 2 men- doing the Sabbatical programme. Their age ranged from late thirties to the sixties and seventies.

Topics covered during the Module included: Midlife and Post-Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual journey, Psychosexual and Celibate Integration at Midlife and Beyond, Celibate Friendship and Holistic-Ecological Spirituality.

Participants were very appreciative of the programme and found the immensely useful, many of the giving a 10 out of 10 on Degree of Usefulness.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH TO THAILAND – 3

The third programme that Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, facilitated in Thailand this year was a Spiritual Retreat organized by the Congregation of the  Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bangkok. Thirteen Sisters of the Sacred Heart attended. They were joined by three Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres.

The Retreat was held between the 22^nd 28^th of February at the Hadharuthai Retreat House at Hua Hin, owned and operated by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. It is a beautiful facility on the ocean beach, providing a very conducing atmosphere for prayer and reflection (and good sea- food!).

Keeping in mind the Year of Consecrated Life, the theme of the Retreat was “Consecrated Life: A Journey into the Desert.”

Topics covered included: Retreat as a Desert Journey; Call to Renewal of Love and Devotion; Consecrated Life; Community: Journeying Together; Forgiveness, Reconciliation & Healing, and Jesus of Nazareth – Sacrament of the Father.

The Day of Forgiveness and Reconciliation concluded with a Healing Service.

Each day began with the Eucharist during which the theme of the day was introduced. This theme was further elaborated during the talk in the morning.

Participants spent the rest of the day in personal prayer around the word of God. Participants were given specific passages from Sacred Scripture in keeping with the theme of the day to reflect on and pray with.

At the end of the day participants had opportunity to bring all their experiences before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during an hour of prayer together.

Many of the participants found the Retreat very useful and meaningful. For many of them this was a different kind of retreat than the ones they were used to.

What they appreciated most was the time to be alone with God in quiet meditation on the Word of God and personal prayer.

Some said this was the best retreat they had ever made.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH TO THAILAND - 1

The Director of Sumedha Centre conducted a 7-day Spiritual Retreat for the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (SIHM) of Thailand.

The retreat was held between 3 and 9 January 2016 at the Mother House of the Congregation at Hua Hin. There were 29 participants, including the Superior General, Asst. Superior General and members of the General Council.

The theme of the Retreat was "Religious Life as a Desert Journey." Topics dealt with included: Call of the Desert: Renewal of Initial Love and Devotion; Religious Life: A Journey to God; Community: Journeying Together; Wounding and Healing: Forgiveness & Reconciliation; God: Unconditionally Loving Father; Jesus of Nazareth:Compassionate on of a Compassionate Father; and, Mary of Nazareth: Mother & Disciple.

Currently, the Director of Sumedha Centre is facilitating a one-month "Psycho-Spiritual Integration" programme for 30 Sisters at Sisters Centre, a National On-Going Formation Centre of Religious Women of Thailand and Laos, at Sam Phran, about 35 km from Bangkok.

RENEWING CONSECRATED LIFE: JOURNEYING TOGETHER TOWARD FULLNESS OF LIFE

Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate a one-month renewal programme at Sisters Centre at Samphran, Thailand. This is the national training Centre for religious sisters run by the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Thailand and Laos.

Currently the Centre is managed by Sister Pornthip of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bangkok and Sister Wantana of the Congregation of Infant Jesus. Sr. Wantana was a participant of the Sumedha Sadhana programme at Jeolikote a couple of years ago.

The programme was held from January 18 to February 18 and was titled “Renewing Consecrated Life: Journeying Toward Fullness of Life.”

There were 26 sisters from seven different religious congregations, working in Thailand and Cambodia. A few of them were preparing for their Final Vows; a few others for the Silver jubilee of their religious profession. The rest were interested in their own personal and spiritual renewal.

Topics covered included: Spirituality; Prayerfulness; Midlife Dynamics; Psychosexual and Celibate Integration; and Religious Life. The programme culminated in a Spiritual Retreat on the theme of Wilderness and Paradise.

At the end of the programme we had a very enjoyable picnic to Ratchaburi, which included a lunch out on the sea, visit to the Cathedral and the famous seaside shrine of St. Anne.

Participants found the programme very useful and were grateful that they had the opportunity to attend it. They observed that the programme really helped them to better understand themselves and their religious consecration and to renew their commitment to, and enthusiasm and passion of for their religious life and ministry.

Jose will be doing the same programme at the Sisters Centre next year too.

FEAST OF ST JOHN BOSCO AT SUMEDHA

The feast of St. John Bosco on Jan 31 was celebrated with added splendor this year, being the bicentenary year of his birth.

Johnny Bosco was born on the 15^th of August 1815 in the hamlet of Becchi, northern Italy. His parents were Francisco and Margaret. His father died when little Johnny was two years old.

Despite great poverty and many difficulties in the family Johnny grew up to be a great priest and saint, founder of two of the largest religious congregations in  the Church – the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and inspired the foundation of several other congregations, belonging to the vast Salesian Family.

The celebrations at Sumedha had been meticulously planned and organized by Fr. George Malayil, the Administrator with the help of the parish priest Fr. Johnny, the sisters from the two next-door convents, the parish council and the girls from St. Anthony’s hostel.

The day turned out to be bright & beautiful. Holy Mass started at 10.30 am and got over at 12. There were 10 priests (diocesan and religious)  to concelebrate with the newly consecrated Bishop of Bareilly, Most Rev Ignatius D’Souza.

It was a privilege to have Bishop Ignatius honouring the celebrations with his presence and presiding at the Eucharist. He gave an inspiring homily on Don Bosco about his love for young people and their love for him.

There were about 40 Sisters, several members of the parish and choir girls from St. Anthony’s convent school.

After the Mass a delicious cake was cut and a sumptuous lunch followed. Our cook Punita Kujur and & her culinary team did a fantastic job preparing the delicious meal.

Fr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha, was away in Thailand facilitating a one-month programme on “Renewing Consecrated Life: Journeying TogetherToward Wholeness.”

He joined the celebration of Don Bosco’s feast at the Salesian Novitiate (Ricaldone) at Samphran. There was a solemn Holy Eucharist in the evening, followed by dinner. There were about 300 people – priests, religious, candidates to religious life and mostly lay people.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN THAILAND

Since Sumedha Centre is closed in winter, we are able to avail our services outside the Centre during those months.

In January Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre was invited to facilitate two programmes in Thailand.

The first was at the “Sisters Centre” at Sampran, some two hours journey by road from Bangkok. This programme “Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey” was organised by the Conference of the Major Religious Superiors of Women of Thailand and Laos. Thirty nine women religious from seven different congregations attended.

After presenting the dynamics and transformational processes of midlife Parappully focused more on different aspects psychosexual integration and celibate maturity. The topic that was found to be most helpful was “Celibate Friendship.”

Parappully was assisted by Sr. Ruangkanjana Chinnapha who, although called to translate from English to Thai, was able to explain things in her own inimitable and exciting style, which made it so much easier for the sisters, many of whom were not very fluent in English to better grasp the ideas presented. I am very grateful to Sr Ruang for her presence and help.

The second programme was held at “Baan Phu Waan” Pastoral training Centre of the Archdiocese of Bangkok in Bangkok . The facilities and services at Baan Phu Waan are at par with that of a five star hotel!

The programme there entitled “ Healing from the Effects of Sexual Abuse” was originally meant for the formators of two women’s congregations – Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Sacred Heart Sisters of Bangkok. Sisters from these Congregations had earlier attended programmes at Sumedha Centre. The programme was eventually extended to others as well.  There were all together 36 participants – 6 priests, one lay man, and 29 religious women, including some Mother Generals, representing 14 congregations and the Archdiocese of Bangkok.

Participants of both programmes found them extremely relevant and useful for their personal and professional growth and well-being. Participants of both programmes received Certificates of Participation.

Parappully had also the opportunity do some sightseeing and experience the culture of Thailand. He was also very happy to have met a few of the sisters who had participated earlier in programmes at Sumedha Centre – Sr. Subha, Pornthip, Nurjara, Panarat, Chavala, and Waraporn and visit their communities. They send their good wishes to their fellow participants in Sumedha programmes.