38th Sumedha Sadhana

The 38th Sumedha Sadhana commenced on June 1, 2018. There are 13 participants including 2 from Thailand, and 1 each from Malaysia and Srilanka.

This programme will conclude on August 2.

Our next two progammes are:

Mini Sumedha Sadhana: August 6 - September 4.

39th Sumedha Sadhana. October 1 - December 2.

Seats are available for both.

MINI SUMEDHA SADHANA RECEIVES ACCOLADES!

The four week (August 6-September 3) Mini Sumedha Sadhana concluded yesterday. All participants expressed immense satisfaction with the entire programme – planning, organization, content, and execution.

All participants observed that the programme had met all their expectations, and even more. Seven of the 10 participants gave a perfect 10 on the Usefulness scale. One gave 9, two others gave 8 and 7.

The modules were facilitated by Dr. Johny Dominic Padinjar SDB, PhD (Psychological Dynamics), Dr. Jose Parappully SDB, PhD (Spirituality; Meditation; Sexuality, Intimacy & Celibacy), Dr. Varghese Kalluvachel SDB, PhD (Consecrated Life).

Some common observations from participants were these: 

The programme is of excellent quality; it has brought about some real changes in the participants; the module facilitators were all excellent; it was an experience of real community living; liturgies were creative and meaningful; the environment and ambiance wonderful and conducive; there was great freedom – no restricting do’s and don’ts; the food was excellent.

Some quotes from participants:

“I have attended many renewal programmes. This was the best of all.” BM

“I gained lots of new insights. Wonderful ambient. Community spirit was fantastic. I had a good time.” RK

“I came with so much emptiness in me. Those spaces have been filled. So many new perspectives and so much self-awareness gained. I feel I have been healed in many areas of my life. A new self is being born.” SR

“I gained in awareness of self and of God. I felt very much at home. I feel renewed.” VM

“I came to Sumedha full of darkness within.  I have found light. Been able to let go of lots of things burdening me. I enjoyed my stay here. Enjoyed the food and the surroundings. Great family spirit.” N

“I came very distracted, anxious. Very soon I became relaxed. Each class gave me realization of who I am, how I am doing, especially of my dysfunctional behaviours and the need to change.” BE

“Programme helped to let go off many things. It was an experience of liberation.”  TB

“The programme helped me take a good look at myself. Lots of personal time for reflection and prayer. Discovered what I need to change. I go back with a rich experience. Food was excellent.” KM

“I really enjoyed the homely atmosphere. Every one very open minded. Well-conducted sessions.” ED.

“The programme was for me an audit of my life – how I am, how I need to be. Every topic was interesting, relevant and useful. Wonderful ambient and atmosphere. Enjoyed every bit of the programme.  Food was delicious.” LR

The next Sumedha Sadhana (9 weeks) is from October 1 to December 2. A couple of seats available. Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com

33rd SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES – VERY SUCCESSFULLY!

The 9-week (September 28-November 29) Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey” concluded yesterday, every participant expressing immense satisfaction with the programme.

Eight of the 13 who provided feedback gave a perfect 10 on usefulness of the programme. Four gave a score of 9 and one 8.

The spiritual retreat that concluded the programme was the one that was found most satisfying by most of the participants.

Some comments from the participants.

“The programme has been a beautiful blend of different psychological and spiritual modules, interspersed with somatic elements which has been a healthy diet – for reflection, learning, growth and deepening at various different levels.

I have appreciated the creativity of prayer and the very enriching and meaningful liturgies we have celebrated.

The unique and dynamic retreat has been the crowning glory of the programme after group therapy.

Very well planned – attention to the body, mind, heart and head aspects on this journey.”

“All the topics, modules were well-planned, organized. The progression of the topics led us to move from where we are to our inner depths, especially in knowing oneself, the real self. The movies, liturgy, meditation and exercises were all helpful, leading to in-depth knowledge of oneself and others. The Group therapy and Retreat were the culminating point.”

“I discovered myself at Sumedha. I had come carrying a lot of unnecessary emotional baggage. I was able to unload them. I have undergone a change of heart. I now look at myself and the world differently. I feel a sense of freedom now.”

“It has been a rare privilege being at Sumedha. I came here with heavy burden – anxiety, fear, sadness. Sumedha Sadhana gave me courage and confidence. This was a journey toward reconciliation and peace.”

“Each session touched a different aspect of my life. Time at Sumedha was one of grace, something very special. The retreat was a very powerful experience - Deep and unique experience of God.”

“It was a time to grow in many ways.”

“I strongly feel that what I had come here for, has been largely realized.”

“I would like to congratulate all the facilitators of the different modules. All were experts in their field and each module was well presented. I am very happy about the whole programme.”

 “I felt welcomed here. I felt a family atmosphere. Accommodation and all the facilities were very good. There was a lot of care and concern toward each one of us. I was free to ask anything…. Food was very tasty.”

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from March 13 to May 14, 2017. Registration is open. Please contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

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)

32nd Sumedha Sadhana Gets Near Perfect Score!

The 32^nd edition of the nine-week-long Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey (June 1- August 2 2016, concluded yesterday to the great satisfaction of all.

Seven of the 10 participants gave the programme gave 10 out of 10 (including two 10+) in terms of usefulness of the programme and meeting their expectations. There were two 9s and one 8.

A common theme running through the feedback from participants is that they have been healed and transformed in ways they never expected. They go back very different persons than who they were when they arrived at Sumedha Centre. They got more than what they had hoped for.

A few typical comments:

“The course satisfied my desires and compassionately accompanied me to journey inward, reconcile with my past, love myself, adopt a healthy spirituality, befriend my shadows, be more open to close relationships. I came to know Jesus of Nazareth and fell in love with him once again. The personal consultations gave me courage to open myself and I experienced freedom. My desire and the goal which I set on the first day of the programme were fully realized. Very Holistic Course.”

“My goal has been realized 100 %. The course was well organized in every minute detail.”

"I came here disillusioned, shattered, wounded, frustrated, full of regrets, wanting to leave religious life. I was able to face my inner demons, experience healing. I go back renewed, recommitting my life to God and a burning desire to be the compassionate face of God to all who cross my path.”

“Every day was a profound inner journey – a mirror held up to me, to see myself more clearly. I have become a totally new person, hopeful of living my religious life meaningfully. Sumedha has been a unique experience, something I never experienced before and one I think is available nowhere else.”

“All the inputs of modules were very profound and enriching. First time I have received such a nice and spiritual course.”

“After a long time I made a very meaningful spiritual retreat.”

"Hospitality, accommodation, food, services, climate were all excellent. The supporting staff had a pleasant smile for me. I truly felt at home. The place was amazing.”

Thanks to the four facilitators of this edition of Sumedha Sadhana: Joe Mannath PhD (Psychosexual and Celibate Integration); Johny Dominic PhD (Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey); Jose Parappully PhD (Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey, Holistic and Process Spiritualities, Spritual Retreat);  Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam MA (Group Therapy); and to the Administrators: Anand Tirkey and Justin Lakra.

The  33rd Sumedha Sadhana is from September 28 to November 29, 2016. Registration is open. Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

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 SADHANA - COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS.

The 9- week Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey - concluded, as reported earlier on this page, on December 3, 2015. It had commenced on October 2, with 20 participants from several religious congregations and one diocese.

Comments from participants affirm that the programme has had a healing and transformative effect on each of them, confirming that Sumedha  Centre truly lives up to its USP: “Healing and Transformation.”

The core of the comments is that each of the participants had arrived at the Centre with a good deal of negativity and pain affecting their lives and they were going back as very different persons.

Some typical comments:

                        

                                  

Participants' comments

“The programme was systematically organized, one module leading seamlessly into another. I am fully satisfied. My goals have been more than met. There is a very good blend of psychology and spirituality here. And a great family spirit.” S.

“From the very beginning the programme was spot on. The organization couldn’t be better. The content so very rich. Journeying together as a family was the highlight. The atmosphere created was so conducive. The programme is top-class!”  T.

“It was a “Wow! Experience all the way – from the first to the last. The entire programme, the environment, is so beautiful, so enriching. The acceptance and love from everyone was amazing!” F.

“I came with a lot of baggage, clouds of darkness, feeling I was on the road to perdition, with lots of addictions. Each class enlightened and enriched me, helped me take a good look at myself and accept myself and look to future with hope. I feel so much alive. Being together, sharing together has been most helpful.” M.

“The entire programme was well planned, organized and executed. It was very professional in every way. The retreat really helped to integrate the entire experience.” T.

“I had resigned to my supposed fate, believing my life would forever be a vale of pain and suffering. Sumedha changed all that, gave me a new lease of life. Everything is a sweet memory.” s.

“I was focused on work and success, had no time to look at myself. I came here very unhappy. Change started with the very first session. Sumedha challenged me. I wanted to go back, it was too painful to face myself. But then I stayed and decided to face it… I go back healed, energized and deeply touched by God.”  R.

“I came here so confused, my inner self in turmoil. I had lost all interest in my ministry…. Confusion is gone now. I have a clear goal. I experience real freedom.” V.

"I go back having collected lots of fruits from the this programme. I had never let others see the girl who was crying inside But here I opened the door to others to see me as I am. My life has changed so much." L.

I came with lots of worry, tension, confusion, nervousness, non-acceptance of mission given. I go back enriched, strengthened to face the future…” M.

“Sumedha has truly been a journey into the well of my life. I recognized my house was in disorder … discovered the reasons for the same and feel very liberated. I have been able to let go of many things.” F.

“Sumedha experience marks the beginning of a 2^nd journey for me. I had come here very hurt and broken. I go back with lots of joy, with a determination to make my life a celebration. Sumedha is truly a wonderful programme.” T

“I received more than what I was looking for. “ R.

“I came here feeling “useless.” There was no joy in whatever I did. I felt I was frozen. Here I discovered the defense mechanisms that were stopping me from being real. Group therapy helped me to discover myself and forgive myself, evoking a new sense of self. The retreat gave me an experience of God’s unconditional love for me.” C.

“ I have gathered so many treasures from Sumedha. I was a dead person when I arrived. I came weighed down by lethargy, loss of enthusiasm, my heart hard as a stone. From the very first Eucharist the stone began to melt. I learned to accept and love myself, enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Therapy took me deeper and deeper into myself and helped heal so much woundedness.” J.

“I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the Sumedha programme. It was a real eye opener for me. I learned a lot from each class. Process spirituality has transformed my whole outlook on life. Liturgies were so meaningful. The retreat was the culmination. I thoroughly enjoyed the food, and the accommodation. I go back a different person.” J.

30th SUMEDHA SADHANA

The 30^th Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospritual Wholeness Journey – commenced on October 2 with 20 participants – the highest number ever. The previous highest number was 19. Of these 14 are women and 6 are men (four priests and two religious brothers, including a Salesian brother).

The foundational module, facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre was “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey.” This module used insights from psychology, especially developmental theories, to help participants to examine their understanding of and way of living their spiritual journey.

Gerard Alvarez, a Christian Brother and Trainer, currently residing at St. Joseph’s College, Nainital, used stories of Jesus (especially as narrated in the Gospel of Mark) and the emerging Universe Story to help participants to look at their own stories.

This week the participants explore “Feminist and Women’s Spirituality” This module is facilitated by Presentation Sister Shalini, Professor at Vidyajyoti College of Theology, New Delhi.

Recreation common, birthday celebrations and picnics are also part of the Sumedha journey along with the serious work of self-exploration and self-transformation.

Remaining Modules: Core Spirituality by Jose Mathew Kuttianimatathil PhD; Unconscious Dynamics & Psycho-Spiritual Maturity by Johny Dominic PhD; Group Therapy by Johny Dominic PhD, Jose Parappully PhD and MC Abraham PhD; and Spiritual Retreat by Jose Parappully PhD.

This 9-week programme concludes on December 3.