52nd SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES

 The 52nd Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wellbeing Journey --, the first of the year, concluded at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari (Punjab) on 3^rd May. This 12-week programme had begun on 9^th February.

There were 14 participants – 9 women and 5 men.

Sumedha Sadhana is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wellbeing. This programme is offered three times a year.

The topics in this 52d edition included: An assessment of the current state of one’s psychospiritual journey, Self-Awareness and Self-Transformation, Holistic and Process Spiritualties, Prayer and Mediation Practices, Psychological and Spiritual Dynamics at Midlife and Beyond, Psychosexual and Celibate Integration, Trauma and Healing (all facilitated by the Director of the programme Dr Jose Parappully) 

Breath work (by Thomas Kurianthanam  M.Ph) , Emotional Hygiene (by Dr Joe. Kokandathil), Challenges to Consecrated Life Today (Philip Pinto MA, BEd.), Intensive Group Therapy (Maria Goretti MA, BEd.).The programme concluded with an Integration Retreat (Dr Parappully)

Participants found the programme immensely useful for their psychospiritual journey. Ten of the 14 participants gave a 10 on 10 on a Scale of Usefulness, I gave a 9 and three gave an 8.

Some illustrative comments on the programme by the participants:

It was an enriching experience from day 1. I had come with lots of negativity. I am rejuvenated to march ahead, with clarity and purpose. A

I came to Sumedha with lot of burden and pain. Everything seemed chaotic. Emotionally I was falling apart.  Sumedha helped to put me back together, move from chaos to clarity. I feel free within. F.

Sumedha Sadhana has been more than just a programme. It has been as sacred inner pilgrimage. I am enriched emotionally and spiritually. A

My goal was self-transformation. I realized it through the various offerings and their dynamics. I became more vibrant. My horizons are expanded. L.

I came for a spiritual renewal. I achieved what I wanted. Everything helped. A bird has been released from the cage. J.

I came with lots of emotional baggage. Sumedha helped me to get rid of them. Sumedha Sadhana has been an encounter that renewed me. J.

“The whole programme – modules, facilitators, topics covered and processes followed – is excellent. Very meticulously planned and executed. I enjoyed the programme. F

If I had received what I did at Sumedha before my religious profession or priesthood, my life would have been so much more beautiful and meaningful. R.

I feel truly blesed. The programme helped me to come out of my woundedness and get healed. It has helped me to be serene, whole, and helped to increase my faith in God and to be positive in life. Sumedha will always remain a precious part of my spiritual journey.” F.

It was a journey with the heart and through the heart. Sumedha is the best place for self-exploration and self-transformation. Achieved 100% of what I wanted. Everything has been so perfectly planned. V.

I leave with enthusiasm and love in my heart. I had a God experience I never had ever in my life before. Jesus has become my Superhero! J.

Services and Facilities excellent. Food delicious. Campus very beautiful, neat and clean, eco-friendly. Building elegant. A.

Our stay was very comfortable because every detail was taken care of and meticulously planned well. Remarkable welcome and hospitality. Food was tasty. L.

 

Sumedha has given me a new perspective on life. M.

Remaining 2025 Sumedha Sadhana programmes

SS. 53: May 11 – August 02

SS. 54: September 25 - December 17

Our New Programme: Health and Happiness in the Post-Midlife Years – Aging gracefully. August 17-September 13, 2025

Registrations for all the 2025 programmes are open: Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com

See also our webpage: https://sumedhacentre.org

FIRST SUMEDHA SADHANA OF 2023 AT JHARMARI, PUNJAB, CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY

The first Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey— of 2023 at Jharmari, Punjab, concluded on May 02.  This 80-day programme had commenced on February 12.

There were 17 participants (8 religious women from 7 congregations and 9 priests from 3 congregations).

Sumedha Sadhana is designed as an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their psychospiritual journey.

They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their well-being, get in touch with their emotional and spiritual blocks and brokenness and seek healing and transformation so that they can live and minister in more joyful, satisfying and fruitful ways. and integrate the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality.

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

There were seven different modules in this Sadhana: Psychological Dynamics on the spiritual journey which included topics such as somatic meditations, self-awareness, prayerfulness, midlife dynamics, psychosexual and celibate integration which included Celibate Friendships, Sexual Abuse, Trauma and Healing. There were facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of the programmes.

Other modules were Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey (facilitated by Johny Dominic Padinjar), Yoga and Cosmic Spirituality (by Alba Rodrigues), Breath, Spirit and Wellbeing ( by K. C. Thomas Kurianthanam), Challenge in Consecrate Life Today( by Philip Pinto), Group Therapy (by Jose Parappully and Maria Goretti Kanakaratinm). The Sadhana concluded with a Spiritual Retreat facilitated by Jose Parappully.

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

 There were also time for recreation and a group picnic to Chandigarh.

At the conclusion, participates expressed immense satisfaction with the programme and felt they had benefitted from it to a very large extent:

Some comments:

The whole programme has given me the way to journey through life better.”

“This journey healed me physically, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically.”

“The programme helped me to go deeper into myself and understand myself better.”

“it gave me a new understanding of God, of prayer and religious life.”

“The retreat was a unique experience and helped me grow in my spiritual life,”

"I came here with so many masks. I gave in to the constant invitation hearing within me to open myself, to give up the masks, remove the blocks, overcome anger, reconcile with self and others -- learned to relate better with others, build healthy relationships, and I return with peace and joy, energised."

"I came here like a volcano -- anger, depression, disturbed. Now I feel relaxed, gained so much, lots of healing, physically, mentally, emotionally spiritually. No I feel like a strong mountain. I enjoy great peace."

"The programme helped me to re-direct my life."

"It helped me to be a new person. I experience a new dawn."

"The programme on the whole was well planned, nothing was lacking. Hats off to the organisers.”

"I experience warm welcome. Food and accommodation very good. I felt very much at home. Plenty of time to reflect and pray. Working together enriched our journey here."

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from July 1 to September 18, 2023. A few seats are still available. For registration contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com.

Please visit also our website: https://sumedhacentre.org  

Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jharmari is a venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Province of the Good Shepherd, New Delhi

 

 

2022 SUMEDHA SADHANA DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISE !

 

There were 3 elven- week-long “Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey” Programmes held this first year at Sumedha Centre’s new facilities at Jharmari, Punjab.

Sumedha Sadhana is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their psychospiritual journey. They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their well-being, get in touch with their emotional and spiritual blocks and brokenness and seek healing and transformation so that they can live and minister in more joyful, satisfying and fruitful ways. and integrate the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality.

Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Bioenergetics, NLP, Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts and Dance, Breathwork, Yoga, Qigong, Multi-media, Prayer & Meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture were used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey. The programme concluded with a spiritual retreat.

The rich academic programme was supplemented with weekly recollection days and recreation, picnics and outings and movies.

The first Sadhana this year (SS-43) was from March 17 to May 31. There were 18 participants (12 women and 6 men).

The second (SS-44) was from June 12 to August 27. There were 15 participants (6 women and 9 men).

The third (SS-45) was from September 11 to November 26. There were 20 participants (10 women and 10 men), including one from Australia and another from Kenya.

There were 8 different resource persons offering modules on Prayerfulness and Meditation Practices; Somatics and Qigong; Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey, Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy, Trauma and Healing (by Dr. Jose Parappully), Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey (by Dr. Johny Dominic), Feminist and Women’s Spirituality (by Dr. Shalini Mulackal), Yoga and Cosmic spirituality (by Alba Rodrigues) Breath, Spirit and Wellbeing (KC Thomas Kurianthanam and Mathew Cobb), Challenges of Consecrated Life Today (Philip Pinto), Group Therapy (Dr. Edison Fernandes, Dr. Johny Dominic, Dr. Jose Parappully), Spiritual Retreat (Dr. Jose Parappully)

Feedback from participants show that they were immensely satisfied with the programme. They said what  the programme promised had been achieved and they had gained much more than they had expected. They were also very happy with the campus, the renovated building and facilities’ offered.

Some comments:

SS-43

“The programme offers a sort of complete BODY, MIND and SPIRIT wholeness journey. It offers enough and more tools for self-discovery and for reorienting one’s priestly/religious life. I found the modules/presentation and the facilitators relevant, attractive and up-to-date.”

“I am healed of my sadness and various emotional wounds. Also I got clear picture of who I am. These were the goals I had set.”

“I loved the campus very much—the vast area within and outside the campus for a walk, to spend quiet moments alone with the nature or for reflection, to relax and enjoy in small group, to play and so on. According to me it is an ideal place for a programme of this kind.”

“It was a wonderful blessing time for me. Really helped me to be a new person—in thoughts, attitudes, life patterns.”

“Welcome, Hospitality, were highly remarkable.”

“Excellent in general.”

SS-44

 “The whole experience at Sumedha Sadhana has been enriching and life giving for me. It has helped me change my outlook and attitude in life.”

“The programme helped me to go deep within and become aware of myself. It helped to get in touch with my physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual self.”

Sumedha challenged me to take a new look at my values, It widene3d my world to new horizons. Feel very blessed.”

“Sumedha Sadhana was a landmark, watershed moment. Served as a catalyst to rekindle my original love.”

Sumedha rejuvenated my body, spirit and soul. I have grown in compassion and love, become more free and joyful.”

“I came with lot of baggage. Learned to let go. I experience great freedom.”

“Sumedha was a resurrection experience!”

“Every module was a jewel. A wonderful inner journey. Brought me peace of mind and heart.”

 "I came with a lot of turmoil, in despair. I leave with leave with peace of mind having experienced profound healing.”

"All the modules were very relevant to our life. The module facilitators were very clear in delivering the topic, and helped us to go deeper into ourselves.”

“The programme as a whole has made me a more integrated person spiritually, psychologically and emotionally. I was able to release most of the negative energies that were affecting my life. My outlook on the world has become more positive and wider and surely I have grown in my spiritual life. I feel more vigour and energised.”

“The modules were well planned, there was connection from one module to another. The facilitators were excellent. They knew their subject well and delivered it creatively and innovatively.”

 SS-45.

“The whole experience at Sumedha has truly been a ‘Kairos’ period for me… It has been a Healing-Renewing-Transforming experience for me.”

“The whole programme was very enriching. I gained lots from this programme. I received lot of physical and emotional healing. I experienced freedom within.”

“Sumedha was a lighthouse for me. It provided direction.”

“I came here burnt out. Received what Sumedha promised: Healing and wholeness.”

“I feel rejuvenated, recharged, and renewed by the wisdom gained from the different modules.”

“Sumedha was a life changing experience for me. It was an inner journey of exploration. Many things in me have been turned upside down. Discovered what needs to be healed, let go.”

“I came here burnt out. I go back re-energised. I found gain meaning in my life that had disappeared.”

“I witnessed miracles. Impossible things happened”.

“The facilitators did an excellent job!”

“All the module offered were well synchronised to lead to psychospiritual wholeness in a very effective way. All the facilitators were competent and experts in their area. The whole programme was well organised and executed. Every aspect of our life was well taken care of. There was very homely atmosphere. The whole campus, services and facilities are conducive for the programme of this kind. I felt very much welcomed and cared for.”

 “Sumedha Centre is very comfortable and homely. Accommodation was very spacious, good rooms, toilets, comfortable bed, and more than this could not be expected. Food was very nutritious, well prepared with balanced spices. There was good variety in Non-veg and Veg dishes. The best catering I enjoyed so far among all the many centres I have attended. The Sumedha campus and the area around is very good, clean, green, spacious, fresh air, so much enjoyable. Lot of space for walks and the nature is so beautiful around.”

 

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from February 12 to May 02, 2023.  Please contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com for application forms and brochure.