WINTER BREAK - And Getaways.

Sumedha Centre does not usually hold programs from early December to mid-March, as the place is rather cold.

During this period the Director the Centre is usually engaged in Outreach Programmes, responding to the invitations he receives from various institutes.

In January he did two programmes outside the country, one in Myanmar and the other in Thailand. The Myanmar programme was for priests and religious of the Yangon diocese. The Thailand programme was for the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Bangkok. Reports on these two programmes will be found in later posts at this blog.

Something very satisfying were the opportunities that came to the Director as he was elected a Delegate of the New Delhi Salesian province to the General Chapter of the Congregation held in Rome from February 22^nd to April 12. 

As part of the Chapter programme, he was able to visit Turin where the Salesian Congregation had its beginnings, Becchi the birthplace of Don Bosco, the cities of Naples and Florence and a pilgrimage to Assisi.

Most importantly he was able to meet Pope Francis during the private audience granted to the members of the General Chapter.

On his way back he was also able to visit the USA and pick up some further psychotherapeutic skills as well as meet his professors and friends.

There will be later posts that will give more detailed accounts of these experiences.

Now it is time to get ready for the next Sumedha Sadhana that begins on May 22. We are glad to report that we have a house-full this time and the registration is closed.

We have two other Sumedha Sadhana programmes this year, beginning July and September, both for nine weeks. Registrations are open for both.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH AT BAREILLY

Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, was invited to facilitate a workshop on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” for the priests of the diocese of  Bareilly, UP,  on 11^th December.

Almost all the priests of the diocese and the bishop, a total of about 70, participated. Parappully introduced the workshop observing that reflection and research on failure of catholic priests in recent years in regard to living their celibate commitment faithfully had concluded that the Catholic church had done a very poor job in preparing its priests to live a life of chaste celibacy.

The Salesians of Don Bosco have tried to address this lacuna by publishing a two volume book “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity: A Handbook for Religious and Priestly Formation” (which got sold out in 10 months!) of which Parappully is the primary editor. He would present a section of that book at the workshop.

Parappully focused on “Sexual Boundary Violations” and presented data on Dual Relationships, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Abuse - both Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Abuse and their implications.

At the end of the Workshop, Fr. Royal Anthony, who spoke on behalf of the participants said that the workshop had come at a very opportune time, had helped them to reflect on these very important issues and realize the need to address the issues in helpful ways. The workshop, he said, had been facilitated in an excellent way.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH AT DON BOSCO UNIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

Director of Sumedha Centre, Dr. Jose Parappully, was invited to conduct two workshops recently, one at Assam Don Bosco University and the other at Don Bosco Management Institute, both at Guwahati.

Both workshops were on “Personal Growth.”  The one at Don Bosco University (November 27-29) was for students of the Counselling programme and of Educational Management programme. It focused on “Growing Toward Emotional and Interpersonal Maturity.”

The one at the Don Bosco Management Institute (December 2-3) was for the second year MBA students. It focused on “Emotional and Interpersonal Management.”

Both workshops had the following topics with some variations: Self-Awareness, Emotional Maturity, Enhancing Interpersonal Relationships, Assertive Communication and Behaviour and Conflict Resolution.

A four-fold process of Input, Introspection, Interaction and Interiorization was followed to explore these topics and use the insights gained to grow in personal and interpersonal maturity.

Both groups found the workshop immensely useful for their present and future.

The following comments represent typical reaction from the participants:

“This workshop has helped me to think of aspects of my life that I never thought of before. I have learned to see myself in a new light and have started appreciating myself a lot more. I have developed a stronger self-image and a wider perspective on life in general. I really feel there was a lot of change in me and my outlook towards life”

24th SUMEDHA SADHANA

Here is an introduction to the Sumedha Sadhana programme which commenced on September 25th and will conclude on November 23.

Sumedha Sadhana is a programme of inner journeying together in quest of greater healing and wholeness, so that we can live our lives in more fulfilling and satisfying ways and be more effective in our service to others. A variety of approaches and techniques are used to reach these objectives.

We begin from where we are, looking at what is happening in our lives at this point on our psycho-spiritual journey. We try to discern what God might be telling us through all that is happening in our lives. Jose Parappully will help us explore these current realities, as also spirituality in the context of changing paradigms.

Drawing from ancient wisdom traditions and evolving spiritual practises, Alba Rodrigues offers us tools ancient and new, to awaken the deep wisdom lying dormant within us and reconnect with the capacities of our body, mind and spirit and experientially deepen and expand our spirituality in alignment with the evolving cosmos.

A major portion of the programme is devoted to the exploration of the psychological dynamics operating in our lives at this current juncture of our spiritual journey. We look at the quintessential midlife dynamics of identity (who we are), intimacy (the role of affectivity and sexuality in our lives) generativity (how we work and nurture future generations), and integrity (how we make sense of the whole of our life). Jose Parappully will use insights from various psychological theories of development, particularly Eriksonian, Attachment, and Self Psychology as well as tools and techniques from Psychosynthesis, Expressive Arts and Jungian psychology to help us explore these issues.

Working from a Jungian perspective Ajoy Fernandes will help us explore especially our identity and understand our personality type and its implications for our spiritual journey, and help us move toward greater personal integration by exploring and owning our persona, shadow and animus/anima.

Sexuality has a profound impact on personality development as well as our spiritual journey. Often our sexuality has been wounded by wrong attitudes and negative life experiences. Joe Mannath will help us explore and understand human sexuality and affectivity and their healthy integration within our celibate lifestyle, our spirituality and our ministry. Jose Parappully will explore the effects of sexual abuse and suggest healing remedies.

Healing and transformation is further deepened in group therapy. In the atmosphere of freedom, caring and trust that the group offers, we are provided an opportunity to face our brokenness and our fears, our defences and our unhelpful patterns of living and relating, and to move toward greater healing and wholeness by adopting and practising healthier attitudes and behaviours. MC Abraham and Jose Parappully will facilitate this process.

We conclude our psycho-spiritual journey by seeking further healing, renewal, reconciliation and integration within ourselves and discerning God’s designs for us as we prepare to move back into our routine lives through a Spiritual Retreat. Jose Parappully will serve as guide on this journey.

This programme provides theoretical input as well as opportunities for us to reflect on our experiences and to share them with one another and for personal and common prayer. It is hoped that through this four-fold dynamics of Input, Introspection, Interaction, and Intercession we gain a deeper feel for the psychological dynamics operating on our spiritual journey and integrate these to develop a healthier self so that we can experience greater serenity, wholeness and fruitfulness as we continue our journey into the Mystery that we know and experience as our Triune God.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN SEPTEMBER

Sumedha Centre did two Outreach Programmes in September enabling many more to benefit from the Sumedha Centre’s expertise.

The first was a Psychospiritual Retreat for the Rectors, Parish priests and Leaders of Communities of the Salesian Province of Guwahati. Fr. VM Thomas, the Provincial who had earlier attended a spiritual retreat facilitated by the Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, wanted the leaders of his Province to have a similar experience.

The retreat was held at the Salesian Provincial House, Guwahati between 8 and 13 September. The retreat was presented and experienced as a “desert journey” – as “wilderness” and “paradise” (Mark, 1, 13). 

The last two days focused on the role of the Salesian Rector/Leader of Community as a “Centre of Unity” and as “Animator of Community.”

Ample time was provided for the retreatants to experience God through Sacred Scripture

The retreatants were very appreciative of their retreat experience. One veteran missionary observed: “In my 62 years of Salesian religious life, this was a most unique experience.” Another simply said, “After several years, I made a really good retreat,” a sentiment shared by others.

  

The second was a Seminar on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” held at Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore on 23 and 24 September for the staff and students of the philosophy and theology departments of the college and for the students and staff of Viswadeep Institute for advanced theological and catechetical studies. There were about 300 participants.

This seminar also was facilitated by Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre. Parappully is the primary editor of the best selling two volume book bearing the same title as that of the seminar.

Participants expressed great satisfaction about the way the topic was dealt with and found it very useful. 

“An extremely useful seminar,” observed one participant summing up the sentiments of others as well. “The topic was handled in a very commendable way.”

2014 Programmes at Sumedha Centre

2014 Programmes

1.      (SS-25) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) - (6 weeks)

May 22- July 2

2.    (SS-26) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) – (9 weeks)

July 4 – September 4

3.   (SS-27) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) - (9 weeks)

September 29- November 30

Sumedha Sadhana

Course Description: This is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their spiritual journey. They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality and integrate them in healthy ways to create more satisfying and more productive life patterns.

Course Content: Holistic, Process & Formative Spiritualities; Cosmic, Creation & Feminist Spiritualities; Religious & Community Life; Prayerfulness & Healthy Emotional Life; Midlife Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey; Identity & Vocational Commitment; Intimacy, Celibacy & Sexuality; Generativity, Stress & Burnout; Shadows & Subpersonalities; Trauma, Healing & Reconciliation; The Universe story, Jesus Story and Our Story; Core Transformation -- are some of the major topics that will be explored. Special place is given to group therapy where participants have the opportunity to face their brokenness and fears, their unhelpful patterns of living and relating and move on to healing and wholeness. The programme concludes with a spiritual retreat.

Tools & Techniques: Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, multi-media, prayer & meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey. (Age limit: 35-60 years)

Faculty

Ajoy Fernandes PhD (Personality & Spirituality). Alba Rodrigues MA (Cosmic Spirituality, Yoga). Gerard Alvarez MA (The Storied Word: Ours, Jesus’ and the Universe’s). Joe Mannath PhD (Sexuality, Celibacy & Intimacy). Jose Kuttianimattathil PhD (Core Transformation). Jose Parappully PhD (Psychological Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey, Trauma & Healing, Group Therapy, Retreat). M. Goretti Kanakarathinam MA (Group Therapy, Befriending Our Emotions). MC Abraham PhD (Group Therapy). Shalini Mulackal PhD (Feminist & Women’s Spirituality)

A LIFE-CHANGING MIDLIFE JOURNEY

The 20-day “Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey” programme at Sumedha Centre concluded yesterday.

The programme commenced with an assessment of the “Now Period” of life of the participants and went on to explore process spirituality, holistic-ecological spirituality and move on to the practice of Contemplative, and especially, Centering Prayer.

From a psychological perspectives, participants traced their developmental history through experiential exercises, explored and evaluated the experience of various midlife dynamics and transformative processes, especially the (re)-emergence of sexuality and intimacy needs. In the context of celibate friendships, heterosexual attachment dynamics were explored and evaluated.

The programme ended with an integrative exercise of the whole of the participants' life journeys until the present using the inspirational movie “River Mee.”

Participants observed that they had benefited immensely from the programme. For some it proved to be a “life-changing experience.”

Some typical participant comments:

“The programme was very, very good. It was very well organised and executed. It was challenging but immensely useful. It has led to a personal transformation.”

“It was an enriching and enlightening programme. Helped me to get in touch with myself.”

“My purpose in coming here has been fully satisfied. I got answers to questions I had been struggling with for years.”

“The programme was an eye-opener. It has equipped me to journey forward with greater passion and enthusiasm.”

“It helped me to change my perspectives, values and beliefs.”

“Hospitality was excellent.”

The programme was facilitated by Jose Parappully, Director of the Centre.

Our next programme:  60-day “Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey” from 25^th September to 23^rd November