GROUP THERAPY CONCLUDES

Group therapy is an important module of Sumedha Sadhana - A Psychospritual Wholeness Journey -, Sumedha Centre's niche programme.

In the atmosphere of freedom, caring and trust that the therapy group provides, participants are helped to face their brokenness and their fears, their dysfunctional defenses and their unhelpful patterns of living and relating, and to move toward greater healing and wholeness by adopting and practising healthier attitudes and behaviours. 

In the words of Alexander Lowen, the Founder of the Bioenergetic school of psychotherapy, the purpose of therapy is to expand one's capacity to love and receive love, to expand one's heart and not just one's mind.

Participants were divided into two groups. One group was led by Dr. MC Abraham, PhD. A former Programme Director of Sadhana Institute, Lonavla and Founder- Director of Pastoral Management programme at Jnandeepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, Dr. Abraham currently is the Director of the Moreau Institute for Integral Training at Shilling.

The other group was led by Dr. Jose Parappully PhD, the Director of Sumedha Centre.

The groups found the therapy experience profoundly enriching and transformative.

The concluding module of the 30th Sumedha Sdhana concludes with a a Spiritual Retreat beginning on November 24th. It will be facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully.

VISIT BY HELPERS OF MARY

Sr. Stella Davassy, Mother General of the Society of Helpers Mary, accompanied by the members of the Generalate of the Society at Andheri, Mumbai, visited Sumedha Centre yesterday (20/11/15).

Bishop Isidore Fernandes, the former Bishop of Allahabad, spent some time with them narrating the history of Jeolikote.

The director of sumedha, Jose Parappully, took them around introducing the Centre to them. He  had done a workshop on "Psychospritual Integration During Post-Midlife Years" for the senior sisters of the Congregation September this year. He will be doing a similar programme next September as well.

SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Along with Deepavali - the Festival of Lights -  (on 11th November) Sumedhans celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Religious profession of Sr Namrata, one of the participants in the ongoing Sumedha Sadhana,

It was a day of thanksgiving for Namrata, who professed in the Congregation of St. Theresa 25 years ago as well as renewal of her commitment.

Her fellow participants made a big fuss around her. Besides a beautifully organised Holy Eucharist, there was a very joyful felicitation following a delicious dinner (cooked by the participants)

Sumedha Centre congratulates Namrata and wishes her many, many more years of joyful religious living.

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. 

Workshop: PSYCHOSEXUAL INTEGRATION AND CELIBATE MATURITY

Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, was invited to do a three-day renewal programme on “Psychosexual and Celibate Integration” for the members of the Helpers of Mary Congregation in Mumbai.

The programme was held at Shradha Ashram on the campus of the Generalate of the congregation at Andheri, Mumbai on September 22-24, 2015. There were 47 participants who were in the age bracket of 60-70.

Parappully explored the topic in the context of the dynamics of midlife and the post-midlife years which these Sisters were experiencing or had experienced.

The topics covered included: Dynamics of Midlife and Later Years; Sex, Sexuality and Intimacy; Celibacy and Chastity; Man-Woman Friendships within Celibate Living and God’s Second Call to a Deeper spiritual Life.

What the participants found most useful was the clarity that was provided on the various concepts and dynamics covered. The opportunity to share in groups what they had experienced and were experiencing brought relief and comfort.

One common observation was that it would have been very beneficial if the programme had been offered when they were experiencing these dynamics and confused during their midlife years.

A second common observation was that there was no one with whom they could share their experiences at the time and seek guidance and had to cope and make sense on their own.

Since most of the participants were leaders of communities or of organisations, they felt the knowledge they gained was very useful to understand and help those they were leading, besides helping make sense of their own experiences.

EDUCATING WITH THE HEART

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Dr. Jose Parappully, was invited to do three Workshops for the teachers in schools run by Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Mumbai.

The first Workshop, on September 10, 2015, was for the teachers of St. Antony’s Girls’ High School, close to Mumbai Central station, in a comparatively poor and socially backward area of Mumbai. There were 36 teachers participating.

The topic of the Workshop was “Educating with the Heart.”

Beginning with the inspirational movie “Making a Difference” which refers to the importance of being sensitive to the emotional situations of the students, Dr. Parappully focused on what it means to be an Emotionally Sensitive Teacher.

Sighting relevant psychological theory and research, he  emphasized the importance of creating an environment in which students’ basic emotional needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy are met. He highlighted the crucial role of empathetic understanding and communication.

The second and third workshops were held for the teachers of Villa Theresa School, located at Cumballa Hill, an economically and socially upscale area of Mumbai.

These workshops here were focused on “Enhancing Educational Excellence.”

The first of these workshops, on September 11, was for 36 teachers and non-teaching staff of the secondary section of the school. The second, on September 12, was for 34 teachers of the pre-primary and primary sections.

Using data from Organizational Psychological research, Dr. Parappully highlighted the ingredients that contribute to institutional excellence, and how these can be cultivated at Villa Theresa School.

Short films, songs, experiential exercises, and group discussions were used to explore current realities and future possibilities, and arrive at practical decisions and commitments.

Teachers found all three workshops very relevant and useful. The insights gained and the decisions they have arrived at, they observed, will certainly help them to be more emotionally sensitive and to be more effective both as teachers as well as an institution.

29th SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES

The 29^th Sumedha Sadhana concluded very successfully on August 2. This 9-week Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey programme had commenced on June 1.

There were 16 participants from India, Myanmar, South Africa and Thailand. All of them expressed great satisfaction at the end of the progamme 

They indicated the usefulness of the programme on a Scale of 1 (Very Little useful) and 10 (Immensely Useful) as follows: 10, 10, 10, 10, 9.5, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8).

All said they had got what they were looking for from the programme, and some even more than what they expected.

There were six different modules in the programme: Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey (by Jose Parappully), Unconscious Dynamics and Emotional Health (by Johny Padinjar), Stories: Ours, the Universe’s and Jesus’ (by Gerard Alvarez), Re-Reading of Religious Life (by Varghese Kalluvachel), Group Therapy (by Johny Padinjar, Jose Parappully and Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam) and Spiritual Retreat (by Jose Parappully). 

Movies, recreation, picnics and somatic meditations were also part of this holistic programme.

Some typical comments from participants:

“The entire programme was an excellent one.”

“A very unique kind of programme. Very different from the beaten path.”

“It was delicious in every way!”

“I am not the person who came to Sumedha – so worn out, depressed, tired, hopeless. Today I return peaceful, happy, energized, enthusiastic, focused on my goal…”

“It was time for me to stop a while – to recollect, reflect, rethink and regain my lost enthusiasm and convictions. I was enriched and enlightened by the inputs I received.”

“I had so many questions when I came here. They all got answered. I learned how to be free and happy and grow as a mature human being.”

“It has touched all the areas of my psychospiritual journey… All the modules were useful and they have helped to integrate myself.”

“Every activity helped me to understand myself and become more free.”

“The two months went so fast… This programme is the greatest gift I was given. I came with a heavy heart and scattered mind…. I go back with a rich experience. I was at the right place at the right time. Gained lots of self-awareness and increased self-worth… Deepened my spirituality.”

It is a well-planned, well-organized and substantial programme. I got exactly what I needed.”

“I got more than what I hoped for.”

“I felt at home the moment I stepped in to the place…We were provided with everything that we needed. It was a home away from home. Great environment and community spirit.”

“Food, accommodation, facilities and services were excellent.”

The next Sumedha Sadhana (SS-30) is from October 2 to December 3, 2015. Registration is open.