SUMEDHA OUTREACH TO THE BRAHMAPUTRA

Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate a workshop for the Major Superiors of religious congregations – Provincials and Generals – of the North Eastern region.

The theme of the two-day workshop was “A Mature Spirituality of Today.” The workshop was held at Don Bosco Institute on the banks of the Brahmaputra river in Guwahati on 14-15 May. Thirty four Major Superiors participated.

The keynote address at the workshop was delivered by Most Rev. Thomas Menamparambil, Archbishop Emeritus of Guwhati. He spoke of a Missionary Spirituality of Involvement and Encounter.

Parappully took three sessions of 90 minutes each on the two days. He traced the development and shifts in paradigms, from Dualistic-Mechanistic to the Holistic-Ecological and their impact on spirituality.

The Dualistic-Mechanistic paradigm dominated during the Modern Period, roughly from 1600 to 1950. This is the period in which most currently surviving Catholic religious orders and congregations were founded. He showed how the spirituality of these orders and congregations were influenced by the Dualistic-Mechanistic paradigm prevalent during that period.

Parappully went on the describe the developments in the sciences, especially in Quantum Physics, that undermined the Dualistic-Mechanistic paradigm and which led to the emergence of a new paradigm, namely, the Holistic-Ecological, which is influencing every sphere of life today.

He described 17 characteristics of a spirituality that the changed paradigm calls for. He presented solidarity and communion as the heart of this holistic-ecological-cosmic spirituality.

Participants observed that the workshop had helped to clarify, deepen and expand their understanding of spirituality. It provided them, they said, practical tools to incorporate this new spirituality into their daily lives. They also commented on the excellent quality of the inputs as well as the tools and techniques used in the workshop which made it a very meaningful and exciting experience for them.

The workshop was organised by VM Thomas, the National President of the Conference of Religious of India with the help of the Executive members of the Regional Conference of Religious of the North East.

Parappully will be facilitating another workshop – on Revitalization of Religious Life – for the Major Superiors of the region in September this year.

22nd SUMEDHA SADHANA – AN APPRECIATION

The two month’s “Sumedha Sadhana: A Psychospritual Wholeness Journey” (March 12- May 10) was a wonderfully integrated programme of spirituality and psychology which has enriched and strengthened each member of the group.

The programme brought together the best resource persons. We gained so much from the Stages of psychological development, basic psychological needs, attachment theory, process spirituality, Centering prayer facilitated by Jose Parappully; Jungian Perspectives on Self-Awareness by Ajoy Fernandes; Stories: Ours, Jesus’ and the Universe’s by Gerard Alwarez; and Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy by Joe Mannath.

The highlights of the whole programme were Group Therapy, facilitated by Jose Parappully and Peter Lourdes and the spiritual retreat which Parappully guided.

The outings, both the tea by the stream and the picnic to the lakes, were also among the high points of our stay at Sumedha.

We appreciate the thoughtfully prepared and exhaustive handouts that each one of us received which contain a wealth of information which we not only used while at Sumedha but which we can continue to use in future. Besides we were also provided carefully selected books which we could read in order to supplement both the class inputs as well as the reading material we had received. Reflection on movies screened helped us to understand the inputs received in class better.

The liturgies were made prayerful, meaningful, creative and alive through careful preparation. The psychosomatic and dynamic meditations helped integrate body, mind and spirit.

The welcome we received and the care with which our every need was attended to, the minute attention given to things needed in the rooms were remarkable.

With gratitude and love,

The Sumedha Sadhana Group (March 12-May 10, 2013)

GROUP THERAPY, PICNIC AND RETREAT

Group Therapy, one of the most important modules of Sumedha Sadhana, was conducted for 10 consecutive days between April 22 and May 1.

Three 90-minute sessions were held each day. Participants were divided into two groups. One group was led by Peter Lourdes PhD, a psychotherapist based in Kolkata. The other was led by Jose Parappully PhD, the Programme Director at Sumedha Centre.

The day following conclusion of group therapy, participants went together on a picnic to the lakes. They visited three of the famous lakes in the neighbourhood of Sumedha Centre, namely, Naukuchiatal, Bhimtal and Sattal and had great fun.

On May 4 begins the concluding module and the integrative climax of Sumedha Sadhana, namely, the 6-day Spiritual Retreat. It will be facilitated by Jose Parappully.

The next Sumedha Sadhana begins on May 20th an concludes on June 30th.

OUR NEXT PROGRAMME: SUMEDHA SADHANA

SUMEDHA SADHANA

 A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey

 May 20 - June 30, 2013

Programme 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.

Programme Content: Holistic, Process & Formative Spiritualities; Cosmic, Creation & Feminist Spiritualities;  Prayerfulness & Healthy Emotional Life; Midlife Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey; Celibacy & Sexuality; Generativity,  Trauma, Healing & Reconciliation; 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. 

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)

Only 3 more seats available. (contact: sumedhacentre@gmail.com)

FEAST OF ST GEORGE CELEBRATED IN GRAND STYLE

The participants of Sumedha Sadhhana went out of their way to prepare a grand celebration to honour Fr. George Malyail, the Administrator of the Centre on his name feast today.

The preparations began yesterday with a number of them busy in the kitchen preparing for the grand dinner tonight which followed the celebration of the Feast Day Eucharist for which too the participants worked very hard.

Participants were very appreciative of the friendly way George relates to them and his ever readiness to meet  their needs, often going out of his way. All the work they put and the grand way they organised the celebration was their way of expressing their appreciation.

SIX WEEKS OF THE 22ND SUMEDHA SADHANA

Six weeks of the nine-week long Sumedha Sadhana concluded yesterday. During these six weeks there were four difference Modules. The first and the longest, facilitated by Jose Parappully PhD, the Director of the Centre, was "Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey" during which Parappully helped participants to evaluate and enhance their spiritual journey by means of relevant psychological theories of developmental  especially Eriksonian, Attachment and Self-Psychology.

Following that Ajoy Fernandes PhD, helped participants explore the question "Who am I?" using Jungian perspectives. Participants discovered their personality types using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and how their type influence particularly their spirituality and their relationships. They discovered their "persona" and sought to redeem their "shadow" and integrate their "animus" and "anima."

The third module, facilitated by Gerard Alvarez MA, was "Stories: Ours, Jesus' and the Universes's." Alvarez helped participants discover how these three stories intertwine on the psycho-spiritual journey. He demonstrated, through films and rituals, how sacred scripture(Jesus' Story) can be a powerful means to deepen one's own story and the importance of being more aware of and paying greater attention and respect to the Universe Story.

The last module was "Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy" facilitated by Joe Mannath PhD. Mannath helped participants to retrace their psychosexual developmental journey and address some major tasks and challenges on the way to healthy integration of sexuality and intimacy on the celibate journey.

Time at Sumedha is not all serious inner work. There is also time to play.
Having completed the six weeks and the four modules participants took time to relax by going on walking picnic down the stream that flows below the Centre and had some fun jumping over rocks and climbing trees by the waterside.

These modules have prepared the participants for the climax of the the entire programme, namely group therapy and the concluding spiritual retreat. Group therapy begins on 22 April and will be facilitated by Peter Lourdes PhD and Jose Parappully PhD. The spiritual retreat which follows the group therapy will be facilitated by Jose Parappully.

Between the therapy and the retreat, participants will take time to relax by going on a day-long picnic to the lakes that are such an attractive feature of the landscape surrounding Sumedha Centre.

The current progrmame concludes on May 10th and the next Sumedha Sadhana commences on May 20th.

CONFERENCE ON PSYCHOSEXUAL INTEGRATION AND CELIBATE MATURITY AT BANGALORE

A conference on Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity, the theme of the book recently published by the Salesian Psychological Association and the South Asia Formation Commission of the Salesians, was held at the Don Bosco Renewal Centre in Bangalore from April 12-14.

One of the featured speakers at the Conference was Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, whi is also one of the editors of the book. He took two sessions on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity: Some Behavioural Challenges.”

Parappully’s topic covered five of the 29 chapters in the book. Based on the participant’s need he focused on the following behavioural and existential challenges: (Re) Awakening of Sexuality and Intimacy Needs at Midlife and Beyond; Celibate Loneliness, and Celibate Friendship.

A number of other contributors to the book were also featured at the Conference. These included Jose Kuttianimattathil ( Psychosexual Integration, Celibate Maturity, Formation and the Formator), Anton Paul (Canon Law and Sexual Boundary Violations), Marie Gabrielle Riopel (Spirituality, Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity), Joe Mannath (Celibacy: Meaning, Motives, and Formation), John Tharakan (Ethical Issues for Formators and Pastors), and Joe Thannickal (Accompaniment, Resilience and Formation).

The Conference was organised by Joe Thannickal, Programme Director at Don Bosco Renewal Centre,  Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore and the President of the Salesian Psychological Association.

The Conference was open to all perpetually professed religious. Forty-one participated

A similar conference will be held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad, on June 3-4, 2013.