SALESIAN PRIESTS CELEBRATE JUBILEE AT SUMEDHA

Sumedha Centre was happy to host 10 Salesian priests from the provinces of Guwahati and Dimapur from 27 to 29 September. They were celebrating 25 years of priesthood.

The Jubilarians spent the first two days reflecting on and sharing their experiences of the past 25 years. Fr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha, took a session on Midlife Dynamics and their implications for priestly life and ministry, which gave them further matter for sharing.

As they were all new to the Kumaon Hills, the jubilarians took time on the third day to tour the area. They were quite impressed by the surroundings, and enjoyed their visit to the various lakes in the vicinity of Sumedha Centre.

September saw a number of Sumedha Outreach programmes led by its Director, Fr. Jose Parappully.

September 5-10.  Programme for Formators - Puri

A five-day programme for formators of the Orissa region was held at Ishopranti Ashram, Puri, Orissa. It was entitled “Healthy Formation Environment and Some Challenges.” There were 19 participants including rectors of seminaries and novice mistresses.

The programme began with a reflection on how participants felt about their ministry of formation and the formation process in general. The person of the formator, the formation environment, healthy psycho-sexual and celibate integration were some of the topics explored.

The formators found the programme very useful. It provided them awareness and insights about themselves and the formation process. The topic found most useful was “Psychosexual and Celibate Integration.” 

“The programme helped me to look at myself. I received helpful information and insights about myself and the formation process,” observed one participant.

“The topics were very well presented,” commented another.

“All formators should undergo a programme like this” was a suggestion made by several of the participants.

September 12-14. South Asian Formation Commission Meeting - Kolkata

Fr. Parappully was an invitee at the Meeting of the South Asian Formation Delegates from the various Salesian Provinces. Besides the delegates, the meeting was attended by Fr. Francesco Cereda, the Salesian General Councillor for Formation, Fr. Chrys Saldanha from the Formation Department at the Salesian Generalate in Rome, Fr. Loddy Pires, the Chairperson of the South Asian Formation Commission and Fr. E. A. Thomas, the Salesian Provincial of Kolkata.

On 13^th Fr. Parappully explored the theme “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” in an interactive workshop. He had four 90-minute sessions with the participants. He presented some of the current challenges in the area of psychosexual and celibate integration and pointed out implications for formation.

The programme was held at the Salesian Provincial House in Kolkata.

September 19-24. Retreat for Priests- Varanasi.

Fr. Parappully facilitated a retreat for priests at Nav Sadhana, Varanasi from September 19 to 24. There were 36 priests from the diocese of Varanasi, Jamshedpur and Gumla.

The retreat focused on the identity and ministry of the priest as “Bearer of the Mystery of God and Doctor of the Soul.” The retreat – content and format - was much appreciated by the participants.