MIDLIFE DYNAMICS AND SOULFUL AGING

Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate a three–day workshop on “Midlife Dynamics & Soulful Aging” at the CRI national secretariat, New Delhi on 3-5 March 2015.

The objective of the programme was to help participants understand the psychological dynamics operating during the midlife transition and use the understanding to continue their psychospritual journey in the second half of their lives listening and responding to the invitations of the their “soul” – their authentic self, rather than confirming to social expectations and thus find meaning and satisfaction on the spiritual path

Course content included “Awakening to Midlife,” “Midlife Dynamics” and “Midlife Transformative Processes.” Topics covered included: Loss of Meaning and Purpose, Emotional Awareness of Mortality, Reassessment of Life Priorities, Reconciling of the Dream, Disillusionment, Loss, and (Re) Awakening of Sexuality an Intimacy.

Transformative Processes Midlifers are called to engage in included: Integrating the Animus and the Anima, Integrating the Shadow, Integrating Sexuality, Intimacy and Celibacy, and responding to God’s Second Call.

Participants were also provided “Helps” to cope with the turmoil, confusion and disenchantment that are part of the midlife transition.

There were 15 religious sisters and one Capuchin priest who participated.

Feedback from participants indicated that they had greatly benefited from the workshop. “Very, very good” was a common expression. Some mentioned that this three day workshop had helped them to deepen their religious commitment and spiritual journey more than the usual mandated spiritual retreats.

The process of input, introspection and interaction that the facilitator employed was found to be very effective.

Gains from the workshop included: greater self-awareness, greater understanding and acceptance of the midlife dynamics that participants had been experiencing and felt confused about, and a greater desire to make their psycho-spiritual journey in the second half of life more meaningfully and joyfully.

A common desire expressed by participants was that all religious at Midlife should participate in a workshop such as this one.

“Midlife Dynamics and Soulful Aging” is a core module of the 9-week Sumedha Sadhana offered three times a year at Sumdha Centre.

The dates of the Sumedha Sadhana programme this year:  March 15-May 16; June 1 – August 2; and October 2 – December 3.

LIVING WITH CREDIBILITY AND EFFICACY ONE’S IDENTITY

The fourth and last programme the Director of Sumedha Centre, Fr. Jose Parappully, conducted in Thailand this February was for the Heads of the Educational Institutions and Superiors of Communities of the Sisters Servants of the immaculate Heart of Mary.

This Religious Congregation was founded by a Salesian Bishop and belongs to the Salesian Family, sharing the charism and spirit of Don Bosco.

The workshop was entitled “Living with Credibility and Efficacy One’s Identity” and was held at Ratchaburi on 23-25, February.

The first session helped the participants to look at the various identities they have and choose the one they most identified with. Almost all chose their identity as consecrated women and Sister Servants.

Hence the bulk of the workshop was devoted to understanding participants’ identity as Consecrated Women and looking at ways to enhance and live with greater credibility and efficacy this identity.

Their identity as professional women, as leaders of institutions and communities was also explored. The facilitator helped them to better understand what it means to be an emotionally healthy leader and how to enhance their effectiveness as leaders.

Participants observed at the conclusion that the workshop provided them just what they needed and it was a very useful and fruitful experience that truly helped them better understand their identity and enhance their efficacy as consecrated professional women.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RELIGIOUS FORMATION

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, facilitated a four-day workshop on "Emotional Development and Religious Formation" at the Baan Phu Wan Pastoral Training Centre, Samphran, Thailand on February 19-22, 2015.

The workshop was organized by the Formation Commission of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Thailand and Laos.

There were 69 Formators representing various religious congregations of men and women in Thailand.

Using insights from Self Psychology and Attachment Theory, Parappully demonstrated how early childhood experiences, especially parent–child dynamics, affect emotional development and described their impact on the formation process.

He also described the major mental and personality disorders and their symptoms and pointed out the importance of detecting the presence of these symptoms in the formees and take necessary action.

Participants were highly appreciative of the content and process of the workshop and felt that it really helped to enhance their role and functions as religious formators.

RENEWING CONSECRATED LIFE: JOURNEYING TOGETHER TOWARD FULLNESS OF LIFE

Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate a one-month renewal programme at Sisters Centre at Samphran, Thailand. This is the national training Centre for religious sisters run by the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Thailand and Laos.

Currently the Centre is managed by Sister Pornthip of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bangkok and Sister Wantana of the Congregation of Infant Jesus. Sr. Wantana was a participant of the Sumedha Sadhana programme at Jeolikote a couple of years ago.

The programme was held from January 18 to February 18 and was titled “Renewing Consecrated Life: Journeying Toward Fullness of Life.”

There were 26 sisters from seven different religious congregations, working in Thailand and Cambodia. A few of them were preparing for their Final Vows; a few others for the Silver jubilee of their religious profession. The rest were interested in their own personal and spiritual renewal.

Topics covered included: Spirituality; Prayerfulness; Midlife Dynamics; Psychosexual and Celibate Integration; and Religious Life. The programme culminated in a Spiritual Retreat on the theme of Wilderness and Paradise.

At the end of the programme we had a very enjoyable picnic to Ratchaburi, which included a lunch out on the sea, visit to the Cathedral and the famous seaside shrine of St. Anne.

Participants found the programme very useful and were grateful that they had the opportunity to attend it. They observed that the programme really helped them to better understand themselves and their religious consecration and to renew their commitment to, and enthusiasm and passion of for their religious life and ministry.

Jose will be doing the same programme at the Sisters Centre next year too.