DEEP SOUL-WORK AND FUN OUTING!

The Sumedhans celebrated completion of three weeks of deep soul-work as part of their Psycho-Spiritual Wholeness of Journey with an outing, walking upstream along the rivulet that flows close to the Sumedha Centre campus at Jeolikote.

The birds that abound in this part of the Kumaon Hills provide soothing melodies. The autumn winds blew gently as they trudged along the narrow pathway through the jungle.

Settling down in a lovely rock-strewn dry spot in the rivulet, they made tea tinged with fresh ginger (grown at Sumedha), feasted on fresh home-made momos and sandwiches, had lots of fun climbing trees,  splashing water on one another and playing Housie/Bingo. (“Such a lovely place. Wish we could spend the whole day here!” several remarked.)

The Sumedha Sadhana Programme began on September 28^th with the module “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey” facilitated by the Director of the Centre, Dr. Jose Parappully, a clinical psychologist.

Parappully began this foundational module helping participants look at the current realities in their lives in the context of Midlife and Post-Midlife Dynamics such as emotional awareness of mortality, reassessment of life and its priorities, facing de-illusioning, mourning one’s losses and unrealized dreams, understanding reawakened sexuality and intimacy needs and dealing with them in ways that respect one’s celibate commitment and lifestyle.

During second week, Dr. Ajoy Fernandes, clinical psychologist and Director of Prafulta Mental health services at Matunga, Mumbai facilitated the module “Jungian Perspectives on Personality and Spirituality.

Fernandes helped participants discover their personality type (using the MBTI) and its impact on their spirituality. He also helped them recognize their persona and shadow and integrate the shadow into their conscious self.

This process was further enhanced in the third week through the module “Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey” facilitated by Dr. Johny Dominic Padinjar, another psychologist and Asst. Director of Sumedha Centre.

Using concepts from Freudian, Jungian, NLP and Transactional Analysis theories Padinjar helped Participants unleash the powers of the unconscious to facilitate healing and wholeness.

The remaining modules of this 9-week programme are: “Word and Stories: Ours, the Universe’s and Jesus’” by Gerard Alvarez; “Core Dynamics” by Jose Mathew Kuttianiimattathil; Group Therapy’ by Johny Dominic Padinjar and Jose Parappully; and a Spiritual Retreat, facilitated by Jose Parappully which will bring the 9-week psychospiritual journey to its conclusion.

For the Sumedha Sadhana programmes in 2017, please see the earlier posts on this blog.

2017 SUMEDHA CENTRE PROGRAMME BROCHURE

RETREAT AT YESU ASHRAM, BHOPAL

Director of Sumedha Centre, Fr. Jose Parappully, facilitated a spiritual retreat for the priests of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bhopal from 9^th to 14^th October, 2016.

The retreat was held at Yesu Ashram, some 20 km from Bhopal on the Bhopal-Kanpur road, in very pastoral surroundings. The Ashram is run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. The current director is Fr. Paul Pattathu, CMI.

There were 32 participants at the retreat, including Archbishop Leo Cornelio.

The retreat was based on the theme: “Priest: Bearer of the Mystery of God and Doctor of the Soul” Besides the inputs by the facilitator on the theme and the well-animated liturgies, participants were given ample time for personal prayer around the Word of God. 

Everyone, including the Archbishop Cornelio, was very appreciative of the retreat. A common observation was, “This was a retreat with a difference,” The Archbishop commented that he was “personally touched” and was appreciative of the way the priests made this retreat.

One priest commented. “In my 26 years of priesthood, I have made many retreats. This was the most unique of them all.”

Fr. Parappully will be facilitating a second retreat for the priests of the Archdiocese of Bhopal in the first week of December, 2016.