PROTECTION OF MINORS AND VULNERABLE ADULTS - Workshop at Bengaluru

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate a Workshop on “Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults from Abuse” at Nirjhari Conference and Study Centre at Carmelaram on the outskirts of Bengaluru City.

The participants of the workshop were 12 members of the Institute of Formators who are involved in counselling and psychotherapy.

The workshop was held on the 28 and 29 December.

Dr. Parappully dealt with the following topics: Understanding and Respecting Boundaries, Sexual Boundary Violations, Dual relationship, Effects of Sexual Abuse and Healing from the Effects of Sexual Abuse.

In their observations on the workshop, all the participants said they found all the topics covered immensely useful. A few comments:

“A very comprehensive and effective exploration of a very complex topic.”

“Immensely useful.”

A wonderful workshop.”

“Created awareness and a sense of responsibility.”

Christmass Offerings from Sumedha Centre

Christmas message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7B1SZyw_HA

Christmas Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSINOjMagd0

SUMEDHA OUTREACH AT AGRA

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate two workshops on “Formative Accompaniment and Emotional Maturation” at Agra. 

These were organized by Most Rev. Albert D’Souza, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Agra Region, consisting of 12 dioceses and President of the Regional Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Both Workshops were held at the Archbishops’ House, Agra. The first, on 9 and 10^th December 2019 was for 27 Rectors of Minor Seminaries and women Formators. (Formators are those engaged in the training of future priests and religious men and women.)

The second from 10^th to 18^th December was for the staff of St. Joseph’s Regional Theologate, Allahabad, Masih Vidyapeeth and Orientation Centre at Agra.

Dr. Parappully explored with the participants what formative accompaniment meant and required, characteristics of emotionally healthy persons, tools for assessment, some issues in psychosexual development and characteristic of the spirituality of a diocesan priest.

Participants found the workshop very useful. Following are some common comments:

It was a wonderful and enriching workshop. It was an occasion for soul-searching. It helped to look 

into oneself, to introspect and analyze oneself.

It touched my life and was holistic, interactive and very practical. All the topics were very relevant. It helped to clarify many things/issues.

The process followed was very helpful.

It was a workshop which integrated science and faith. Very few psychologists do that. The workshop was quite unique in this sense.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH AT LONAVALA, MAHARASHTRA

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to do a 6-day Workshop on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” for the young priests of the Salesian Province of Mumbai. These were priests within the first five years since their ordination. There were 19 of them.

The workshop was held at Don Bosco Lonavla from 22 to 28^th September.

The topics covered included Understanding Human Sexuality and Intimacy; Some Problems and Challenges; Sexual Boundary Violations and Penalties; Policies and Procedures; and Celibacy and Friendships.

The young priests found the topics covered very useful for their life and ministry. Some comments:

“The workshop will help me to be a good human being.”

“I personally like the seminar because it dealt with issues which I encounter in my everyday life.”

“It was an eye-opener programme in terms of sexual behaviour/celibate chastity/kinds of relationships etc. Certainly this programme is going to enrich my relationship with God, my community, my ministry and my friendships as I live my priestly vocation.”

“It broadened my limited understanding of sexuality.”

“I give a perfect 10 because it’s most relevant. All the topics were very applicable to today’s scenario.”

“The programme was very relevant, very practical. I would like to give 10 points out of 10.”

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN AUGUST 2019

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre facilitated a number of workshops during the month of August.

The first was a workshop on Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey for the Salesian Sisters of Kolkata at their Provincial House in Dum Dum. It was held from August 9 to 12. There were 33 sites attending the programme.

The second was a Two-Day recollection in preparation for the Provincial Chapter of the Holy Cross Sisters at their newly renovated Provincial House at Raipur on 17^th and 18^th August.

The third was a workshop on Midlife Dynamics and he Spiritual Journey for the Capuchins of the three provinces of Kerala organized by the Kottayam province at Assisi Retreat Centre at Bharangnanam, Kerala. Twenty three Capuchin Fathers including the provincial of the Trissur province attended.

The fourth was a Training for Leadership for the community and school heads of the Southern and Northern provinces of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was held at the Navinta Retreat Centre at New Delhi from 24^th to 26^th August. There were 19 participants.

The last was a workshop on “Aging Gracefully” for the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen. It was held at their Provincial House in Bilaspur from 30^th August to 1^st September. There were 23 sisters present including the Provincial.

MIDLIFE DYNAMICS AND THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AT NRC, NEW DELHI

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to facilitate a Workshop on “Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey” at the Jesuit run Navjivan Renewal Centre on the Campus of the St. Xavier’s School Rajnivas Marg, Delhi from 10^th to 15 June, 2019.

There were nine participants – 8 religious sisters from 6 different Congregation and one layman.

Dr. Parappully explored Awakening to Midlife, Midlife Journeys, Midlife Dynamics especially assessment of life and its priorities, dreams, (re-) awakening of sexuality and intimacy needs, de-illusioning and some transformative processes and spirituality for the post-midlife years.

Participants were very appreciative of the Workshop, finding it very useful to understand themselves and their experiences.

“A wonderful workshop…. I was able to understand the confusing experiences I was having and wondering what was happening to me. I understand the changes in me and their causes. Many of my doubts are clarified. Now I am at peace.” This was the common observation made in different participants in different words.

Participants also appreciated the relaxed atmosphere at the workshop and the methodology followed – input, time to read through relevant sections of the informative article provided, introspection, sharing in micro and macro groups, use songs and videos.

“I wish I had attended this workshop 10-15 years earlier.” This too was a common observation by participants.

TEAM BUILDING AT GOOD SHEPHERD SEMINARY, COIMBATORE

Dr. Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre was invited to facilitate a Team Building workshop at Good Shepherd College (Inter-diocesan Seminary) at Coimbatore on 4-5 June, 2019. All the staff members (14 of them) participated.

Good Shepherd College is located in a very pastoral setting some 20 km from the heart of the city on the Coimbatore – Pollachi Road. It was begun in 1984. There are some 70 students of philosophy and theology from 9 different dioceses. The staff also hail from different dioceses.

Through research-based data and theory from Organizational Psychology and experiential exercises Dr. Parappully presented the essentials of a coherent and effective team.

Through Assessment tools he helped the participants to evaluate the strengths weakness of the staff as a team and helped them discover pathways to greater cohesion and effectiveness.

All participants found the workshop very helpful. It provided them an opportunity to share freely and openly about issues that affected team performance. The two days’ processes had helped them understand one another better and become a more cohesive tam. A foundation had been laid for better team performance on which they could build further.

Participants were especially appreciative of the experiential and participatory methods used. This was quite unlike the workshops and seminars they were used to.

TEACHERS’ ORIENTATION AT SOPHIA, BANGALORE

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, was invited to conduct a two-day
Teachers’ Orientation programme on 27 and 28 May at Sophia High School, Bangalore.

There were about 130 teachers along with the Principals of the three sections of the school.

On the first day the focus was on “Education with the Heart.” Dr. Parappully explored with the teachers two aspects of Educating with the Heart – Self-Awareness and Empathic Responsiveness.

Through psychological input and experiential exercises and personal evaluations, teachers were helped to gained greater insight into themselves and learn the impact of their personalities on their relationship with the students and their effectiveness as teachers. Dr. Parappully used especially insights from Self-Determination Theory and Self Psychology, songs and videos to do this.

The second day was a “Retreat.” The focus was on Meditative Prayer as a tool for enhancing personal and professional effectiveness. 

Dr. Parappully presented three different forms of simple meditative prayer and provided opportunities for the participants to engage in them.

The feedback indicated that the teachers profited immensely from the two days’ programme. “An amazing programme” was the way the spokesperson for the teachers described it. “It provided us profound thoughts to ponder on and exercises that we can use for ourselves and in the classroom. Above all, it helped us understand ourselves as persons.”

Teachers were especially appreciative of the “Retreat.” It was the first time they observed, they were able to spend four hours in silence and solitude and were able appreciate its value. “We also learned to pray in a very different way than we were used to,” several of the teachers said.

DEACON GEORGE TOPNO ORDAINED PRIEST

Deacon George Topno was ordained a priest by Most Rev. Vincent Barwa, the Bishop of Simdega (Jharkhand) diocese on March 18, 2019 at his home parish of Jaldega.

The ordination ceremony had many rituals that is part and parcel of the tribal culture of Jharkhand – colourful dance procession, washing and wiping of hands, etc. George was helped to walk to the altar,  by his father and siblings, stepping into the baskets they  placed before him.

Fr. Jose Mathew, the Salesian Provincial of New Delhi and Fr. Naresh Kujur the Vice provincial and about 45 priests, most of them Salesians from the Chotanagpur area.

Fr. George Topno was member of the staff at Sumedha Centre for more than a year, as Administrator. Sumedha Centre was represented at the ordination by Fr. Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre.

The ordination was followed by a felicitation ceremony and lunch for all.

The ordination ceremony and felicitation were held in a specially prepared (roof made of tree leaves) shamiana, next to the old parish Church.

On the 19^th March Fr. George said his first Mass at his home.

Fr. George will take up his first assignment as priest at Don Bosco Jokbhla as Administrator and Assistant Parish Priest.

Sumedha Centre conveys to Fr. George heartiest congratulations and best wishes and blessings for a very satisfying and fruitful priestly life and ministry.

BOSCONET AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

BoscoNet, the Delhi-based organization involved in raising resources for supporting Don Bosco works throughout India, held a training programme at Sumedha Centre from April 30 to May 4. 2019.

The participants were the staff from BoscoNet’s New Delhi office, leaders of BoscoNet teams from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkota, Mumbai, Pune, and Trichy and the Salesian Directors of BoscoNet. There were 15 in all.

The first evening was devoted to introductions and learning to get to know one another.

The second day was devoted to Team-Building sessions. These were facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre. Through input, experiential exercises and videos, Dr. Parappully provided understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of effective teams and helped participants analyze their own teams and strategise to enhance their effectiveness.

The training was well appreciated by the participants. Some participant comments:

The training was “very beautifully facilitated. It provided beautiful insights. An environment was created where we could have frank and free sharing.”

“Very, very interesting. There was freedom to speak out, which we could not have had otherwise. Helped to understand ourselves and our teams better.”

“The process was followed was very effective. It was step-by-step, interactive and participatory.”

“Extremely useful. Helped to be a team. Enhanced our effectiveness. Helped to identify problems and find solutions.”

“The dynamics presented useful not only in the team but also in other settings – like in my family relationships.”

“We need such useful training more often.”

The third and fourth days were devoted to organizational matters. These sessions were facilitated by Fr Noel Madichetty and Fr Vincent Thamburaj, the Director and Asst. Director of BoscoNet respectively.

The participants were highly appreciative of the atmosphere and the hospitality offered at Sumedha Centre.