20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF SUMEDHA CENTRE

The 20^th anniversary of the inauguration and blessing of Sumedha Centre was celebrated today, 19^th March, the feast day of St. Joseph, Patron of the Centre.

Sumedha Centre was set up and inaugurated at Don Bosco specialized Training Centre, Don Bosco Provincial House, New Delhi on 19^th March 2003. In March 2009 the Centre shifted operations to Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, in the diocese of Bareilly, and on 19^th March 2022 the Centre was again moved to the current location on the premises of Don Bosco Sr. Sec. School at Jharmari, Punjab.

The celebrations today were simple with a Holy Eucharist of thanksgiving and a festive lunch.

Most Rev. Ignatius Mascarenhas, the Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh diocese, within whose jurisdiction Sumedha Centre now falls,  inaugurated the celebrations by lighting the lamp.

Bishop Mascarenhas also presided over the Eucharist. He was joined by Rev. Fr. Davis Maniparamben, the current Provincial of New Delhi Province, of which Sumedha Centre is a unit, and Rev. Fr. K. A. Joseph, the first Provincial of New Delhi who had encouraged and promoted setting up of Sumedha Centre, and several priests.

Among the congregation were the participants of the current Sumedha Sadhana program and some invited guests.

Ate the beginning  of the Eucharist, Dr. Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, welcomed all and introduced the Bishop and the two Provincials and the invited guests. He also gave a short history of Sumedha centre.

He also thanked the late Most Rev. Anthony Fernandes, retired Bishop of Bareilly Diocese, who had provided facilities for Sumedha Centre at Jeolikote and the Most Rev. Ignatius D’Souza, the current Bishop of Bareilly diocese, who allowed the Sumedha Centre to run from the same premises for a number of years, and the former Provincials of New Delhi Province for their support and encouragement.

In his homily, Bishop Mascarenhas expressed great appreciation for the kind of service that Sumedha Centre offers, and siting his own experience, the example of St. Joseph and insights from the day’s Sacred Scripture, he exhorted the current participants of the programme to be open to whatever the programme offers, as it will truly enhance their psychospiritual wholeness and wellbeing.

After the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Maniparamben inaugurated the new Sumedha Centre webpage- https://sumedhacentre.org – and Dr. Parappully presented its main features. The website was created by Dr. Shalu Tandon, HOD of the IT department at Don Institute of Technology at Okhla, New Delhi.

At the beginning of the festive lunch Bishop, Provincials and the Josephs present (today being the feast of St. Joseph) cut an anniversary cake.