“ENHANCING FORMATION SKILLS” PROGRAMME CONCLUDES AT SUMEDHA

The “Enhancing Formation Skills” programme concluded very successfully at Sumedha Centre today. 

This two-week training programme commenced on May 7. This was a special programme organized to mark the 20^th anniversary of Sumedha Centre.

The two facilitators were Johny Nedungatt and Jose Parappully.

The programme provided theoretical input as well as opportunities for participants to reflect on their experiences in the light of the inputs provided and to share them with one another and for personal and common prayer. 

It was organised in such ways as to help participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves  as formators and of their  formees and develop the attitudes, dispositions and skills needed to be more effective formators.

The content of the programme included topics such as:

Portrait of a Formator, Spirituality of a Formator, Psychosexual Integration of Formees, Formation and Emotional Development, Formation Environment, Mental and Emotional Health, Psychosexual Integration, Healing Interventions, Vocational Discernment, and  Spiritual Direction.

Besides the intellectual activities, there were also moments of community relaxation and celebrations which helped to jell the group together..

Although only eight participants (3 priests and 5 religious women) attended, all were immensely satisfied with the programme.  On a scale of 1 to 10 on Usefulness, 1 meaning “Very Little Useful” and 10, “Immensely Useful”, four gave a perfect 10, and the other four 9.

Some comments:

“Within two weeks I learned more than what I learned in a 2-year formation programme elsewhere.  The best programme I have ever attended. – a truly enriching and enhancing experience. It made me a more confident formator. Great environment. Excellent food and accommodation.” P.

“I came with lots o confusion and self-doubts. The programme was informative, practical and very effective. A transformative Emmaus experience. The very soothing, calm and quiet environment helped in self-realization. I have been enriched by the programme.” B.

“The programme was very insightful and practical. It deepened my self-awareness an enhanced my formation skills, making me more confident. There was great community spirit, everything was just wonderful.” K.

“After attending this programme, I feel now confident an competent as a formator. Very good feelings about the place. Sumptuous meals, great tam spirit.” M.

“Environment created good feelings as a I arrived at the Centre. Learned so many useful things. I am encouraged to go ahead as a formator. Enjoyed our life together. Delicious food.” S.

“In feel happy, contented and privileged. Learned much about myself as a formator. Every topic was relevant. If I didn’t attend this programme, I would have messed up my formation work. Enjoyed the life together.” J.

“The place was very welcoming. Classes very effective, enriching. Well furnished rooms. Excellent food. The atmosphere here taught me lessons on love, listening, reflection and co-operation.”  G.

“The programme gave me strength and courage to go ahead as a formator. Every class was relevant, useful. Wonderful atmosphere and accommodation.” A

 

 

FIRST SUMEDHA SADHANA OF 2023 AT JHARMARI, PUNJAB, CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY

The first Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey— of 2023 at Jharmari, Punjab, concluded on May 02.  This 80-day programme had commenced on February 12.

There were 17 participants (8 religious women from 7 congregations and 9 priests from 3 congregations).

Sumedha Sadhana is designed as an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their psychospiritual journey.

They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their well-being, get in touch with their emotional and spiritual blocks and brokenness and seek healing and transformation so that they can live and minister in more joyful, satisfying and fruitful ways. and integrate the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality.

Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Bioenergetics, NLP, Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, Breathwork, Yoga, Qigong, Multi-media, Prayer & Meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey.

There were seven different modules in this Sadhana: Psychological Dynamics on the spiritual journey which included topics such as somatic meditations, self-awareness, prayerfulness, midlife dynamics, psychosexual and celibate integration which included Celibate Friendships, Sexual Abuse, Trauma and Healing. There were facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of the programmes.

Other modules were Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey (facilitated by Johny Dominic Padinjar), Yoga and Cosmic Spirituality (by Alba Rodrigues), Breath, Spirit and Wellbeing ( by K. C. Thomas Kurianthanam), Challenge in Consecrate Life Today( by Philip Pinto), Group Therapy (by Jose Parappully and Maria Goretti Kanakaratinm). The Sadhana concluded with a Spiritual Retreat facilitated by Jose Parappully.

Methodology was very experiential using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction and Intercession. This was supplemented by Expressive Arts and Dance, Bioenergetics, Qigong and creative liturgies. 

 There were also time for recreation and a group picnic to Chandigarh.

At the conclusion, participates expressed immense satisfaction with the programme and felt they had benefitted from it to a very large extent:

Some comments:

The whole programme has given me the way to journey through life better.”

“This journey healed me physically, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically.”

“The programme helped me to go deeper into myself and understand myself better.”

“it gave me a new understanding of God, of prayer and religious life.”

“The retreat was a unique experience and helped me grow in my spiritual life,”

"I came here with so many masks. I gave in to the constant invitation hearing within me to open myself, to give up the masks, remove the blocks, overcome anger, reconcile with self and others -- learned to relate better with others, build healthy relationships, and I return with peace and joy, energised."

"I came here like a volcano -- anger, depression, disturbed. Now I feel relaxed, gained so much, lots of healing, physically, mentally, emotionally spiritually. No I feel like a strong mountain. I enjoy great peace."

"The programme helped me to re-direct my life."

"It helped me to be a new person. I experience a new dawn."

"The programme on the whole was well planned, nothing was lacking. Hats off to the organisers.”

"I experience warm welcome. Food and accommodation very good. I felt very much at home. Plenty of time to reflect and pray. Working together enriched our journey here."

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from July 1 to September 18, 2023. A few seats are still available. For registration contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com.

Please visit also our website: https://sumedhacentre.org  

Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jharmari is a venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Province of the Good Shepherd, New Delhi