The First Sumedha Sadhana at New Location of Jharmari , Punjab, Concludes

 

The first Sumedha Sadhana to be held at the new location of Sumedha Centre at Jharmari, Punjab concluded on May 31st. It began on March 17. 

At the final evaluation, participants expressed great satisfaction with the programme and said they found the programme immensely useful for their psychospiritual journey. There were 18 participants – 12 women religious and six priests.

 

Of the16 participants who filled in an evaluation form, five gave a rating of 10, and seven of 9 on a 10-point scale of usefulness, 1 indicating “Very Little Useful”, and 10 “Immensely useful.” All said their goals for the programme had been achieved.

 

Some comments:

“The programme offers a sort of complete BODY, MIND send SPIRIT wholeness journey.” D

“I have been completely healed of fear, sadness and anxiety.” A.

“I came here with brokenness wanting to be repaired. My goal has been met to a great extent.” M.

“Sumedha Sadhana has been for me a profound journey of self-awareness and God consciousness.” R.

“Sumedha Sadhana was a perfect launching pad – into the past and into the future. To reconcile with unresolved issues of the past, and plan the journey ahead.” D.

“This programme helped me to come out of my emotional bondages. Also it energized my body and enhanced my spiritual life.” J.

“I was in the right place, at the right time. I experienced healing in my life by learning to forgive in a more practical way.” S.

“It was an encounter of God, myself, and my vulnerabilities.” J.

“The entire programme of Sumedha, all facilitators, topics, community of Sumedha, participants were a unique experience for me. Welcome, hospitality were highly remarkable.” L.

“Welcome was gracious. Hospitality was wonderful. Accommodation I enjoyed having my own space. Food was excellent. Campus had enough space to walk, pray and experience silence and solitude.” V.

 

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 wellbeing, get in touch with their emotional and spiritual blocks and brokenness and seek healing so that they live and minister in more joyful, satisfying and fruitful ways.

 

The programme had several modules. The opening module was on Self-Awareness facilitated by Jose Parappully who also facilitated modules on Somatics; Spirituality; Prayerfulness; Midlife Dynamics; Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy; and Trauma and Healing. Johny Dominic facilitated the module on Unconscious Dynamics. 

The module on Yoga and Cosmic Spirituality was facilitated by Alba Rodrigues. KC Thomas Kurianthanam facilitated “Breath, Spirit and Wellbeing.” Philip Pinto explored with the participants the “Challenges of Consecrate Life today.” Johny Dominic and Jose Parappully facilitated nine days of intense Group Therapy. The programme concluded with an eight-day Spiritual Retreat, facilitated by Jose Parappully.

 

The intense psychos-spiritual work was accompanied by moments of relaxation and recreation culminating in a group picnic to Chandigarh, during which the participants were able to spend some time with Bishop Ignatius Mascarenhas of Simla-Chandigarh diocese wherein Sumedha Centre is located and enjoy the hospitality of the Don Bosco Navjeevan community. 

Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday being free the participants were also able to organize trips to other tourist spots such as Simla and Amritsar.

 

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from June 12 to August 27,2022.

 

Inauguration of Sumedha Centre at Jharmari, Punjab

March 19, 2022  was a another Red Letter day in the annals of Sumedha Centre. 

The renovated hostel building at Don Bosco Jharmari is the new home of Sumedha Centre. 

The building was blessed and inaugurated today by Rev. Fr. Davis Maniparamben, the Salesian Provincial of New Delhi, in the presence of Fr. Ambrose, the Procurator of the Simla-Chandigarh diocese, a good number of Salesians and the participants 43rd Sumedha Sadhana (17 March-May 31, 2022).

The blessing ceremony began at the entrance lobby, where a statue of St. Joseph, patron saint of Sumedha was placed. This statue was blessed and carried by Fr. Jose Parappully, Director of the Centre,  into the Chapel while Fr. Provincial, Fr. Ambrose and Fr. Thomas Anjilikuzhyil, Assistant Administrator at Sumedha,  went around the building blessing it. All moved then into the new chapel.

Fr. Parappully welcomed all and gave an introduction in which he thanked all those involved in renovating the hostel building and getting it ready for the inauguration, He especially mentioned the Don Bosco Jharmari community who have been very cooperative and generous. 

Br. Cyriac Kurias, of Don Bosco Technical institute, New Delhi,  who volunteered to plan and execute the renovation works, and provide for the various facilities and utilities and who had made several trips from Delhi to Jharmari to supervise the works was thanked in a special way. Sumedha Centre is deeply appreciative of his generosity and practical compassion.

The participants of the Sumedha programme who worked hard to get the place ready from the time they arrived., the workers especially Mr Joseph, the DBTI  electrician and plumber, and Mr Abir, the electrician of the New Delhi Salesian Provincial House whom the Provincial Economer Fr. Biju Abraham had made available, both of who had been here for several weeks working day and night, were also thanked..

Then the Holy Eucharist  began, presided over by the Provincial. The homily on St, Joseph was preached  by Fr. Ambrose. At the end of the Mass, Fr. Joseph Kezakkekkara, the first Salesian Provincial of New Delhi and who had encouraged the setting up of the Bosco Psychological Services and later the Sumedha Centre, expressed his appreciation for the services that Sumedha Centre is offering.

Mass was followed by a festive lunch. It was partly catered by Mr. Johnson of New Delhi, arranged by Br. Cyriac Kurias, and partly by local caterers arranged by Fr. Bhushan Barla, the Principal Don Bosco Jharmari,.and Fr. Yesudas Karakkattu,  the Administrator of Sumedha Centre.

Bishop Ignatius  of Simla-Chandigarh presided at the Holy Eucharist at 11.00 am the next morning. Fr. Davis Maniparamben, the Salesian  Provincial of New Delhi, welcomed the Bishop and thanked him for allowing the Sumedha Centre to operate from the diocese. Bishop Ignatius expressed his happiness that Sumedha Centre is now in his diocese and welcomed the Centre and its staff and programme pariticipants to the diocese. He gave a very instructive and moving homily on how the Sumedha Centre can be of great help to priests and religious. Bishop stayed for lunch and left afterwards.

The same evening the fist Sumedha Sadhana at the renovated hostel building commenced with an introduction from Fr. Parappully. There are 18 participants (6 men of whom 2 are Salesians, one from the Panchim province and the other from the Dimapur province; three are three diocesan priests and one religious priest) and 12 religious women from 10 different congregations.

The paintings in the new Chapel of the Emmaus  journey (Luke 24, 13 ff) were done by Br. Mathew John of Don Bosco Technical Institute, New Delhi. Sumedha Centre is deeply appreciative of his work.