SUMEDHA SADHANA MINI COMMENCES

Another Sumedha Sadhana - the newly introduced Mini (4 weeks) - began on August 6. It will conclude on September 03.

There are 10 participants (4 religious women, 3 diocesan priests, 2 religious priests among whom is one Salesian from North-East, and a Salesian brother from New Delhi province.)

The introductory module of this Mini Sadhana is "Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey" facilitated by Dr. John Dominic Padinjar, the Asst. Director of the Centre.

Johny Dominic helps participants explore the dynamics behind the helplessness that they often experience in not being able to do what they want and doing what they do not want (Romans 7, 15).  Using concepts from Freudian, Jungian, NLP and Transactional Analysis theories he helps them unleash the powers of the unconscious to facilitate the journey from Ego to Self necessary for healing and psychospiritual wholeness.

The next Sumedha Sadhana (9 weeks) begins on October 1. A few seats are available. Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

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.

Sumedha Facilitates Rectors and Leaders’ Meet

Sumedha Centre was invited to facilitate the annual Rectors and Leaders’ Meeting at the Salesian Provincial House, New Delhi on 7-9, September 2016. There were 29 participants.

Johnny Dominic, the Assistant Director of Sumedha Centre facilitated sessions on “Spiritual Accompaniment.” He provided an understanding of spiritual accompaniment” emphasising especially the mystical dimension of spirituality. He also explained the recent document from the Councillor General for Formation on “Personal Accompaniment of Salesians.”

Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, presented the revised “Periodic Assessment of Salesians in Formation (PASIF). Parappully had been involved in the construction, testing and revision of this evaluation instrument from its inception. He described the evolution of the PASIF, explained how it is to be administered and scored and conducted a practice session.

There were also sessions by other Resource Persons. K. C. John, the Economer of the Province presented a letter from the Economer General on the spirituality of stewardship. He also presented the financial status of the Province.

A. M. Jose, Director of Don Bosco Tech, presented the activities of the Organization and the possibilities that are opening up for collaboration with the government and corporates in the area of skills development.

There were report from the chairpersons of the various Provincial Commissions an also an Open Session led by the Provincial, Jose Mathew, where the participants had the opportunities to discuss various issues related to the Province.

The three day meeting ended with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Priestly Ordination of two members of the Province – Hilarius Kullu and James Pazhayajpallil and that of the Religious Profession of two – Thankachan Kollapallil and Mukul Kujur.

YOUNG SALESIAN PRIESTS AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

Twenty six young Salesian priests (ordained within the last 10 years) of the Province of the Good Shepherd, New Delhi attended a four-day programme (August 18-21, 2016) on renewal of priestly life and ministry at Sumedha Centre.

The programme was organized by Fr. Naresh Kujur, the Vice provincial of the Salesian Province of New Delhi.

It was facilitated by Johny Dominic PhD, the Assistant Director of Sumedha Centre and Jose Parappully, the Director.

On the first two days Johny Dominic dealt with “Emotional Maturity.” He helped the young priests to look at their emotional reactions and suggested ways to handle their emotional life in more helpful and effective ways.

Jose Parappully facilitated the last two days. He explored with the young priests "Psycho-Sexual and Celibate Integration." He helped them to look at what is going in their lives in this area and explored with them some of the problematic issues related to the topic and helped them discover ways to address these issues in keeping with their status as men vowed the celibate chastity.

The young priests had opportunities to share win dyads or small groups about their experiences.

These explorations were enriched with creative liturgies in which they were able to celebrate  their joys and challenges in this area.

During the programme Fr. Jose Mathew, the Provincial of New Delhi and Fr. K. C. John, the Economer of the Province, visited the group.

In the afternoon of the last day, the group went on sightseeing tour to Nainital.

The young priests said they found the entire programme very enriching.  The topics were dealt with very competently and openly. They suggested such programme should be organized also for the senior priests of the Province.