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.”

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.

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.

RETREAT FOR THE RECTORS AND LEADERS OF THE SALESIAN PROVINCE OF GUWAHATI

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, animated the annual spiritual retreat of the rectors and leaders of the Don Bosco institutions in the Salesian Province of Guwahati, Assam from 13th to 19th September. 

Parappully had done the same last year as well.

The  retreat was based on the theme of the 27th General Chapter of the Salesians held in Rome from 22nd February to 12th April this year - "Radical Following of the Gospel." Parappully was a delegate at the General Chapter.

There were 36 participants.

The  following are sentiments expressed by the participants at the conclusion of the Retreat:

"We thank God for this wonderful experience, for some of us a profound experience, a felt experience of God during these days of retreat, encountering God 'as we are'. 

A wilderness and paradise experience, confronting the demons of our lives and feeling the closeness of God, a burning bush experience, vine and branches experience.

As leaders of communities we are asked to be seekers of God, passionate pilgrims of the absolute. It was a call to shed our cultivated appearances and superficial securities.

We say, a school or college or a Parish is as good as the Principal or Parish Priest. Now, after this retreat, that a retreat is as good as the preacher. The preacher (Fr. Jose)  was excellent. He put us into the right mode, he created the atmosphere, the climate and he knew exactly what the desired objectives were for this retreat.

Fr. Jose, a Salesian who is convinced of his life, and believes in what he says, who walks the talk, who has a passion for living life to the full, who does not shy away from saying what needs to be said and says it with diction, clarity and stress wherever needed. 

Here are some impressions of the participants of the retreat:

1. Januarius Sangma: The preacher combines many essential elements for a fruitful retreat very well: well prepared reflection talks, animation at Eucharist and adoration and lots of time for personal reflection and prayer. Insistence of solitude and silence was really helpful. As leaders, the retreatants showed admirable maturity and seriousness.

2. Joe Almeida - It was thought-provoking - inviting to living GC 27 and bring about a change in our way of living salesian life.

3. Joseph Teron - This is a truly deep Salesian Retreat. So rich in input and deep in reflections!

4. Charles Sangma - In the light of GC 27, the retreat was excellent and the preacher really wonderful, who understood the minds of two Rector Majors Fr. P.Chavez and Fr. Artime.

5. Marcus Lakra - good, inspiring knowledgeable about salesian way of life and living. It was really good. Fr. P.O. Jose - excellent in delivery, makes people think - what and how a salesian should be.

7. KJ Thomas - Powerful, convincing, competent, well-prepared presentation of the radicality of salesian life, mission and governance by animation.

8. Johnson Parackal - very well prepared talks with great content, insights and reflections helped me make a good retreat and very well delivered too.

9. MC George - In his typical salesian approach, powerful messages were passed on with a smiling face and gentle persuasion. 

10. Emmanuel Marangar - Retreat was a unique one for me. The preacher excellent, well-versed with the Bible. He has a profound knowledge on the GC and Church's Teachings.

11. Abraham Kanattu- The preacher was convinced and passionate about the subjects he dealt with.

12. Milon Narjary - It was touching and evoking in the heart.

13. K.O. Augustine - It was so convincing that we get convinced.

14. Albert Tyrniang - Meticulous preparations of presentations, Mass and Adoration

15. Barnabas Mardi - Presenting the most up to date knowledge about the congregation.

16. Denis Sangma - Thought-provoking, forceful, fruitful and up to the point.

17. CA John - Excellent Job - well prepared talks on relevant topics presented with passion and conviction.

18. Stephen Mavely: You strike the right chord all the time...every time!

(Collated and presented by by John Parankimalil)

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN SEPTEMBER

Sumedha Centre did two Outreach Programmes in September enabling many more to benefit from the Sumedha Centre’s expertise.

The first was a Psychospiritual Retreat for the Rectors, Parish priests and Leaders of Communities of the Salesian Province of Guwahati. Fr. VM Thomas, the Provincial who had earlier attended a spiritual retreat facilitated by the Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, wanted the leaders of his Province to have a similar experience.

The retreat was held at the Salesian Provincial House, Guwahati between 8 and 13 September. The retreat was presented and experienced as a “desert journey” – as “wilderness” and “paradise” (Mark, 1, 13). 

The last two days focused on the role of the Salesian Rector/Leader of Community as a “Centre of Unity” and as “Animator of Community.”

Ample time was provided for the retreatants to experience God through Sacred Scripture

The retreatants were very appreciative of their retreat experience. One veteran missionary observed: “In my 62 years of Salesian religious life, this was a most unique experience.” Another simply said, “After several years, I made a really good retreat,” a sentiment shared by others.

  

The second was a Seminar on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” held at Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore on 23 and 24 September for the staff and students of the philosophy and theology departments of the college and for the students and staff of Viswadeep Institute for advanced theological and catechetical studies. There were about 300 participants.

This seminar also was facilitated by Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre. Parappully is the primary editor of the best selling two volume book bearing the same title as that of the seminar.

Participants expressed great satisfaction about the way the topic was dealt with and found it very useful. 

“An extremely useful seminar,” observed one participant summing up the sentiments of others as well. “The topic was handled in a very commendable way.”

SELF-AWARENESS THROUGH JUNGIAN PERSPECTIVES

Sumedha Sadhana participants were busy last week exploring the question “Who am I?” through the module “Self-Awareness through Jungian Perspectives.”

The module was facilitated by Dr. Ajoy Fernandes, a Salesian priest psychologist from the Province of Mumbai.

Dr. Fernandes first helped the participants to identify their MBTI types and then explained how the type influences the approach to life, work, relationships and spirituality.

He then helped the participants to discover, honour and integrate their “persona” and shadow through experiential exercises, active imagination, drawings and movies.

Participants appreciated the programme very much and found it very useful to discover themselves. Even those who have had experience with the MBTI Types earlier observed that Dr. Fernandes’ presentation and approach were far more helpful and richer than their previous encounters with Types.

Participants described Dr. Fernandes’s presentation as “very clear, simple and systematic.” They said it really helped them to identify their personality characteristics, their persona and shadow and move toward greater acceptance and integration of these.

Last week also witnessed the visit of the Salesian General Councillor for South Asia, Rev. Fr. Maria Arokiam, to Sumedha Centre. He arrived on 21st and left on the 22^nd.

He met with the three Salesians at the Centre and spent time interacting with the participants of Sumedha Sadhana. The visitor planted a sapling and impressed on the participants the need for ecological sensitivity.

The Visitor described the services that Sumedha Centre offers as “very essential and much needed, something very much in keeping with what Don Bosco had done in his own time for Church and Society.”