SUMEDHA/SPA WORKSHOP AT ERNAKULAM, KERALA “Immensely satisfying!”

The Salesian Psychological Association (SPA), South Asia organised a training Workshop at Ashir Bhavan, Ernakulam Kerala, from 15 to 19 November 2024. Ashir Bhavan is the Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Verapoly

 

This Workshop titled “Growing Toward Psychosexual and Celibate Maturity” is part of the programmes related to the 25^th Anniversary of the SPA. Those responsible for the organisation were Dr. C. M. Joseph, current President of SPA and N. K. George, member of SPA.

 

The Workshop was inaugurated by the newly consecrated auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, Dr. Anthony Valumkal.

 

It was facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully, currently Director of Sumedha Centre for Psychological and Spiritual Wellbeing at Jharmari, Punjab. Parappully was the founding Secretary of SPA for nine years and it’s President for six years.

 

The content of the Workshop Included: Understanding Sex, Sexuality and Intimacy; Chastity and Celibacy; Heterosexual Attachment Dynamics; Some contemporary Challenges—Pornography, Masturbation, Homosexuality and Sexual Abuse.

 

The methodology was process-oriented. There was ample time after the presentations for introspection and group sharing, both micro and macro.

There were 22 participants – 12 religious men and 10 religious women from different congregations and dioceses.

Participants expressed immense satisfaction with the Workshop, its rich content and helpful methodology. Thirteen of the 22 participants in their feedback gave a perfect 10 on a scale of 1-10 on Usefulness, one indicating “Very Little useful” and 10 “Immensely Useful.”

 

Some illustrative comments:

•  “This workshop is more of learning, understanding and also an eye-opener on very many topics at a very deep level. What was most helpful was sharing in groups.” M.
• “I could clarify many of my doubts about sexuality and celibacy.” F.
• “It was very practical, simple, easy to understand. Benefitted immensely from the sessions. I am extremely blessed and happy that I chose to attend it. Thanks for making it so interesting and scholarly.” M.

• “The facilitator explained these sensitive subjects in a unique manner.” F.
• “This workshop was useful for me: systematic and well-prepared sessions; new information with clarity; quite a few of my doubts are cleared.” M.
• “These were really eye-opening sessions for me. My perception of and attitude toward certain persons have changed in a meaningful way.” F.

• “I would say this workshop is a transition event in my priestly life, to love celibate chastity at a deeper level. All the sessions were useful to me personally as well as for my ministry of formation.” M.
• “The workshop was excellent. The way the facilitator explained things enriched me. It is very useful in my life” F.

• “Personally, I could clarify many of my wrong notions about sex, sexuality, genitality, sexual orientation, etc., and I learned the psychological way of dealing with those who need our guidance.” M.

• “This workshop helped to look deep into my personal life. I was able to go through my childhood, adolescence, teenage and adult life. It helped me to evaluate my religious and priestly life. I was able to understand my sexuality more and appreciate it. The values of my celibacy and developing healthy friendships became clearer to me. The Workshop also helped me to understand more those suffering from sexual difficulties, especially with regard to masturbation and homosexuality. In short I am very much enriched by this workshop. The most useful part of the Workshop was the Introspection and personal reflections after every topic. The group sharings were very enlightening. This Workshop should be offered to more groups of priests and religious.” M.

 

 All the participants were given a Certificate of Participation.

 

The Salesian Psychological Association is organising a three-day Training workshop for counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists from January 14 to  16, 2020. It will be held at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore. 

WORKSHOP ON PSYCHOSEXUAL INTEGRATION AND CELIBATE MATURITY AT DON BOSCO INSTITUTE, GUWAHATI

 The Navoprerona Wellness Centre, Guwahati, organised a workshop on Psychosexual Integration and Celibate maturity, under the auspices of the Salesian Psychological Association, South Asia, at the Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati, from 16 to 19^th July, 2024. 

The Salesian Psychological Association, South Asia, is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year. This workshop was the first of many that are planned as part of the Jubilee celebrations.

Dr. Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, Punjab, and former President of Salesian Psychological Association, was the main facilitator.

Sr. K. P. Shobha, and Dr. L. B. Anthony took a session each on the legal and moral aspects of sexuality and celibacy.

Topics covered in the Workshop included Understanding Psychosexual and Celibate Maturity, Sex, Sexuality and Intimacy, Sexual Boundary Violations, Abuse and Healing, Celibacy and Heterosexual Attachment Dynamics and Online Pornography.

There were 34 participants – 18 women and 16 men, from various parts of the North-East and Kolkata.

Participants found the workshop immensely helpful for their life and ministry.

Twenty four of the 34 participants gave a perfect 10 put of 10 on the Degree of Usefulness of the Workshop and another seven gave a 9 out of 10.

The general comment on the workshop shared by many was: “The sessions were fantastic!”

Some other comments;

“The workshop was very useful because I learned many things which were never openly discussed before. Everything was an eye-opener.” F.

“I came to know more about my own sexuality. Earlier I looked at it as my burden and problem in living out my vocation. Through the workshop I realise that I can live out my vocation meaningfully accepting the daily struggles involved in it.” M

“The workshop enlightened me about some aspects of sexuality of which I was ignorant of and needed necessary clarification. “M

“All religious (men and women) should be given a chance to attend such workshop.” M.

The workshop provided me with much knowledge, cleared many of my doubts and provided me with practical tips on how to deal with certain personal issues in living my religious life meaningfully. F.

“The workshop was useful me because first of all it helped me to understand the beauty of sexuality and also to accept my sexuality. “M.

“I have benefitted immensely from all the topics discussed. They were very apt for my life.” M.

 

The Salesian Psychological Association’s next Jubilee Workshop is on “Online Pornography” on 10^th and 11^th August at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore.

PROTECTION OF MINORS FROM ABUSE

The Salesian Psychological Association (SPA), South Asia, in collaboration with the National Biblical, Catechetical, and Liturgical Centre, Bangalore organized a Seminar on “Protection of Minors: Implications for Church Institutions” from12th to 15th December 2015.

The organization of the Seminar was led by the secretary of the SPA, Raja Dhonti, and former secretary, Jose Parappully and the director of NBCLC, Sagaya John.

Members of 22 congregations and dioceses participated in the four-day Seminar.

The following made presentations at the Seminar: Thangam George and Sheila Devaraj from Bangalore (Prevalence and Attitudes Toward Sexual Abuse of Children), Jose Parappully from Delhi (Protection of children from Sexual Abuses Act 2012, CBCI Policy on Protection of Minors, 2015, Healing from the Effects of Sexual Abuse), John Tharakan from Hyderabad (Ethics and Boundaries Related to Sexuality and Care of Children, Indian Laws Related to Sexual Offences) and Noel de Sa from Mount Abu (Setting Up and Following Policies and Procedures).

Even though the primary target audience was Catholic Bishops and Major Superiors of Religious Congregations, only one Major Superior attended. The participants were mostly those working with children or those involved in the formation (training) of priests and religious.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN DECEMBER 2014

SEMINAR AT DON BOSCO PHILOSOPHATE, KARUNAPURAM

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, was the lead speaker at a seminar on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” at the Don Bosco Philosophate, Karunapuram, Telengana State on 8-10 December.

About 150 students of Philosophy attended the seminar.

There were two other presenters – Jose Kuttianimattathil (Co-Editor of the book on the subject of the Seminar) and John Tharakan who has contributed three chapters to the book.

Parappully introduced the topic and made presentations on Sexual Orientation, Sexual Behaviours, Sexual Harassment and Abuse.

Kuttianimattathil presented on Human Maturity and Celibate Friendship.

Tharakan presented on Boundaries and Boundary Violations.

TRAINING OF FORMATORS, MANGALORE

Jose Parappully was invited to be part of the “Formation of Formators” training programme organized by the Conference of Religious of India at Ryshivana Retreat Centre in Mangalore.

There were about 50 participants in the training programme.

Parappully took seven 90 minute sessions, spread over two days on 12^th and 13^th December, on Mental Health and Religious Formation.

SALESIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

Parappully participated in the annual meeting of the Salesian Psychological Association at Ramanthapur near Hyderabd on 15-16 December.

At the meeting he made a presentation on the recently published DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 95^th Edition). He highlighted the changes from DSM-IV and made detailed presentation on the DSM – 5 Alternate Model of Personality Disorders.

Peter Lourdes, a Salesian priest of the Province of Kolkata, is one of the first priest psychologists in India.

Fr. Lourdes has nearly 50 years’ experience in counselling, spiritual direction, teaching and training, seminars for priests, religious and educators.

He was for several years Programme Director and Head of the Psychology Department at National Vocation Service Centre, Pune. He was the first President of the Salesian Psychological Association. Currently he has a psychotherapy practice in Kolkata.

Fr. Lourdes holds a D. Psych in Clinical Psychology from Salesian University, Rome, Masters in Somatic Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, and a PhD in Counselling Psychology from Loyola University, Chicago.

He is certified as a Massage therapist from the San Francisco School of Massage therapy.

Fr. Lourdes has been a member of the Visiting Faculty at Sumedha Centre from its very beginnings in 2003 until this year. Each year he has led two or more therapy grous as well as offering other programmes.

Peter made his religious profession on 6^th December 1944 and was ordained a priest on 5^th December 1954. The 6oth anniversary of his ordination and the 70^th anniversary of his religious profession were celebrated on 5^th December 2014 at Nitika Don Bosco, Kolkata where he currently resides and practices as a psychotherapist.

A number of his family members from Australia, Kolkata and Khargpur In Bengal  graced the occasion.

About 15 fellow Salesian priests joined him at the concelebrated Holy Eucharist and the felicitations and dinner that followed.

On the occasion Fr. Lourdes' latest book "Wow Jesus!" was released.

Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha, represented the Centre at the jubilee celebrations.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH: SEMINAR ON PSYCHOSEXUAL INTEGRATION AT HYDERABAD

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, was the main presenter at a Seminar in Hyderabad on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” – the theme of the book he recently co-edited.

The Seminar was organised by the Salesian Psychological Association in collaboration with the Salesian Province of Hyderabad. It was held at the Salesian Provincial House, near Himmatsagar.

Around 50 Salesians (Rectors, leaders of communities, and the Delegates of various Commissions) and around 25 catholic nuns from around Hyderabad, as well as from far away New Delhi, participated.

This was the third Seminar on the theme that the Salesian Psychological Association organised. The first was in February in New Delhi, and the second in April in Bangalore.

Parappully had presented at the previous two seminars as well. At Hyderabad he made four presentations: Emotional Maturity and Psychosexual Integration Across the Life Span; Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behaviours; Healing from the Effects of Sexual Abuse; and Psychosexual Integration, Celibate Maturity and Spirituality.

The other presenters at the Seminar were Jose Kuttianimattathil (Co- Editor of the book) on Psychosexual Integration, Celibate Maturity and Formation; John Tharakan on Boundary Violations, Gender and Legal Issues; and Anton Paul on Canon Law and Sexual Boundary Violations. Sr Gracy and Fr. John Sebastian (both Novice Masters) joined the presenters in a panel discussion.