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.

SALESIAN PRIESTS CELEBRATE JUBILEE AT SUMEDHA

Sumedha Centre was happy to host 10 Salesian priests from the provinces of Guwahati and Dimapur from 27 to 29 September. They were celebrating 25 years of priesthood.

The Jubilarians spent the first two days reflecting on and sharing their experiences of the past 25 years. Fr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha, took a session on Midlife Dynamics and their implications for priestly life and ministry, which gave them further matter for sharing.

As they were all new to the Kumaon Hills, the jubilarians took time on the third day to tour the area. They were quite impressed by the surroundings, and enjoyed their visit to the various lakes in the vicinity of Sumedha Centre.