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.

32nd Sumedha Sadhana Gets Near Perfect Score!

The 32^nd edition of the nine-week-long Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey (June 1- August 2 2016, concluded yesterday to the great satisfaction of all.

Seven of the 10 participants gave the programme gave 10 out of 10 (including two 10+) in terms of usefulness of the programme and meeting their expectations. There were two 9s and one 8.

A common theme running through the feedback from participants is that they have been healed and transformed in ways they never expected. They go back very different persons than who they were when they arrived at Sumedha Centre. They got more than what they had hoped for.

A few typical comments:

“The course satisfied my desires and compassionately accompanied me to journey inward, reconcile with my past, love myself, adopt a healthy spirituality, befriend my shadows, be more open to close relationships. I came to know Jesus of Nazareth and fell in love with him once again. The personal consultations gave me courage to open myself and I experienced freedom. My desire and the goal which I set on the first day of the programme were fully realized. Very Holistic Course.”

“My goal has been realized 100 %. The course was well organized in every minute detail.”

"I came here disillusioned, shattered, wounded, frustrated, full of regrets, wanting to leave religious life. I was able to face my inner demons, experience healing. I go back renewed, recommitting my life to God and a burning desire to be the compassionate face of God to all who cross my path.”

“Every day was a profound inner journey – a mirror held up to me, to see myself more clearly. I have become a totally new person, hopeful of living my religious life meaningfully. Sumedha has been a unique experience, something I never experienced before and one I think is available nowhere else.”

“All the inputs of modules were very profound and enriching. First time I have received such a nice and spiritual course.”

“After a long time I made a very meaningful spiritual retreat.”

"Hospitality, accommodation, food, services, climate were all excellent. The supporting staff had a pleasant smile for me. I truly felt at home. The place was amazing.”

Thanks to the four facilitators of this edition of Sumedha Sadhana: Joe Mannath PhD (Psychosexual and Celibate Integration); Johny Dominic PhD (Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey); Jose Parappully PhD (Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey, Holistic and Process Spiritualities, Spritual Retreat);  Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam MA (Group Therapy); and to the Administrators: Anand Tirkey and Justin Lakra.

The  33rd Sumedha Sadhana is from September 28 to November 29, 2016. Registration is open. Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

SUMEDHA OUTREACH IN THE PHILIPPINES

The director of Sumedha Centre was invited to conduct three workshops in the Philippines by the Salesians of the Southern Philippine Province.

These workshops were held at the Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Cebu City. It is a beautiful location set on hill top from where you can see the ocean in the distance.

The  first two one-day workshops were meant for perpetually professed religious, both men and women.

The third workshop  (two-days) was for the Heads of the Salesian institutions in the southern Philippines and for members of the Formation Commission of both the Salesian Provinces in the Philippines, North and South.

The topics covered during the workshops included: Psychosexual Integration and Human Maturity, Some Problematic Sexual Behaviours; Sexual Boundary Violations; Celibate Maturity; and Psychosexual Integration and Spirituality.

The Workshops were based on the two-volume book "Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity" published last year, of which Jose Parappully is the primacy editor.

The workshops were very much appreciated by the participants. A general observation expressed was these were "very enlightening and useful."