26th SUMEDHA SADHANA Participants’ Appreciation

The last two months (July 4- September 4) we had been journeying together in quest of wholeness. We started from where we were, looking at our “Now Period” of life and what is happening on life’s journey.

Fr. Jose Parappully helped us to explore the current realities of our lives and also our spirituality in the context of changing paradigms. He also helped us to explore the psychological dynamics that are affecting our spiritual life, particularly the midlife dynamics of identity, intimacy, generativity and integrity. He used various psychological theories of development to help us explore these issues.

Fr. Parappully also helped us integrate body, mind and spirit through Somatic Meditations – a combination of Yoga, Music and Dance at the dawn of the day.

We had sessions on “Trauma and Healing” by Sr. Agnes Panikulam. She helped us explore the adverse emotional effects of trauma and provided some techniques to heal from them.

The sessions on “Befriending Our Emotions” by Sr. Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam presented the meaning of emotions and emotional maturity. She helped us explore and understand some of our major positive, negative, hidden and dominant emotions through art, role play, group exercises and by sharing her personal experiences.

Through sessions on “Sexuality, Celibacy & Intimacy” Fr. Parappully helped us to understand the impact of sexuality and affectivity, particularly hetero-sexual friendship, on our celibate commitment and lifestyle.

The sessions on “Sexual Abuse and Healing” by Fr. Parappully helped us explore and understand the impact of sexual abuse and learn about various approaches to healing from them.

In “Feminist & Women’s Spiritualities” Sr. Shalini Mulackal explored the meaning and scope of Feminist spirituality and their implications for us. We also looked at the salient features of spirituality from women’s perspectives.

We had ample opportunities throughout the programme to reflect on our experiences and to share them with one another.  This helped our growth in psychospiritual integration.

We experienced further healing and transformation through Group Therapy. Fr. Parappully facilitated the process, helping us create an atmosphere of freedom and trust in the group wherein we could openly share our brokenness and work through our unresolved issues.

We concluded our Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey integrating all our wonderful experiences at Sumedha in prayer and reflection on the Word of God during our Spiritual Retreat which was also facilitated by Fr. Parappully.

Today as we celebrate the conclusion of our psychospiritual wholeness journey we thank God for the healing and transformation we have been privileged to experience at Sumedha Centre.

Sumedha Sadhana Participants

 September 4, 2014

SUMEDHA SADHANA – A UNIQUE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL PROGRAMME

The 26^th Sumedha Sadhana concluded today (4/9). 

Participants in general experienced it as a “unique” programme that wonderfully integrates psychology and spirituality.

Those participants who had attended similar programmes observed the kind of psychology-spirituality integration in Sumedha Sadhana is something that they have not experienced elsewhere.

Participants evaluated the programme as “excellent. ”Some commonly mentioned observations:

“gained much more than what I had hoped for.”

“a precious experience.”

“a journey deep into my soul.”

“experienced lot of healing.”

“a real gift from God just when I needed it.”

“every aspect of the programme helped to renew myself.”

“the whole progrmame from beginning to end was a growing experience.”

“feel more integrated within myself.”

“very competent resource persons.”

“very well-organised programme.”

“felt very much relaxed, comfortable and welcomed.”

"wonderful environment and atmosphere."

“the food and accommodation was excellent.”

Most participants found group therapy and the concluding spiritual retreat – as a desert experience of “wilderness and paradise” - most enriching segments of the programme.

Next Sumedha Sadhana commences on September 29^th and concludes on November 30^th.

2015 PROGRAMME SCHEDULE AND DESCRIPTION

2015 Programmes

  

1.      (SS-28) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) - (9 weeks)

March 15-May 16

2.    (SS-29) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) – (9 weeks)

June 1–August 2

3. (MP-1) Male Psyche, Masculine Spirituality: A Programme for Men (10 Days). (NEW)

August 13- 22

3.   (SS-30) Sumedha Sadhana (A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) - (9 weeks)

October 2- December 3

Sumedha Sadhana

Course Description: This is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their spiritual journey. They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality and integrate them in healthy ways to create more satisfying life patterns and make one’s ministry more fulfilling.

Course Content: Holistic, Process & Formative Spiritualities; Cosmic, Creation & Feminist Spiritualities; Religious & Community Life; Prayerfulness & Healthy Emotional Life; Midlife Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey; Identity & Vocational Commitment; Intimacy, Celibacy & Sexuality; Generativity, Stress & Burnout; Shadows & Subpersonalities; Trauma, Healing & Reconciliation; The Universe story, Jesus Story and Our Story; Core Transformation -- are some of the major topics that will be explored. Special place is given to group therapy where participants have the opportunity to face their brokenness and fears, their unhelpful patterns of living and relating and move on to healing and wholeness. The programme concludes with a spiritual retreat.

Tools & Techniques: Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, multi-media, prayer & meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey. (Age limit: 32-62 years)

Faculty

Ajoy Fernandes PhD (Personality & Spirituality). Alba Rodrigues MA (Cosmic Spirituality, Yoga). Gerard Alvarez MA (The Storied Word: Ours, Jesus’ and the Universe’s). Joe Mannath PhD (Sexuality, Celibacy & Intimacy). Jose Kuttianimattathil PhD (Core Transformation). Jose Parappully PhD (Psychological Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey, Trauma & Healing, Group Therapy, Retreat). M. Goretti Kanakarathinam MA (Group Therapy, Befriending Our Emotions). MC Abraham PhD (Group Therapy). Shalini Mulackal PhD (Feminist & Women’s Spirituality)

MALE PSYCHE, MASCULINE SPIRITUALITY (New Programme)

Course Description: Men have a distinctive way of seeing themselves and relating to persons and the world around based on the way the male psyche has evolved. This has an impact on their spirituality as well.

In this module we shall explore the uniquely male personality features and their development and impact using various developmental theories, myths and metaphors, following especially the Hero’s Journey. Masculine spirituality will be explored through the lens of Mark’s Gospel.

Faculty: Gerard Alvarez, Jose Parappully

For further information and application form, please contact:

Sumedha Centre. Jeolikote. P. O.  Nainital Dist. Uttarkhand 263127

Ph. 05942-224328. mob. +91-9410941799 (Director). +91-9450915833 (Administrator). email: sumedhacentre@gmail.com

Blog. http:/sumedhabani.blogspot.com  

SUMEDHANS PICNIC AT THE LAKES

Group Therapy (part of Sumedha Sadhana), facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre, concluded yesterday. Participants  expressed a great sense of satisfaction. They were unanimous in their opinion that the therapeutic experience had a healing and  transformative effect on them.

Today (25/8/2014) the participants of the programme along with the staff went on a picnic to the Lakes (Naukuciatal, Bhimtal and Sattal). The picnic, on a glorious sunny day, proved to be a very enjoyable experience for all.

After a day of rest and relaxation tomorrow, participants move on 27/8 into the last module of the programme, the Spiritual Retreat (also facilitated by Jose Parappully).

MIDWAY THROUGH THE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL WHOLENESS JOURNEY

The 23^rd Sumedha Sadhana – Psychospritual Wholeness Journey - begun on July 4 is half way through.

During this period participants journeyed through three different modules – Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey, Trauma and Healing, and Befriending Our Emotions.

Jose Parappully, the Programme Director, facilitated the “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey” – the three–week Foundational module.

Parappully helped participants experientially re-live their developmental experiences following Erik Erikson’s developmental scheme and connect these to their current personality features and relational style.

Following this Parappully explored with the participants their Midlife Journey. He explained the significant Dynamics of Midlife and the Transformational Processes and helped them journey into their past to reconcile with unresolved issues and journey into the future to plan how they want to live out the rest of their lives.

Agnes Panikulam facilitated the “Trauma and Healing” module. Through many real life examples Panikulam presented the nature and consequences of emotional trauma and provided the participants various exercises in self-healing.

Maria Goretti Kanakrathinam facilitated the “Befriending Our Emotions” module. Kanakarathinam presented the meaning of emotions and emotional maturity and helped participants explore and understand some of their major positive, negative, hidden and dominant emotions through research-based data presentation and to process them through art, music, imagery, role play and experiential group exercises. They were introduced to various healing and relaxation techniques.

Celebrations and outings were also part of the Journey Together at Sumedha Centre.

The next Sumedha Sadhana is scheduled for September 29 – November 30, 2014. A few seats are still available. For more information and registration, contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com

COMING PROGRAMMES

The 9-week Sumedha Sadhana - A Psychospritual Wholeness Journey  -- will be offered again on the following dates.

SS-27: September 29 - November 30, 2014

SS-28: March 15 - May 16, 2015

SS - 29:  June 1 - August 2, 2015

SS - 30:  October 2-December 3, 2015

For further information and Registration Form, please contact: sumedhacentre@gmail.com  

26th SUMEDHA SADHANA – THE FIRST WEEK.

The 26^th Sumedha Sadhana – A 9-Week Psychospritual Wholeness Journey – commenced on July 4^th. Participants come from India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The beginning module, entitled “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey,” is facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre. This is a foundational module on which other Resource Persons will build and expand.

The first week was focused on the Spiritual Journey. Parappully helped participants explore the realities of the “Now Period” of their lives, discover all that is going with them, how they are being affected by them and discern what God might be telling them through all these.

He used the Intensive Journal Meditation, along with Expressive Writing and Drawing in this process of discovery and discernment.

Parappully introduced the participants to Process Spirituality and Centering Prayer – a simple approach to contemplative prayer and discussed ways to cultivate deeper prayerfulness.

Somatic Meditations every morning helped participants to move toward greater integration of body, mind and spirit.

Each day’s activities culminated in the Eucharistic celebration in which participants were able to bring before the Lord their experiences of the day and further process and integrate them.

Beginning of the Day and End of the Day Journalling also helped to integrate the weeks’ experiences.

Friday evening and Saturday morning was spent in silent “Recollection” during which particpants had time to further assimilate and integrate the week’s experiences in prayer and through Expressive Writing and Drawing.

At the end of the week, participants reported that they have already begun to re-frame their experiences and beginning to experience greater serenity and meaningfulness on their Psycho-Spiritual Journey.

Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday participants have the leisure to organize their time the way they want. Many of them use the weekend to visit the nearby tourist attractions.