19th SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDED

The 19^th Sumedha Sadhana (Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) concluded on May 9^th, leaving a sense of great satisfaction among the 16 participants. Nine of the 16 gave a perfect 10 on degree of usefulness of the programme, four gave 9, two 8 and one 7.

An earlier post on this blog had given a description of the first month of the programme and the participant’s response.

The months of April-May  had six different modules. Shalini Mulackal facilitated “Feminist and Women’s Spiritualities”, Gerard Alvarez facilitated “Stories: Ours, Jesus’ and the Universe’s”; M. Goretti Kanakarathinam faciliated "Befriending Our Emotions"; Agnes Panikulam facilitated “Trauma and Healing”; M. Goretti Kankarathinam and Peter Lourdes led the therapy groups; and Jose Parappully directed the Spiritual Retreat which concluded the programme.

Comments from participants attest to the effectiveness and high quality fo the programme.

“The outcome of the programme was very good for me. I got the answers for so many questions I had been asking for years. I experienced inner healing. Therapy was most useful of all the experiences here.” (Amala)

“The programme was beautifully organised. There was seamless flow from one module to another, spiralling into greater and greater depths” (Anjali).

“Process spirituality helped me experience God in the bits and pieces of my every day life. Erickson’s theory helped me very much to explore myself from birth until today. I received encouragement, concern, care and love from my companions and resource persons. Therapy helped me very much to accept myself with all my childhood experiences. The culmination of my transformation process took place during the six days of retreat.” (Anne)

“Sumedha Sadhana gave me a second life! The retreat was extraordinarily beneficial.” (Catherine)

“My stay at Sumedha is a memorable one. The warm welcome, the hospitality, the love and care, the accommodation, the food and the facilities provided here are very fine. The beautiful nature is also very enriching and inspiring. Really enjoyed the Sumedha experience, including the sunrise I could watch from my bed. Liked the wonderful home atmosphere.” (Deepa)

“I go back as a new person, a free person. I can write a book about the 70 days.” (Eugine)

“Sumedha was a wonderful experience. I came here worn out. I go back strengthened… I received what the programme promised.” (Jacintha)

“I arrived at Sumedha sick, tensed, worried and angry… I go back feeling so free. The feeling is that of being found after being lost. The place itself is healing” (Leena)

“The retreat was very meaningful. It led me to renew my love for God and be aware of his powerful presence in my life” (Malini)

“I renewed my missionary vocation here. I go back to Africa, to Chad with renewed commitment and strength and great joy. I learned the meaningfulness of prayer here. The meaningful Eucharistic celebrations touched me.”” (Mary Rani)

“In group therapy, I worked very hard, step by step to open myself. That helped me very much. I began to feel better about myself. I have gained confidence in myself. Durng the retreat I realized how God loves me. (Nudjara)

“There was flow from module to module. Lots of time for reflection, leading to deeper and deeper awareness. Group therapy was the climax. It helped me to open up, and it brought me freedom. I learned to open my heart to love and receive love.” (Panarat)

“coming to Sumedha proved to be a gift of God to me. I came believing every thing was in control. Had also wanted to present myself as in control, that everything was fine with me. But gradually I began to uncover my masks.” (Priya)

“I go back renewed physically, emotionally and spiritually.” (Rosary).

“Sumedha Sadhana is the peak point of my life. I got strengthened in my vocation and decided to live it more meaningfully… Felt very welcome at the Centre. Experienced it more like home than institution. The resource persons were wonderful. It’s a programme unlike any I had attended earlier.” (Valsa)

“I felt so much at home- no restrictions. We could go anywhere, anytime, including the kitchen…The resource persons were really wonderful. They came down to our own level, ever ready to be helpful… I was very happy with the accommodation. I had a beautiful room with all the facilities. Everything was available for a comfortable stay.” (Vimala)

ONE MONTH OF SUMEDHA SADHANA

The first Sumedha Sadhana (70-Day Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) for 2012 commenced on March 01. For the first time in 10 years all the participants are women. Sixteen of them, from India and abroad.

Jose Parappully facilitated the beginning module –Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey.  Jose helped participants to look at what is going on in their lives at this juncture of their psychospiritual journey. He helped them to explore their spirituality and recall their childhood experiences and how they impact them currently, using Eriksonian and Attachment theories of development. He also explored midlife dynamics and their impact on their spiritual journey.

Joe Mannath explored Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy. He helped participants understand the nature of human sexuality and the meaning of celibate chastity and suggested means to integrate them in such a way that they are able to give a serene and life-giving witness to the world.

Ajoy Fernandes explored the issue of Identity, using especially Jungian perspectives. Participants were able to discover their psychological type and how that type impacts their spirituality and their relationships. He explained the Jungian concepts of animus/anima, persona and shadow and through experiential exercises helped participants to recognise them and integrate them within themselves.

Gerard Alvarez focused on the spiritual dimension of the programme. Through rituals and experiential exercises he helped participants to understand spirituality from new perspectives. Using insights from Sacred Scripture and the New Cosmology

He also helped them to look at and live their religious commitment with new perspectives and renewed vision,

The programme will continue for another 40 days. The modules that remain include Feminist and Women’s Spiritualities, facilitated by Shalini Mulackal; Befriending Our Emotions, facilitated by M. Goretti Kanakarathinam; Trauma and Healing, facilitated by Agnes Panikulam, and Group Therapy, facilitated by Peter Lourdes and M. Goretti Kanakarathinam. The programme concludes on May 9 with a six-day Spiritual Retreat, directed by Jose Parappully.

There are two more Sumedha Sadhana programmes offered this year. 1) May 22 – July 30, and 2) September 25 – December 03. A few seats are still available for these two programmes.

For further information contact the centre: sumedhacentre@gmail.com

SUMEDHA REACH-OUT PROGRAMMES

December to February is too cold in Jeolikote and so Sumedha Centre does not have any programmes organised here.

During these months, the Centre reaches out to institutions and organisations in different parts of the country.

In December, Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre and a clinical psychologist was at the Don Bosco Renewal Centre, at Bannerghatta, Bangalore for two weeks. He was invited to supervise the practicum of the counselling trainees there.

In January Fr. Parappully facilitated a two-week Group Therapy at Sadhana Institute, Lonavla.

In the first week of February he participated in a 6-day training workshop in Integral Somatic Psychotherapy at Bandra, Mumbai. He facilitated training programmes for the students and staff of Don Bosco Management Institute, Guwahati. 

He also facilitated a four-day Workshop on "Psycho-Sexual and Celibate Integration" for a group of young Salesian priests at the Don Bosco Provincial House in New Delhi.

On March 1^st Sumedha Centre came alive again with the commencement of a 70-day Sumedha Sadhana (Psycho-Spiritual Wholeness Journey) programme with 16 participants.

The cold season continued into March. Spring time is just beginning. The cold is drifting away and the birds have begun to chirp again.

FEAST OF DON BOSCO CELEBRATED

Sumedha Centre celebrated the feast of Don Bosco, founder of the Salesians  who run the Centre, on Sunday the 29th. The liturgical feast of St. John Bosco (Don Bosco) falls on January 31st. However we decided to celebrate on Sunday for convenience sake.

The Eucharist was presided over by Most Rev. Anthony Fernandes, the Bishop of Bareilly Diocese, within whose jurisdiction Sumedha Centre falls. Fr. Julian Pinto, the Vicar General of the diocese, Fr. Arnold OFM from St. Francis Home, Nainital, , Fr. Thomas D'Sa, Director of the Biblical Centre in Bareilly, Fr. John Baptist, pastor of Motinagar, Fr. Pius Menezes, Dirctor of Suchetna Social Service Centre, and Fr. Jose Parappully concelebrated. 

In his homily Bishop Fernandes portrayed Don Bosco as one who was able to attract wayward youth and transform them into useful members of society. He exhorted the clergy and religious of the diocese to emulate him.

There were a number of religious men and women from the neighbourhood (Kathgodam Deanery) present for the feast day Eucharist and the lunch that followed which was tastefully organised by Br. John Minj, the Administrator at Sumedha Centre.

SNOWFALL ON JEOLIKOTE HILLS!

New Year brought snow to the hills above Jeolikote.

There was some snowfall on 8th January night and heaps of it on 9th afternoon. The feast of the Baptism of Jesus was made special in the hills this year!. This was the first time I had witnessed snow on the Jeolikote hills.

At ground level in Jeolikote we had lots of rain and hail on the 9th.

On the 10th night the temperature fell to -1!

And the cold weather continues! Today the 12th snow is falling again!

SUMEDHA SADHANA - A TESTIMONY

PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Ananda Amritmahal, RSCJ

During October and November, I participated in a psychospiritual course run by the SDBs in Jeolikote (about 17 km down from Nainital) in Uttarakhand.  The director of the centre here - Jose Parappully - also conducted most of the sessions.  

I found the course very good - a fine combination of theoretical inputs, much discussion and sharing, deep reflection and personal exploration and prayer - and I think I gained a lot from it. When it was suggested to me I agreed, and I made up my mind that I'd fling myself into the programme as completely as I could, so as to get the most I could out of it.  There was no way I was going to come back thinking, "If only I had...": I had to justify having taken 60 days out of my life - and out of the work at the College - for this!

So, anyway, there I was, entering into everything with everything I had, putting myself on the line wherever it seemed called for.  And truly, I think all that grim determination did pay off.  A lot of stuff that needed unravelling and sorting out inside received the attention it had wanted for years.  Several processes were initiated and I definitely experienced a certain amount of healing (of still- open wounds from the dim distant past that had been buried so deep I didn't even know that they were still oozing!) and learned how to carry the process further.  I learned to understand why I am who I am and why I function as I do, and learned also (this was epoch-making!) to like myself a lot more.  

The place is truly beautiful, a little like Jaiharikhal, though of course the Kumaon hills have a unique flavor, quite different to the Garhwal hills.  It got colder by the day – reached about 10 degrees at night and 16 during the day.  Chilly enough for even a cold-lover like me!  The mornings tended to be clear, but by about 1 or 2 in the afternoon, the mist would come creeping in, and it looked so beautiful, with rays of sunlight slanting through to touch the dimly seen trees and hills with a hint of sparkle.  I wish it had been possible to bring a little mountain mist back, but our Bombay warmth would have made it disappear even before I got home!  

The cook there had a charming little boy, three years old, named Arpit.  He was amazingly unspoilt, given the amount of attention he got from all of us.  I usually called him "Bablu" which is my love-term for all little male creatures.  One day, he wanted me to come and have lunch with him on the table where he had been parked by his mother (her way of keeping him out from underfoot, since he’s still too small to climb down by himself!), so he kept a lookout, and when we arrived, called out "Bablu, bablu" over and over again until I responded!  Somehow, he'd realised that it was a term of endearment, even if he got the gender a bit wrong.  Then another day, he came running with his plate, to eat breakfast with me, and seeing that my shawl was slipping off a little, carefully rearranged it, saying solemnly, "Aapko thand lag jaayegi".  But the most charming was the day when he told me he was eating "chewing gum" and opened his mouth to show me a green sweet inside.  Then, a couple of minutes later, he took the sweet out, and held it towards my mouth, saying "Tum bhi khaao"!  Shades of Shabari and her bohras!

 A friend of mine had called during my first week there, and asked how it was going.  I'd answered that we'd been doing a lot of digging - I meant into ourselves, our pasts, our memories, but she thought they'd put us to work, gardening the hills!  So that was the metaphor being explored in this “poem” – an attempt to articulate something of what the experience was for the 19 of us who were a part of it.  

So we dug deep

unearthing memories, wounds, root causes;

understanding a little more 

of who we were and why.

And then came the sowing - 

different perspectives, fresh insights, clearer vision

nourished our passionate renewing

of an old commitment to love.

Pruning and weeding as we 

examined lives, watered with tears, 

helped the cleansing, nurtured

shoots of trust and confidence.

We return now, bearing sheaves -

reborn hope and faith, rekindled zeal,

smiling at challenges, embracing the real,

welcoming all that tomorrow offers.                                                               

A JOYOUS AND GRACE-FILLED CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a joyous season because we recall a momentous event in the history of the Universe. God took on our flesh and blood, so that we could see God's compassionate face in Jesus of Nazareth.

The Incarnation has set in motion a process of healing the ruptured world and broken lives. We are so fortunate to be part of that process - experiencing healing and providing healing.

May this Christmas bring you healing and peace.

Special wishes to those of you have been part of the healing process at Sumedha Centre. May the New Year bring you many blessings as you continue your Psycho-Spiritual Wholeness Journey.