ENHANCING INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE AT DON BOSCO.

Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre, facilitated a workshop on “Enhancing Institutional Excellence” for the staff of Don Bosco Sr. Secondary school, Jharmari, Punjab.

The workshop was held on June 30^th at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, situated on thee campus of Don Bosco School.

There were 37 participants.

Dr. Parappully began the workshop with a short meditation and moved on to present what Organizational research shows in regard to factors that enhance institutional excellence.

He then led the group to assess the situation at Don Bosco in the light of the research findings and to commit themselves to actions that will enhance institutional excellence at Don Bosco.

The participants found the workshop immensely useful – “informative and beneficial.”

MIDLIFE DYNAMICS & THE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL JOURNEY

 Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha centre, was invited to facilitate a seven-day workshop on “Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey” by the director of Gyan Deep Bhavan, the Pastoral Centre of the diocese of Jaipur, situated on the campus of the Bishop’s Hose in Jaipur.  

The programme was held from June 13 to 19, 2023.

There were 18 participants – 14 women and four men, including the Director of the Pastoral centre.

The programme was inaugurated by Most Rev. Oswald J. Lewis, the Bishop of Jaipur. In his inaugural address Bishop Lewis emphasised the importance of holistic development of the person, giving due attention to body, mind and spirit dimensions.

In regard to the content of the programme, Dr. Parappully explored with the participants the following: Awakening to Midlife, Midlife Dynamics such as Loss of Meaning and Purpose, Emotional Awareness of Mortality, Sense of Time Restriction, Re-Assessment of Life and its Priorities, De-Illusioning, Emergence or Re-emergence of Sexuality and Intimacy Needs, and Transformational Processes such as Increased Self-Direction, Mourning Our Losses, Integration of Sexuality, Intimacy and Celibacy,  and Atonement.

Participants in their feedback reported that they found the entire programme very relevant for their lives and that they benefitted immensely from it. Several participants gave a 10 out of 10 on the Scale of Usefulness.

Some Comments:

“It was a wonderful journey going within oneself. It has touched the core of my heart. It was such a transforming experience.”

“It was a wonderful course which enlightened me in many ways, cleared many of my doubts.”

“The programme has helped me a lot in my understanding of the journey of midlife. It has taught me how to unburden my baggages of the past and look forward to the future with energy and hope.”

Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey is also part of the “Sumedha Sadhana” Programme offered three times a year at Sumedha Centre.

For the 2024 Sumedha centre programme brochure, please contact at: sumedhacentre@gmail.com

ENHANCING LEADERSHIP SKILLS

 The “Enhancing Leadership Skills” Programme at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing concluded yesterday (11/-06/23). This short two-week programme commenced on May 27 and had five religious sisters as participants.

Jose Parappully and Philip Pinto facilitated.

This workshop explored concepts, styles, functions and challenges of effective leadership. Through

didactic input and experiential exercises, participants were helped to examine their leadership style,

evaluate their leadership potential and learn new styles and more effective ways of functioning as a leader, particularly from a Christian faith perspective.

Topics covered included the following:

 Self-Awareness

 Leadership Basics

 Theories of Leadership

 Assessment of Leadership Styles

 Being an Emotionally Mature Leader

 Transformational Leadership

 Spirituality of Leadership

 Today’s world, Today’s Church, Today’s Leader

 Jesus Today: Our Model of Leadership

 Synodality: A New Way of Governing

 The Leader as Hero and the Leader as Host

 Strengthening the Soul of Our leadership

Methodology was very experiential using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction

and Intercession.

Course requirement included reading assigned material, active participation in group work,

liturgy, and journaling.

Participants were immensely satisfied with the programme. Four of the five particpants gave a 10 out of 10 score for Usefulness of the programme. The other gave 9 out of 10.

Some comments.

·         “The programme was very well organised with lots of time for introspection.”

·         “The inputs were very good and presented very effectively, systematically, with lots of practical examples. The sharing among participants helped to deepen insights from the inputs.”

·         “The atmosphere was very friendly. Facilitators were experts on the topic.”

·         “Very relevant topics for our life as leader. I was deeply contented and happy to be part of this programme.”

·         “Stay was very comfortable. Food was very tasty. Staff very friendly. Relaxed time table.”

Our next programme is the Sumedha Sadhana- A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey from July 1 to September 18. All seats are taken.

Seats are available for the September 27 – December 15 Sumedha Sadhana. Contact; sumedhacentre@gmail.com

“ENHANCING FORMATION SKILLS” PROGRAMME CONCLUDES AT SUMEDHA

The “Enhancing Formation Skills” programme concluded very successfully at Sumedha Centre today. 

This two-week training programme commenced on May 7. This was a special programme organized to mark the 20^th anniversary of Sumedha Centre.

The two facilitators were Johny Nedungatt and Jose Parappully.

The programme provided theoretical input as well as opportunities for participants to reflect on their experiences in the light of the inputs provided and to share them with one another and for personal and common prayer. 

It was organised in such ways as to help participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves  as formators and of their  formees and develop the attitudes, dispositions and skills needed to be more effective formators.

The content of the programme included topics such as:

Portrait of a Formator, Spirituality of a Formator, Psychosexual Integration of Formees, Formation and Emotional Development, Formation Environment, Mental and Emotional Health, Psychosexual Integration, Healing Interventions, Vocational Discernment, and  Spiritual Direction.

Besides the intellectual activities, there were also moments of community relaxation and celebrations which helped to jell the group together..

Although only eight participants (3 priests and 5 religious women) attended, all were immensely satisfied with the programme.  On a scale of 1 to 10 on Usefulness, 1 meaning “Very Little Useful” and 10, “Immensely Useful”, four gave a perfect 10, and the other four 9.

Some comments:

“Within two weeks I learned more than what I learned in a 2-year formation programme elsewhere.  The best programme I have ever attended. – a truly enriching and enhancing experience. It made me a more confident formator. Great environment. Excellent food and accommodation.” P.

“I came with lots o confusion and self-doubts. The programme was informative, practical and very effective. A transformative Emmaus experience. The very soothing, calm and quiet environment helped in self-realization. I have been enriched by the programme.” B.

“The programme was very insightful and practical. It deepened my self-awareness an enhanced my formation skills, making me more confident. There was great community spirit, everything was just wonderful.” K.

“After attending this programme, I feel now confident an competent as a formator. Very good feelings about the place. Sumptuous meals, great tam spirit.” M.

“Environment created good feelings as a I arrived at the Centre. Learned so many useful things. I am encouraged to go ahead as a formator. Enjoyed our life together. Delicious food.” S.

“In feel happy, contented and privileged. Learned much about myself as a formator. Every topic was relevant. If I didn’t attend this programme, I would have messed up my formation work. Enjoyed the life together.” J.

“The place was very welcoming. Classes very effective, enriching. Well furnished rooms. Excellent food. The atmosphere here taught me lessons on love, listening, reflection and co-operation.”  G.

“The programme gave me strength and courage to go ahead as a formator. Every class was relevant, useful. Wonderful atmosphere and accommodation.” A

 

 

FIRST SUMEDHA SADHANA OF 2023 AT JHARMARI, PUNJAB, CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY

The first Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey— of 2023 at Jharmari, Punjab, concluded on May 02.  This 80-day programme had commenced on February 12.

There were 17 participants (8 religious women from 7 congregations and 9 priests from 3 congregations).

Sumedha Sadhana is designed as an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their psychospiritual journey.

They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their well-being, get in touch with their emotional and spiritual blocks and brokenness and seek healing and transformation so that they can live and minister in more joyful, satisfying and fruitful ways. and integrate the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality.

Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Bioenergetics, NLP, Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, Breathwork, Yoga, Qigong, Multi-media, Prayer & Meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey.

There were seven different modules in this Sadhana: Psychological Dynamics on the spiritual journey which included topics such as somatic meditations, self-awareness, prayerfulness, midlife dynamics, psychosexual and celibate integration which included Celibate Friendships, Sexual Abuse, Trauma and Healing. There were facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of the programmes.

Other modules were Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey (facilitated by Johny Dominic Padinjar), Yoga and Cosmic Spirituality (by Alba Rodrigues), Breath, Spirit and Wellbeing ( by K. C. Thomas Kurianthanam), Challenge in Consecrate Life Today( by Philip Pinto), Group Therapy (by Jose Parappully and Maria Goretti Kanakaratinm). The Sadhana concluded with a Spiritual Retreat facilitated by Jose Parappully.

Methodology was very experiential using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction and Intercession. This was supplemented by Expressive Arts and Dance, Bioenergetics, Qigong and creative liturgies. 

 There were also time for recreation and a group picnic to Chandigarh.

At the conclusion, participates expressed immense satisfaction with the programme and felt they had benefitted from it to a very large extent:

Some comments:

The whole programme has given me the way to journey through life better.”

“This journey healed me physically, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically.”

“The programme helped me to go deeper into myself and understand myself better.”

“it gave me a new understanding of God, of prayer and religious life.”

“The retreat was a unique experience and helped me grow in my spiritual life,”

"I came here with so many masks. I gave in to the constant invitation hearing within me to open myself, to give up the masks, remove the blocks, overcome anger, reconcile with self and others -- learned to relate better with others, build healthy relationships, and I return with peace and joy, energised."

"I came here like a volcano -- anger, depression, disturbed. Now I feel relaxed, gained so much, lots of healing, physically, mentally, emotionally spiritually. No I feel like a strong mountain. I enjoy great peace."

"The programme helped me to re-direct my life."

"It helped me to be a new person. I experience a new dawn."

"The programme on the whole was well planned, nothing was lacking. Hats off to the organisers.”

"I experience warm welcome. Food and accommodation very good. I felt very much at home. Plenty of time to reflect and pray. Working together enriched our journey here."

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from July 1 to September 18, 2023. A few seats are still available. For registration contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com.

Please visit also our website: https://sumedhacentre.org  

Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jharmari is a venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Province of the Good Shepherd, New Delhi

 

 

FROM THE HOPELESSNESS AND SILENCE OF HOLY SATURDAY TO THE HOPE AND JOY OF EASTER.

 EASTER VIGIL AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

The Sumedhans Celebrated Easter celebrated Easter Vigil by themselves at the Centre on Saturday night. They had celebrated the Way of the Cross and the Veneration of the Holy Cross the previous day - Good Friday..

On that fateful Good Friday the story had apparently ended. Whatever hopes Jesus had evoked were shattered. Remember the words of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: “We had hoped…..” Now there is only a great silence, the silence of the tomb, a silence that would last all through Saturday.

Holy Saturday is the in-between time – between something old dying and something new emerging. Holy Saturday is the time between the seed falling to the ground and dying and then germinating new life. Holy Saturday is like a dead end, a time when nothing seems to be happening, when one sees no light at the end of the tunnel. 

Good Friday looks like the end of the story. But not really. The story will continue. Light will appear at the end of the tunnel. Death will be conquered. The silence and gloom of Holy Saturday will be shattered in a blaze of glory. Out of darkness a riot of colours will break forth!

This is the great message of Easter. Jesus was killed for dying the Powers Be. But His Father raised him from the dead -- and the story would continue - through so many women and men  of good will, struggling to build the Kingdom of God - where all can live in joy and peace as children of same God, challenging and fighting the Powers Be that seeks to oppress, to fragment and persecute...

When have we felt life to be a long Holy Saturday, when we felt like we have reached a dead end – with no way forward, no light at the end of the tunnel? …. And then surprised – at the happy turn of events? As a popular song says, “there is sunshine after the rain, there is laughter after the pain.”  

For the times we fail to trust in the power of your resurrection, Lord have mercy on us. Heal us of our disappointments and our hopelessness. Fill us with hope and optimism, t help us believe that pain and sorrow do not last forever, that healing is possible, that better times lie ahead....Make us instruments of hope to the hopeless and love to the forlorn. Amen

HAPPY EASTER! BLESSINGS, PEACE AND NEW LIFE TO ALL!

GOOD FRIDAY AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

 Good Friday was celebrated at Sumedha Centre with  a Scripture based Way of the Cross at dawn.

The text of this Way of the Cross was composed by Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre.

The Way of the Cross was conducted, meandering through the campus of Sumedha Centre and Don Bosco School campuses. 

Each station had been set up at various locations on the campus.

different members read the text at each Station and Fr. Parappully, read out a commentary linking the particular station to today's human situation, showing that Jesus' Way of the Cross, made over two thousand of years ago is continued by the suffering and oppressed humanity today.

"Over two thousand years ago Jesus of Nazareth made his Way of the Cross. It ended in ignominious death, and unexpectedly in a glorious resurrection which brought us salvation and redemption.

Today we trace that same path, carrying our own crosses—and humanity’s crosses—, our cares, our anxieties, our problems, our pain, our sorrows and our sins."

At 3 pm, the Sumedha Community celebrated the Veneration of the Holy Cross with the reading of the Passion Of Jesus according to St. John, Intercessions for church and society, and Communion Service. prsided over by one of the members, Ajit Hembrom.