The Renewal Course began as usual with the inauguration session on January 8, 2014 at 6.30. p.m. There was a prayer along with the introduction of the course, resource person and participants. The participant were from four different congregation working in Bihar, North East, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatishgarh and West Bengal States.
The first course was on Psycho-Spiritual Integration by Rev.Fr. Mathew Chemplany, SJ, a well known person, who has vast knowledge of experience and knowledge to guide and to lead them to a healthy life. He spoke about the four levels of needs such as biological needs, security needs, emotional needs and higher needs. The people who practice and live the higher needs are called spiritual persons and self-integrated persons. He further explained about the needs of self-esteem, emotional maturity, sin and guilt, forgiveness, suffering and evil, prayer, religious life, healthy and unhealthy community life.
The second course was on Eco-Spirituality by Rev.Fr.RobertAthickal, SJ. He began the class stating “think globally and act locally, because the whole world is a family; everything has a purpose in its existence.” He stressed that a holistic world view of cousinship with everything and everybody in the universe will lead to respect, care and considerate all persons and things, which would enable the humans to live healthy and wealthy. Eco-spirituality is a way of living one’s life in relation to our home the earth. He emphasized that we need to save electricity and economic use of water with some facts.
The third course was on Graphology for personality growth and development by Rev.Dr.V.Sebastian. The way of writing in a blank paper reveals the emotions and emotional status, life in relationship with others and the past and future, personal self-image and public self –image of the person. In short the brain print is manifested in the handwriting by analyzing slant, size and pressure of letters, margin, club and sting writing as well as signature. It is the non-verbal and non-threatening course.
The fourth course was on community management and community building by Rev.Fr.Subhash, IMS. He stated that community management and community building entails listening to oneself, listening to others and self-disclosure in the atmosphere of confidentiality, trust, openness and compassion. It calls for communication and communion. It requires controlled outlet of anger avoiding jealousy and hatred. The spirit of rapproachment and reconciliation is also required to build community and to make it vibrant, dynamic, joyful and peaceful. It calls for inner healing, sacrifice, self-emptying and forgiveness. He explained all these aspects with examples and anecdotes, stories and facts of community life.
The fifth course was Group Therapy for Self-Awareness and Growth by Rev.Fr. Andrew D’Cunha. Group therapy is like a social laboratory, not only permits, but encourages honest, interpersonal exploration, which is not forced but volunteered in an atmosphere of trust, confidentiality and openness. It is also vulnerable and risky, but the benefit is immense for self-awareness and growth, as well as for inner healing of woundedness. It is a collaborative venture.
Sr. Leema, CSSE, stated that the practical sections were very helpful and touching the heart and mind. The participants expressed a great sense of satisfaction and contentment in the renewal courses conducted for a month as it helped them to explore themselves and to be transformed in their relationship and achieving goals in the future. They expressed their gratitude for the homely atmosphere prevalent in the NavSadhana campus and friendly nature of the Director and staff of NavSadhana as well as for the comfortable accommodation and ambrosial meals. Thanks be to God.
