Religious and Priestly Formation and Emotional Health - Part 1
ARTICLES
Posted by PARAPULLY Jose, New Delhi
This is an unedited version of an article on religious and priestly formation co-authored by Jose Parappully and Joe Mannath that was published in the Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection.
(102.28K)
11/07/2010. INN #R.474
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Anjilikuzhiyil Thomas, New Delhi
Fr. Joe Arimpoor,sdb has been involved in the evaluation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes for the past ten months. He has been studying in depth their charism and mission in order to evaluate their LIFE, MISSION AND MINISTRIES. Their charism is to contemplate the Trinitarian communion, live this communion in their communities, and build communion in their ministries. Towards the end of the study he had a dream which he narrated to us:
``I was rewarded with a dream by God. The Holy Trinity invited me for a walk. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit accompanied me to a big garden of fruit trees. There were more than a thousand trees. I asked why this special favour. They said that it was a reward and at the same time an additional responsibility. Why a reward? I asked. They said: for all the trouble you took in studying their charism and clarifying it to them as well as accompanying them in this journey and challenging them with timely and relevant prophetic inspirations.
The trees in the garden had labels on them. When I looked at them closely I found they were names of the various religious congregations. Some of the trees were laden with plenty of fruits. Others had few fruits. Still others, hardly any fruits at all. Some of them were marked with a red sign. I also noticed that there were vacant places where apparently there were trees in the past. Some others remained with the stump with the tree already cut down.
I asked the Father for an explanation of all these. He said that the trees with abundant fruits are those who are ever faithful to their founders and charism. They update themselves and become ever relevant. They respond to prophetic interventions with courage and generosity. They are ever mindful of the Missionary ideal and launch out to difficult terrain to spread the Word of God.
Those who are bearing few fruits are those who experience the gap between the origin and initial enthusiasm and the present distance chronologically and geographically; deviation from their charism and lack of initiatives and creativity to incarnate their original charism ``here and now``.
Those with the red signs are those which are marked to be cut down because they do not bear fruits for long time now.
Those stumps are the trees cut down recently because they did not improve even after the warnings.
The empty spaces are the places where there were trees in the past. They became a burden to the ground and bore no fruits. They were cut down and removed quite some time back.
Now my curiosity was aroused. I asked the Father to show me the SJT tree. I found that there were not many fruits. I asked them why there was no sign on it for being cut down.
They answered - The SJTs have taken a bold and courageous step of getting their province evaluated by a prophetic person. They are now in earnest to renew, revitalize and re-launch their charism in the modern context. They have asked for a lease of six years and promised to bear fruits. Hence they have been spared.
Then I asked Them if they had any particular message for these sisters. The Father took the lead to mention four sure guidelines to make the congregation flourish in the new millennium:
1. Return to your founders; capture their original spirit and live it in the present context.
2. Live the charism to the full, especially focus on the communion in the communities.
3. Make a radical shift to the poor and the marginalized.
4. Nurture and promote prophetic interventions.
5. Develop missionary zeal among the members.``
I said my memory is short. Can I get a paper and pen to write these down? In my hurry to search for the pen and the paper I woke up.
We are so grateful to the Holy Trinity who has spoken to us and given us the timely warning through Fr. Joe`s dream. Thanks to you too, Fr. Joe.
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by FERNANDO Rajkumar, Chennai
Anybody can have a positive attitude when things are going well. What really matters is its how you act when things are going badly that determines the strength of your character. An appropriate attitude means feeling hopeful in challenging times.
(26.00K)
25/04/2008. INM #R.392
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Joseph PUTHENPURAKAL, Guwahati
Integral description of the important concept and reality of evangelization with special reference to our Salesian context
(32.00K)
24/03/2008. ING #R.388
I have prepared this power point with the view that some of us can profit by this short reflection from our Salesian Strenna 2008. One can also free to open in new file to make modification to this resource.
(388.50K)
24/03/2008. IND #R.387
It`s a story of a tiny frog that someone e-mailed me. Be positive in what you do and don`t be pulled down by others discouragements.
(115.50K)
14/03/2008. IND #R.385
Consultation on
``HUMAN FORMATION OF PRIESTS``--Challenges in Asian Context
at the Salesian Retreat House, Hua Hin, Thailand, 15-19 May 2006, organized by Federation of Asian Bishops` Conference`s Office of Clergy.
Abstract:
There is greater acknowledgment today of the sexual difficulties and problems priests face and the need to have formation programmes that assist candidates to integrate their sexuality and their celibate calling. This paper outlines some of these difficulties and problems and specific helping interventions that can be used to facilitate this integration. It emphasises the importance of the quality of the helper`s presence, his attitudes toward sexuality and the sex offender, capacity to listen sensitively, and relate empathically, as well as his competence in the helping skills.
(271.43K)
22/02/2008. INN #R.379
The positive psychology movement took off in the States around seven years ago. For too long, psychology had focused on a `disease` model - in other words finding out what was wrong with people and trying to fix it. The time had now come to focus on what was going right - and look at how to build on this to increase people`s happiness, satisfaction and well being.
Read this and make a difference in your community and family!
(33.50K)
15/02/2008. INM #R.371
Addition to Material on Specifi Formation of Brothers
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Vazhamplackal Abraham, Guwahati
Another word to those who have read my writings on the new Specific Formation Course for the Salesian Brothers of South Asia on the website!
(25.50K)
24/01/2008. ING #R.363
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Vazhamplackal Abraham, Guwahati
An abridged version of the Syllabus for the two-year `Diploma Course in Theology` for the Salesian Brothers of South Asia as part of their Specific Formation Programme.
(101.50K)
24/01/2008. ING #R.362
ARTICLES
Posted by Vazhamplackal Abraham, Guwahati
A paper presented at the Seminar on Salesian Mission on the occasion of the Centenary of Salesian Presence in South Asia, held at Bangalore, India, from 1-5 January, 2006.
(131.00K)
24/01/2008. ING #R.360
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Vazhamplackal Abraham, Guwahati
11 questions on the `Diploma Course in Theology` for the Salesian Brothers of South Asia, being offered at Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong, India, since August 2005.
(92.50K)
24/01/2008. ING #R.359
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Vazhamplackal Abraham, Guwahati
A letter that I wrote on 15 August 2005 to the first group of Salesian Brothers doing the two-year Diploma Course in Theology at Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong, India. (Abraham M.A.)
(153.00K)
24/01/2008. ING #R.358
Evangelisation, CONCLUDING MESSAGE of DBYA-SA Seminar, Mumbai, 2-4 October 2003
ANIMATION NOTES
Posted by Abraham Vettical, New Delhi
Among other things, the message says: ``It is the love of Christ that urges us onward. Having been touched by His love, we cannot but desire to share it with others, in the hope that they too, like us, may have the joy of knowing Jesus and may experience his liberative power in their lives.``
(28.50K)
18/01/2008. INN #R.352
Fr. Joe Arimpoor,sdb has been involved in the evaluation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes for the past ten months. He has been studying in depth their charism and mission in order to evaluate their LIFE, MISSION AND MINISTRIES. Their charism is to contemplate the Trinitarian communion, live this communion in their communities, and build communion in their ministries. Towards the end of the study he had a dream which he narrated to us:
Anybody can have a positive attitude when things are going well. What really matters is its how you act when things are going badly that determines the strength of your character. An appropriate attitude means feeling hopeful in challenging times.
Integral description of the important concept and reality of evangelization with special reference to our Salesian context
I have prepared this power point with the view that some of us can profit by this short reflection from our Salesian Strenna 2008. One can also free to open in new file to make modification to this resource.
This article is based on a paper presented at
The positive psychology movement took off in the States around seven years ago. For too long, psychology had focused on a `disease` model - in other words finding out what was wrong with people and trying to fix it. The time had now come to focus on what was going right - and look at how to build on this to increase people`s happiness, satisfaction and well being.
(32.00K)
(388.50K)
(102.28K)
