A Psycho-Spiritual Course for the Junior Sisters of the Federation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, India
With a constant emphasis on good formation at all meetings, Pastoral Visitations etc., the Federation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, India organized a much-needed course on Psycho-Spiritual Integration for its junior Sisters. The Course was graciously hosted gratis by the Karnataka-Goa Province at its Provincial House, Sadbhavana, Bangalore, from October 19 to November 18, 2022 with three of its friars as resource persons. 18 Sisters from the Carmels of Bengaluru, Chicalim, Hassan, Kurnool, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Pune, and Vadodara participated. Fr. Ronald D'Souza OCD chalked out the programme together with Fr. Alwyn Sequeira OCD. Dr. Lavina and Fr. Regan D’Souza OCD were the other two resource persons.

On October 19th the inaugural Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial, who invited the sisters to renew their lives in accordance with the mind of our Holy Parents. On October 26th the group was blessed with the presence of Rev. Fr. General who presided over the day’s Eucharist and addressed them on how to be joyful Carmelites within the four walls of Carmel.

The thrust of the Course was a growth in self-awareness at the different levels of the human personality – cognitive, emotional, spiritual and social levels and skills were offered to reconstruct, reform and integrate these various levels so as to grow into an integrated personality with a healthy spirituality. As the resource persons were Carmelites, care was taken to help the Sisters to form the right Carmelite attitudes with regard to their prayer, their personal life and community life. The entire course was a healing, enriching, thought-provoking experience for the Sisters. The resource persons mainly Frs. Ronald and Alwyn gave their quality time to each of the sisters, through their attentive listening, empathizing and counselling.

On November 17th the concluding day, the Sisters had the joy of meeting Rev. Fr. Charles Serrao OCD – the Religious Assistant of the Federation who tied up the whole programme with the reflections he shared. He asked them “If I want to be happy, what should I do?” His brief response covered it all, “Remove ‘I’!” he told them and then went on with some relevant spiritual tips. In the evening, the Sisters put up a small programme for the Sadbhavana friars, to express their gratitude for the great care, concern and kindness they experienced and especially for meeting JESUS in our friars. Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial, celebrated the thanksgiving Eucharist on the 18th after which the Sisters left for their respective Carmels. May this month-long experience enable our Sisters to truly become true reflections of JESUS in the world.