Shillong (India). From 18 to 20 June 2022, at the FMA Outreach in Shillong, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from the years of Profession from 2000 to 2009 of Immaculate Heart of Mary Province (INS) participated in a seminar on the theme: “Embracing Psycho- Spiritual Wholeness, The Midlife Journey … A Call to Go Deep”- Embracing Psycho-Spiritual Integrity, The Midlife Journey … A Call to Go Deep.
Sr. Philomena D’Souza, FMA of the Province of St. Mary Mazzarello (INB), with experience in the field of youth ministry and female empowerment, led the meeting with methodological strategies and with careful accompaniment, which facilitated the group dynamics and thematic insights.
During the three days of the seminar, the sisters dealt with various topics useful for their psychological and spiritual growth. Sister Philomena guided the FMA to undertake the journey of introspection of their own self and to connect it with spirituality, in particular as consecrated persons.
Through the various reports on the middle-age journey, the integration of strengths and weaknesses, the integration of gray areas and emotions, prayer in moments of suffering, aspects related to affectivity and the spirituality of middle age, as a fertile and generative age, the participants came to a greater knowledge of themselves and their potential.
Participants explored the techniques of self-introspection, which leads to self-discovery. Teamwork and sharing were other opportunities to be able to freely express their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and experiences. The FMA realized that they are living similar experiences, albeit with different intensities. The presentation of the theories of well-known psychologists was a further help to recognize one’s feelings and bring them back to the feminine dimension.
The last part of the seminar was a return to memory in which the sisters of the different Profession groups happily shared some memories of the years of formation, thus experiencing greater closeness. Each FMA embarked on the journey of her own personal life to fully face the mission entrusted to her in her own Community.
The Provincial of the INS Province, Sr. Elizabeth George, was present with the group at all times and, at the conclusion of the seminar, she encouraged the FMA to live their consecration in a more meaningful way, carrying out the commitments undertaken in the course of the seminar.
