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A two-day Satsangh on Psycho-Spiritual Integration was held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad, from April 3–4, drawing together formators from various formation communities across the province. The event was animated by Rev. Fr Jayaraj ISF, SJ, whose profound psychological and spiritual insights created a space of healing, reflection, and transformation.
Organized by Fr K. P. Mathew SDB, the Provincial Formation Delegate, the sessions commenced with a prayer service and an address by Vice Provincial Fr Michael Kishore SDB, who underscored the importance of inner integration in the formative journey of future religious.
Fr Jayaraj led participants through a journey exploring the deep interconnection between psychology and spirituality. Emphasizing that spirituality must engage with emotional wounds, he proposed that true inner growth happens when grace meets human vulnerability. “Spiritual maturity cannot thrive where emotional wounds go unhealed,” he stated, guiding the participants to reclaim their core identity as beloved children of God.
Key topics included the distinction between facts and affects, the role of the subconscious in emotional healing, and the transformative power of awareness. He differentiated self-discovery from self-awareness—urging participants to move beyond strengths and talents to engage their wounds, defense mechanisms, and unmet emotional needs.
Using the SIPS framework—Sexual/Relational, Intellectual, Physical, and Spiritual—Fr Jayaraj helped participants examine how distorted self-worth takes root and how it can be restored. Particularly moving was the session on reconnecting with the inner child, which encouraged formators to offer their past wounds to God’s healing grace.
Drawing from Ignatian spirituality and the human growth spiral, the sessions culminated in a call to greater freedom and spiritual discernment. “Psychological healing and spiritual growth are not separate paths,” Fr Jayaraj emphasized, “but converging movements toward authentic wholeness.”
Participants reported a deepened awareness, a renewed inner freedom, and a strengthened capacity to accompany formees with empathy and authenticity.
The province extended heartfelt gratitude to Fr Jayaraj for his enriching guidance and to all who contributed to making the Satsangh a transformative experience for the formators.
