Media Release
Mapusa, Sep 14: A course on Interpersonal Relationships was organized for the women religious (nuns) by the Emmaus Counseling Centre, Mapusa, Goa from September 10 to September 13.
This four day course attracted participation from nuns belonging to various congregations from communities in Goa and Pune. The inaugural programme to the course was held on September 10 at 9:30 am.
The chief guest and keynote speaker at the inaugural programme was Dr Janet de Souza, associate professor, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Goa.
In her keynote address Dr Janet emphasized that as a woman religious, each participant has responded to a ‘call of love’ and must aim towards being a person ready for challenge and encounter.
As part of community life each participant was invited to enhance their ability to make and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships through this course. She emphasized the need to cultivate friendships that would help educate ourselves and not shut oneself.
Dr Janet highlighted how Mother Theresa of Calcutta was overjoyed with her work because she experienced the love of God in her service to the poor. In community life, she said, there are ample opportunities for encounter.
To achieve true joy in such encounters one must develop a culture of good relationships. The keynote speaker concluded her address by emphasizing on the four fundamental pillars of balanced formation: Spiritual life, Intellectual life, Apostolic life and Community life. She called on each participant to build their vocation on these four pillars.
The Inuagural progamme ended with Fr Anil Viegas, thanking the organizers, guests and participants. Santana Fernandes, assistant professor, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, was the compere at the Inaugural programme.
The four day progamme had sessions on Interpersonal relationships, communication, Listening skills, transactional analysis, emotions, rational emotive behavior therapy and community life.
Two special sessions on Fear and Anger therapy and on psychological testing of feelings and behaviors was also part of the course. The resource persons for the programme were Tina D’Cunha, assistant professor, Post Graduate Department of Psychology, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Goa and BroMalvino Alfonso.
Each session involved a theoretical base to each concept followed by practical application of each attribute in community life. On the final day of the course Bro. Malvino had an indepth analysis and discussion on community life and the challenges encountered and provided solutions and suggestions of how these encounters could be transformed into enriching human experiences in religious living.
Participants were engaged in activities such as group discussions, case studies and identification games to encourage active participation.
The course ended with a Valedictory function on September 13, which was presided over by Sr. Vandana Salonki, FMCK, Secretary, CRI, Goa. In her address Sr Vandana invited the participants to begin anew and make a difference in each of their lives.
“Trim your behavior to fit in the world to carry on a healthy relationship” she said further.
Quoting various Gospel passages, the chief guest highlighted how interpersonal relationships began from the moment God created man. The report of the course was then read out by Sr M Reena.
Feedback of the course was provided by Sr Ignatia, and Sr Rita D’Costa, Sr Cassandra D’Mello thanked the organizers and the resource persons on behalf of the participants.
Fr Diogo Proença, proposed the gracious vote of thanks at the valedictory function. Sr Meera Colaço, compered the valedictory programme.