Although Selvam has lead contemplative retreats for the last six to seven years in Hangwella, at Serene Pastures in Bolawalana, and in Kairos (The Spirituality Centre in Roehampton UK), this is the first time a Contemplative retreat was held from Jan.21-31, 2020 at GnanaVazhi, Kopay in the Northern province, where nineteen sisters from the South and the North and from various religious congregations sat together in contemplative prayer in one of the renovated cottages (named: ‘Contemplative Prayer Home’) at the Sangamam campus. This was part of the dream of Gnana Vazhi. Just last year Gnana Vazhi offered a program for four sisters who were preparing for their final vows, and the program was uniquely defined in the sense they were not only introduced to a contemplative retreat, the emerging spirituality, advaita (towards a non-dual Christianity), but also were personally accompanied for 21 days. This program was tailored to meet the needs of the religious of the future taking into consideration the larger environment. A psycho-spiritual and post –modern scientific approach was taken for this long program. This was another dream of Gnana Vazhi.
Fr. Jegankumar, the director of Sangamam, preached a retreat which had a strong biblical flavour for a group of Oblate Fathers of the province of Jaffna last year. Also some individual priests and religious spent some time personally with some guidance of the members of the staff at Gnana Vazhi / Sangamam.
The next immediate events that Gnana Vazhi is looking forward is to host the AORC meeting in March, and immediately following the AORC conference, a training for spiritual guides (spiritual ‘directors’) here at Gnana Vazhi/ Sangamam. This training program will have two residencies of one month each over two years, and the trainees will have the opportunity to practice with supervision in their own settings during the year i.e. between the two residencies. This training program will have a psycho-spiritual, in the context of the new Universe story, and a contemplative approach. Thus, Gnana Vazhi will have its own unique stamp in all the programs it offers. Come and experience this uniqueness.
Gnana Vazhi is slowly but steadily taking off the ground in spite of the obstacles on the runway, hopefully it will be airborne in the months and years to come, please God. Gnana Vazhi / Sangamam is grateful to the Oblate Administration, all the Oblates of the province for their support, and it hopes that this support will continue in the months and years to come.
Gnana Vazhi is taking this opportunity to share that profit making is not its motive at all, but to offer its services in a depth way to any one – Catholics, people of other faith traditions, religious, priests of all denominations, and why not even their Lordships who wants to make use of the opportunities offered here. If necessary, and when needed, Gnana Vazhi will subsidize the programs as well. With the support of the Oblates of the Jaffna province Gnana Vazhi will go forward, hopefully and with the Presence of God who is the first and foremost accompanier in this journey, to realize its dream.
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