PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL INTEGRATION COURSE
Auxilium Provincial House, Tiruchirappalli
The Psycho-Spiritual Integration Course for the Sisters of the Province was held at the Auxilium Provincial House, Tiruchirappalli, and was animated by Rev. Fr. Joye James, SJ, a renowned Jesuit spiritual guide and counselor. Drawing from his deep experience in accompaniment and psycho-spiritual formation, Fr. Joye enriched the participants through compassionate guidance and profound insights.
The course was designed to offer a sacred and safe space for the Sisters to reflect on their life journey, integrate spiritual and emotional experiences, and deepen their sense of identity and vocation. To ensure relevance and depth, the participants were grouped into three batches based on the number of years since their religious profession.
Batch I: 16–17 July 2025
(Sisters professed between 2011 and 2025)
This batch brought together 40 young and vibrant Sisters, who are in the early to middle stages of their religious life. The sessions focused on the integration of personal emotions with community living and apostolic mission. Through guided meditations, sharing, and group activities, the Sisters explored the importance of emotional maturity, self-awareness, and spiritual rootedness in their vocation.
Fr. Joye James, SJ, emphasized the importance of healthy boundaries, prayerful discernment, and inner freedom, especially during the formative years. The Sisters found the experience renewing and empowering, rekindling their joy and commitment to live their consecration with purpose.
Batch II: 18–19 July 2025
(Sisters professed between 1992 and 2010)
This batch consisted of 44 Sisters, who are in the rich and demanding middle phase of their religious journey. The sessions served as a valuable pause to re-read their life story in the light of God’s enduring love. With wisdom and sensitivity, Fr. Joye guided them through themes such as inner healing, overcoming fatigue, and reigniting their passion for mission.
Many participants expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to rediscover the deeper meaning of their vocation. The sessions allowed them to reconnect with the strength and joy that first drew them to their calling.
Batch III: 20–21 July 2025
(Sisters professed between 1973 and 1991)
This batch gathered 30 senior Sisters, the pioneering pillars of the Province, whose decades of faithful service have been the bedrock of its growth. The sessions offered a profound space for deep sharing, inner reflection, and spiritual healing.
Fr. Joye gently led them to revisit their life’s journey — acknowledging joys, wounds, and silent sacrifices — while focusing on themes such as graceful aging, letting go, and finding new meaning in their mission of presence and prayer. Special attention was given to the healing process, encouraging participants to embrace their past with compassion and surrender to God’s tender love.
The Sisters expressed deep gratitude for this experience, which affirmed their unique role as beacons of wisdom, serenity, and intercessory power within the Province.
A Grace-Filled Experience
Across all three batches, the Sisters deeply appreciated the content and delivery of the Psycho-Spiritual Integration Course. Fr. Joye James, SJ, through his holistic and compassionate approach, created an atmosphere of trust and depth, encouraging courageous and open interior journeys.
The course fostered healing, renewal, and a deeper integration of the psycho-spiritual self with the consecrated identity of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. It rekindled inner peace, vocational clarity, and a renewed sense of community, affirming the Province’s commitment to ongoing formation that nurtures both the spiritual and psychological dimensions of religious life.
This was truly a moment of grace, reminding all that religious life is a continuous journey—of becoming emotionally whole, spiritually grounded, and joyfully committed.
The Province extends heartfelt gratitude to Rev. Fr. Joye James, SJ, for his enriching guidance, and to all the Sisters who participated with openness, courage, and enthusiasm.
