Mumbai seminar helps young religious women strengthen relationships

A seminar in Mumbai, western India, encouraged young women religious to examine how their relationships and past experiences shape their lives and to approach community life and ministry with greater freedom, joy and positivity.

The seminar, “Relationships Define Us,” was organized by the Pauline Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai, on August 23. Thirty-nine young religious women from 14 congregations participated in the program.

Fr. Benhur Rodrigues, a professor of counseling psychology at St. Pius Seminary in Goregaon, Mumbai, served as the resource person.

Introducing the theme, Fr. Benhur said human beings are social persons whose identities are shaped through relationships from the earliest stages of life. People and experiences encountered along the way leave memories that become part of a person’s story and influence how they understand themselves and relate to others.

The seminar invited participants to reflect on their relationships with family members, friends and members of their religious communities. Through personal reflection and group sharing, they revisited both joyful and difficult experiences that have influenced their lives.

The process was presented through three movements: Recall, Recast and Radiate.

“Recall” encouraged participants to revisit past experiences honestly and with understanding. “Recast” invited them to look at those experiences from a new perspective, opening possibilities for healing and transformation. “Radiate” encouraged them to carry that renewed perspective into their relationships and ministry.

Interactive sessions allowed participants to share in small groups of three. They reflected on both positive and challenging experiences and considered how difficulties need not diminish the joy of living and serving.

The discussions also emphasized focusing on what can be changed within oneself rather than attempting to change other people or circumstances beyond one’s control.

For several participants, the seminar became an opportunity for deeper self-awareness and reflection.

Sr. Jurgie Magondaya of the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception said the session helped her recognize her strengths and limitations more clearly. She said healing begins with understanding how one forms relationships, particularly within the family.

Sr. Mary Agnes, FMA, said the theme resonated deeply with her own experience and encouraged her to reflect on the importance of relationships. Sharing personal experiences helped her become more open in expressing herself, while listening to others exposed her to different perspectives.

Participants described the seminar as informative, engaging and spiritually enriching. They appreciated its emphasis on introspection, practical approaches to dealing with difficulties and Fr. Benhur’s guidance in understanding relationships.

The sessions also helped participants recognize how past experiences can influence present attitudes and relationships, while encouraging them to approach the future with greater freedom and positivity.

The seminar ultimately sought to help young religious women rediscover the joy of living in community and carrying out their mission together. By healing and nurturing relationships with family, friends, fellow religious, and God, participants were encouraged to embrace their vocation with renewed hope and to radiate positivity in their communities and ministries.