24 Oct 2018. The Symposium on Global Innovations for Character Development has kicked off at the Safari Park hotel, Nairobi. Selvam is currently participating in the two day Symposium (24th-25th October 2018).
He was invited on his personal capacity as a researcher on character strengths in the African continent, to this specialized forum being organized by the Institute of Human Development at the Aga Khan University, Nairobi. The event is jointly funded by The Aga Khan Foundation and The Templeton World Charity Foundation. Selvam will be making a presentation among the 45 invited specialists at the forum on the topic of Character Grooming of Youth.
Earlier during the year, Selvam was also invited to the 1st African Conference on Positive Psychology held at the North-West University, South Africa. At that conference, Selvam […]
Author: selvam
Sermon for 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B: Version 2
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me (Mk 10: 47)
The gospel story of this Sunday has many meaningful aspects for meditation. For another version of my reflection on this gospel story <<CLICK HERE>>.
In the reflection below I focus on this powerful prayer: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me”, which is also referred to as the “Jesus Prayer”. The devotion of using this prayer in contemplative practice originated in Egypt in the 3rd Century CE among the earliest groups of Christian monks popularly known as “Desert Fathers and Mothers”. It simply consisted in repeating continuously a version of this prayer: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.” It was for the purpose of this prayer that […]
Defining Youth: Pastoral Implications for Africa
“Youth” is a greasy term that slips out of the grip of any definition. Yet, everyone talks about youth, in academics, pastoral ministry, and daily life. Is the concept of youth that straightforward? Take, for instance, the age criterion in defining youth. The age-range could be as low as 12 years, as it is the case in the Ugandan Youth Policy (Uganda, 2001), and as high as 35 years, as in Kenyan constitutions, or even 40 years as in Malaysian Youth Policy. Other people offer a descriptive definition of youth in terms of energy, dynamism, and vitality. Today, as life-expectancy gets prolonged in most countries, people live very energetic and active life when they are 80 years and more. So, does a person of 80 qualify to be classified as youth? […]
Young Adults’ Awareness and Commitment to Use Character Strengths
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Abstract
Against the backdrop of HIV prevention trainings, young adults in Kenya have had ample opportunities to develop their life-skills. But are they aware of the wide spectrum of their character strengths and the opportunity to use and develop character strengths in their lives and career? A five-step assessment was carried out on the character strengths awareness among 20 young adults (aged between 18 and 30 years) selected for this study. The assessment set to find out if these participants were aware of their individual character strengths and how much they were putting them to deliberate use to advance their careers and social relationships. The findings of the study indicate a disconnect between awareness of strengths and the commitment to use them as a springboard for personal, relational […]
Monthly Recollections in Nairobi 2018-2019
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians – Upperhill, Nairobi
Year of Jubilee – Monthly Recollections
General Theme of the Recollections:
Christian Spirituality for Today: Towards an Experience of God in Jesus
The reflections will focus on different dimensions of Christian Spirituality for the contemporary world, so that we may find ourselves on the way to God. The participants will be introduced also to different methods of prayer in the Christian tradition. Mary will be presented as a model Christian who responded to the presence of God in her life.
PROGRAMME
8.30 – Arrival
9.00 – Praise & Worship
9.15 – Main Reflection
10.30 – Break
10.50 – Adoration/Confession
12.00 – Mass – Homily
1.00pm – Departure
MONTHLY THEMES
11 August 2018
Reflection: The Christian Life Journey
Homily: The Call of Mary: Structure of a Call
8 September […]