Lecture 9: Religiosity and Wellbeing

January 4, 2015January 7, 2015 selvam Religion Culture and Mental Health

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson the learner should be able to:

demonstrate the contribution that religiosity and spirituality – and their components – can make to psychological wellbeing.

DOWNLOAD MY CLASSNOTES: 09 Religion & Wellbeing
RECOMMENDED READINGS:
Selvam, S.G. (2014). Influence of family on youth’s relationship with God: A systematic review of psychology literature. In S. Fernando & J. Pudumai Doss (eds.), Youth and family in today’s India (pp.65-80). Chennai: Don Bosco Publications.
Selvam, S.G., & Mwangi, D. (2014). Meditation and contemplative practice among young adults in Nairobi. In S.G. Selvam, & D. Watt (eds.), African youth today: Challenges and prospects (pp.67-85). Nairobi: Acton Press.
VIDEOS:
There are several videos on TED-YouTube on Mindfulness and its relation to wellbeing. Mindfulness refers to the practice of any form of meditation or contemplation.
Most recommended video: The mindful way through depression

Lecture 10: Complementarity: Psychotherapist, Spiritual Director & Psychiatrist

January 4, 2015January 7, 2015 selvam Religion Culture and Mental Health

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson the learner should be able to:

recognise the complementarity between a counsellor, psychiatrist and a religious chaplain.
discuss also the complementarity in the process of supervision (pastoral supervision).

DOWNLOAD MY NOTES: 10 Conclusion: Complementarity

3rd Sunday of Advent – Special Sermons

December 11, 2014January 16, 2015 selvam Year B

images (1) 3rd Sunday of Advent – Special Sermons
The Role of Joseph in the Mystery of Incarnation

As I had said at the beginning of the Season of Advent, this year, I am sharing reflections on four persons related to the first Christmas. This, I thought, would avoid certain repetition of themes during Advent year after year. In this series, we have already reflected on Zachariah and John the Baptist. Today our reflection is on Joseph.
We are all aware of the annunciation of angel Gabriel to Mary. When we think of annunciation, we only think of the annunciation to Mary (Lk 1:26-38). It is interesting to note that there are at least two other annunciation stories in the gospels, prior to the birth of Jesus. These two stories are actually about annunciation to two men. The first is in the Gospel of […]

African Youth Today: Challenges and Prospects

November 29, 2014November 29, 2017 selvam Uncategorized

African youth 2 The present volume celebrates the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Youth Studies (IYS) at Tangaza University College, Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The presence of IYS suggests that we need to acknowledge that ‘youth studies’ could be a legitimate academic programme, and youth work and ministry are inevitable employable professions. IYS prepares youth workers and counsellors through its academic programmes in youth ministry, youth studies and counselling psychology. The programmes focus on three components: theories – that explain the nature and behaviour of youth; skills – in dealing with youth and their families in a variety of contexts; and research – in order to evolve home-grown models and theories in youth work and counselling.
This book is a collection of papers that report studies carried out […]

Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent – Year B Homily

November 29, 2014January 16, 2015 selvam Year B

first-day-of-advent 1st Sunday in Advent
Zachariah, the reluctant collaborator
My four sermons for this year (2014) will focus on four personages who were part of the first advent! (CLICK HERE if you would like to see other sermons for Advent). These individuals somehow contributed to the first Christmas. And the four people that I would like us to focus on, this year, are:
1st Sunday of Advent, 2014: Zachariah, the reluctant collaborator
2nd Sunday of Advent 2014: John the Baptist, the one who knew his space
3rd Sunday of Advent, 2014: Joseph, the man of honour
4th Sunday of Advent, 2014: Mary, who waited in contemplation
How can I know this?
The Gospel according to Luke begins with the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Zachariah (Lk 1:4-23). Interestingly, the scene of this annunciation is the temple itself. For Zachariah, […]