Saturday, September 22, 2012

Annoucement of Fr. Joe' Kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga® in Oakville, Ontario Canada

An two-evening Kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga® workshop
with
Fr Joe Pereira, Mumbai, India
Theme:
Preparing The Body For Meditation
Dates: October 15 & 16, 2012,
Time: 7:00-9:00PM
Location:
St Jude's Church, 160 William St, Oakville, Ontario Canada
Registration fee: FREE!
 
Registration form available at: http://sunseedyoga.com/Workshop_News.html
 
 
 
Submitted by
Jim P.
Oakville, Ontario Canada

Announcement of Fr. Joe' programs at Manresa Retreat House, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Wauwatosa, Milwaukee.


Double click Image for larger view

 



 
Double click image for larger view

 
 
Aurora Psychiatric Hospital presents…..


Bringing the body back to Life

FRIDAY OCT 19, 2012 11 AM TO 1 PM


AURORA PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
 NORRIS AUDITORIUM
1220 DEWEY AVENUE, WAUWATOSA, WI 53213


 
OPEN TO ALL MEDICAL PERSONNEL INVOLVED DIRECT OR INDIRECTLY WITH HEALING OF ADDICTIONS:DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGES THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS.

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED


Join us in exploring the emerging frontiers of Integrative Medicine. Yoga and Meditation in treatment
of Addiction and Psychiatric Disorders and enhancing a Personal Wellness Program. The Program will be presented by Psychiatrist and Jungian Psychoanalyst Ashok Bedi, M.D., (www.pathtothesoul.com)

Visiting Faculty Rev. Fr. Joe Pereira from the Kripa Foundation in India (www.kripafoundation.org ) and Yoga. Master Bryant Mascarenhas from the Santosh Yoga LLC in Milwaukee.
www.santoshyoga.com
 
To register call 414-454-6485, Option 1
 


Fr. Joe is the Founder of the Kripa Foundation inspired by Mother Teresa. KRIPA, derived from the Sanskrit word “GRACE,” lays emphasis on the need to study risk perception, effectively assist in harm minimization and provide training tothe affected individuals enabling them to monitor life as an
ongoing process of Spiritual Growth. This Public Charitable Trust has centers all over India with 69 varied facilities addressing Chemical Dependency and HIV/ AIDS in 12 states in the country. Dr. Bedi is a Visiting Faculty to train the Kripa Foundation staff in the Jungian perspective in their treatment program via annual visits to India to train the Kripa staff and regular Teleconferences for staff consultation  under the auspices of the International Association of Analytical Psychology in Zurich (iaap.org).
Bryant Mascarenhas is a protégé of Fr. Joe and a nationally renowned Yoga Teacher.

www.pathtothesoul.com

To Register call: 414-454-6485

www.santoshyoga.com
 
News desk






Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Fr. Joe organises a tele- training with Jungian Dr. Ashok Bedi, Milwaukee, for kripa India

Double click image for larger view

Kripa staff undergo Jungian training for better skills

Kripa Foundation, on September 18, 2012, achieved a landmark when several of its centers spread across India participated on the online Jungian Clinical Training Program by video-conferencing, conducted by Dr Ashok Bedi, a Jungian psychoanalyst from Milwaukee, US. The event was organized by the Mumbai Jung Center, a division of the CG Jung Institute of Chicago.

 
The Reverend Father Joseph H. Pereira, Founder of Kripa, participated in the online ‘Very Basic Jung Volume-3’ training from Canada, despite his busy schedule, signifying his commitment to the welfare of all clients undergoing rehabilitation for substance addiction at the various Kripa centers. Participants included Dr Snehal Mehta, Medical Director (Psychiatry) at Kripa and the foundation’s centers located in Kohima, Guwahati, Bandra (West),Vasai, Goa, Kolkata and Shillong. Due to lower Internet bandwidth at the centers located in India’s north-east region, they participated through audio chat only.

 
The Clinical Training Program (CTP) in Analytical Psychotherapy is a unique clinically oriented training program offered by the C G Jung Institute of Chicago. Its focus is to provide health, mental health, and social service professionals an opportunity to enrich and deepen their work through didactic and experiential learning in Analytical Psychotherapy. The CTP accepts psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, physicians, and nurses. The mission of the Institute is to advance Analytical  Psychology - the theoretical foundation of Jungian psychoanalysis – as a practice that speaks to the basic human need for psychological growth and consciousness. Kripa is utilizing the Jungian concept to empower it’s counselors in enhancing their skills to assist substance use addicts and those living with HIV/ AIDS.

 
Dr. Bedi is a Diplomat Jungian psychoanalyst and a board certified psychiatrist, a member of the Royal College of psychiatrists of Great Britain, a diplomat in Psychological Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, a faculty member at the Analyst Training Program at the Carl G. Jung Institute of Chicago and a Psychiatrist at the aurora Psychiatric Hospital and the Aurora Health Care Network. He has been a psychiatric consultant to several agencies in Metro Milwaukee.

 
Earlier, this training was available to the Mumbai center of Kripa only. However, due to efforts exerted by Fr. Joe and demand from the various Kripa centers across India, the program was extended to cover a large part of the Kripa network. Fr. Joe personally called upon staff at all centers to participate in this unique training, held with the objective of honing skills of Kripa personnel to accord better care to patients. The tele-conference lasted around 90 minutes and imparted vital knowledge to Kripa staff.

TO VIEW THE TRAINING PROGRAM VIDEO ONLINE CLICK THE LINK BELOW

 Submitted by
Ashwin Honawar
Collage
Newsdesk

Fr. Joe blessing the newly married couple Noel & Cuc Pereira - Toronto.

 



Always eager to practice his divine duties, Fr. Joe, during his visit to Toronto, Canada, took the opportunity to bless a newly wed couple- Mr and Mrs Noel and Cuc Pereira. The duo were married in Oregon, US and a wedding felicitation for them was held in Toronto. Mr. Noel Pereira is the son of Mr. Dennyson Pereira A well wisher and friend of Fr. Joe.

Newsdesk.

Monday, September 17, 2012

AYE ! AYE ! CAPTAIN- WITH YOU AT THE HELM ALL IS WELL.



At Nova Scotia after the Saturday whole day intensive, Fr. Joe, along with the group were taken out sailing at Chester, Nova Scotia. Glen and Margie, who own the boat and Glen who has won the World Championship for Sailing gave Fr. Joe a taste of being at the wheel. Dr. Jason Vaz the son of Fr. Joe's Host Dr. Gerry and Clita Vaz too was doing an inernship in Halifax and was able to be with the group that evening. We now have some more Friends of Kripa from Nova Scotia !

Newsdesk

Kripa's Got Talent ‘ a campaign at Kripa Bandra, by "Keep off the Grass" group.






Clients at Kripa Bandra enjoyed a rare treat on September 7, 2011 with 7 students from the RD National College, Bandra Mumbai visiting the facility as part of the ‘Keep Off The Grass’, a college group activity project  awareness campaign, aimed at highlighting the menaces of drug abuse.

A team of seven students conducted the nearly three-hour long event, which saw members of Kripa Foundation’s senior management also participated in the entertaining program. All attendees were handed over badges made of green colored ribbon and shaped like a leaves of a commonly used narcotic herb, to wear. The organizers invited clients to showcase their performing skills such as singing, reciting poetry and dancing. Clients at Kripa Bandra rendered some popular Bollywood hits while others read out poems that aptly speak about the hazards of drug abuse were recited by some patients. These poems were authored by Kripa Bandra’s clients, who have also composed some songs against drug and alcohol addiction. Some clients displayed their vocal and musical skills by singing and strumming with an electronic guitar.

The organizers and participants’ energy levels were taken to a new high when Bosco D’Souza, National Project Director, Kripa Foundation took to stage with a guitar and sang some Western hits of yesteryears. Charmaine Rodrigues, a Kripa official, sang a famous number from the evergreen movie, the ‘Sound of Music’, to the delight of the audience. Students were also treated to a skit that teaches teenagers and school kids about the evils of drug use. The skit, penned by Kripa staff Rajan Welingkar, calls upon parents empathize  with their children, who have fallen prey to the drug menace while restoring their confidence by stating that successful rehabilitation is possible through Kripa Foundation’s unique program.

 
The college students namely Tripti Nagpal, Rheya Hemrajani, Shivani Karia, Bhakti Makhija, Ishaan Khanna, Vitti Menghani and  Sinead Gomes also held an impromptu birthday celebration for Father Joseph H. Pereira, Founder and Trustee, Kripa Foundation, who came to witness part of the event. Winners of the various performances were awarded prizes by the organizers, through Fr. Joe. The most touching was the students treating each and everyone at Kripa Bandra with a Mac Donald burger, Perk bar and soft drinks.

Submitted by
Ashwin Honawar

Collages by
Newsdesk
 

Fr. Joe and Just B’cause bring smiles to special kids at annual fiesta


Nearly 800 children, including those with special needs, their teachers and volunteers participated in the annual fiesta hosted by the Fr. Joe (although in Canada was monitoring the program dail with the staff in its preperation) at it’s centre in Kripa Bandra (West), Mumbai on September 13, 2012. The day-long event included various attractions for children, their families and staff of institutions which are engaged in their care.

NGOs and other social service organizations that participated in the event included: Helpers of Mary, Shanti Dham, Sneha Sadan, Mother Teresa’s Roses, AK Munshi Yojana, Amchi Kholi, Kripa Dharavi, New Life International- which marked its maiden presence at the event, Nivaara, Aseema, New Kantwadi and the Spastic Society of India.

JustB’Cause, a social service group from St. Xavier’s College, the event organizers along with the Kripa Foundation, had made elaborate arrangements to host this annual event, to ensure that all visitors could enjoy the event. The program began with the arrival of children in special care of 11 NGOs spread across Mumbai and its suburbs, in the absence of their biological parents. A DJ regaled these kids and their teachers by playing the latest Bollywood hits and encouraging them into free-style dancing. These kids were followed by a group of children with special needs. Children continued to throng the venue till late afternoon, to enjoy dancing and singing and other myriad attractions lined up for the day.

These attractions included dancing with three mascots personating four popular cartoon characters, Spiderman, Robin, Pikachu and Jadoo (Magic). A game titled ‘Bombardment’ was held for these kids, during which participants had to gather near their favorite character, when the music stops. The announcer ‘bombs’ a particular group, which has to exit the game. Winners were given prizes by the organizers.

Another major attraction of the day was a magic show, during which the magician displayed various slick tricks. Children were also offered the opportunity to participate in these magic tricks, much to their delight. Another artist personated globally renowned comedian, Charlie Chaplin, arousing hearty laughter among both children and adults. A dance competition for children in various age groups also featured during the party. Later, organizers gave away prizes to children for various characteristics, such as girls with the longest hair, boys wearing an earring, and other such categories.

Volunteers from the Kripa Bandra family kept up the tempo of the party by showcasing their own talents such as dancing and comedy actions, which were widely appreciated by the children and adults. Children and their accompanying teachers and volunteers were also treated to a lunch, sweets, soft drinks and ice-cream.

The Thursday event was the 28th such to be held consequently since 1984, organized by JustB’Cause and hosted by the Kripa Foundation.
 
Submitted by
Ashwin Honawar
Brett Rodrigues
Kripa Bandra
 
Photos
Ashutosh Mandelia.

 

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Unique awareness program for women of 12 villages by Kripa Bareilly.



On the 25th and 28th of August 2012 Kripa Bareilly conducted an awareness program at Shanti Niketan a social centre of the diocese of Bareilly.This program was held for women from 12 villages at their quarterly meeting.

Topics on Drug abuse and prevention, especially among children, Recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon meetings and, Kripa model of treatment was discussed.

 The response was good and overwhelming as many of the women had husbands or male members in their families who were suffering from addiction problems. They assured the team that they would attend regular meetings themselves. Future meetings are planned in coordination with Shanti Niketan for these villagers.

Submitted by
Joseph Pereira
Kripa Bareilly
Collage
Mozen H
 

Tree plantation at Kripa Bareilly by staff of Oriental Bank of Commerce



On 26th August 2012,  staff of Oriental Bank of Commerce  planted around 10 mango saplings and 15 rose plants as part of their social and cultural activities at Kripa Bareilly.

Later the staffs were given a tour and orientation of the work of Kripa. On their departure an assurance was given by the bank staff to extend their support and cooperation to Kripa in the near future.
Submitted by
Joseph Pereira
Kripa Bareilly
Collage
Mozen H.

Awareness Program for seminarians by Kripa Goa


 An Awareness Programme on 'Chemical Dependency-Treatment & Rehabilitation as per Kripa Model was presented through a Power Point along with the screening of the film 'God's Grace on the 13th September 2012 for the Seminarians of PALLOTI INSTITUTE OF RELIGION & PHILOSOPY, Assagao, Bardez Goa. There were 75 Seminarianns, together with their Professors, Rectors & Residential Priests in attendance. The program concluded with a  Q & A Session.
 
Submitted by
Paul Noronha
Kripa Goa
Collage by
Mozen H

 

 

 

Monday, September 10, 2012

A celebration to remember- Fr. Joe's birthday fellowship














A gala celebration held on September 6, 2012, at the hall of the Mt. Carmel Church, Bandra (West) marked the 70th birthday of Fr. Joe.
 
Fr. Joe cut his birthday cake, accompanied by few significant people who represented everyone  who have played a key role in the growth of the NGO since its inception in 1981. The audience, which included members of the Kripa Family, including staff, clients and their relatives as well as invitees, heartily rendered the traditional “Happy Birthday,” song, to the accompaniment of music. Fr. Joe offered a prayer seeking strength from the Almighty to help substance addicts and HIV/ AIDS patients- activities, that Kripa is vigorously engaged in at various locations globally.

A client from Kripa Bandra later performed a Hindi song from a popular Bollywood movie while another sang a western evergreen number to regale the huge audience. A senior member of the Kripa management later gave an audio-visual tribute to Fr. Joe, with a Power Point presentation with the song “ You Raise me Up” that highlighted the life and works of Fr. Joe. The presentation included rare pictures of Fr. Joe working along side Mother Teresa and the early days of Kripa Foundation, its evolution from a single centre entity at the launch to a pan-India presence as well as expansion at select locations abroad. The visual was interspersed with apt verses from the Holy Bible to emphasize the core values of love and care as embodied in the Holy Scriptures  adopted at Kripa.

 Guests were pleasantly surprised when Fr. Joe readily took the mike to sing “Impossible dream”, accompanied by a Power Point presentation. The visual showcased the various Kripa centers in India and the national and foreign awards won by the Fr. Joe and Kripa, which included the prestigious Padma Shree title conferred on him by the erstwhile President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil in 2009.

 The celebration came to life and more staff and patients at Kripa took to floor to sing popular songs or their own creations highlighting the menace of alcohol and drug abuse. The festive spirit soared high when the dance floor was thrown open to the invitees who danced and swayed in their own styles to the tunes of Goan, Indian and Western music. A steady stream of visitors, including former patients greeted Fr. Joe.
 
Guests were later invited to a sumptuous buffet lunch prepared by the Kripa Family for the occasion. More artistes regaled guests with their songs during the dinner as the celebrations ran late into the night. The following day, Fr. Joe personally thanked the Kripa Family at Bandra for their help in organizing the gala event.

Submitted by
Ashwin Honawar
Kripa Bandra
Newsdesk

 

Friday, September 7, 2012

Fr. Joe's birthday message - Use modern media communications to spread GODs word.



The 70th birthday celebrations of Reverend Father Joseph H. Pereira, Founder and Trustee, Kripa Foundation, were flagged off with a Eucharistic celebration  at the ongoing Novena to the Nativity of our Lady at the Basilica of Mount Mary in Bandra. Mumbai on September 6, 2012.

Addressing a mammoth gathering which had turned up for the event, Fr. Joe, in his homily, emphasized how Mother Mary is a role model for the entire mankind as she had given birth to Jesus Christ. He quoted the Biblical verse “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life (John 3:16).”

Fr. Joe lamented that hunger and love for God has become virtually extinct in the affluent, materialistic world, adding that communicating with God was vital. Satan, on the other hand, he noted, was making best use of modern communication techniques such as the Internet and satellite TV, which contain pornography, content that promotes substance addiction and other objectionable material, to corrupt young and mature minds, with the ultimate objective of destroying people.

These modern communication techniques, he noted, are also being cleverly utilized to counter Satan’s menace by spreading the word of God through the Internet and satellite TV, publications, Gospel teachings and fellowships in places, including where practice of religion is banned and other modes of communications. He cited the example of modern-day clergymen, equipped with gadgets such as mobile phones and iPads are visiting the sick and aged at their homes and hospitals. During such visits, these priests often allow the ailing person to contact their near and dear ones using such modern communications equipment. Several priests have also adopted the Power Point software to drive home the point during sermons, homilies and preaching. “Therefore, we have to express ourselves using the mass media in a very constructive manner to spread the word of God,” he added.

Fr. Joe also pointed out that our body is the Temple of God and we can use it for communicating with Him. “Such communication with God can be achieved through daily contemplative prayer focusing on the word ‘Maranatha’ (Come Lord Jesus) while meditating. “ We ask Our Lady who is filled with grace and the Lord to make us like Her. Amen,” Fr. Joe, concluded.

 Newsdesk






Keeping in line with the ongoing tradition, the first fellowship of Fr. Joe’s 70th birthday was held at his offices at Mount Mary on September 6, 2012 morning. Fr. Joe was accompanied by nun Sister Teresa, close friends from the religious and clergy, the choir of Mt. Carmel Church,, staff at the Kripa Foundation and well wishers. The experience is unforgettable for all attendees since Fr. Joe personally shares the cake with them. This tradition of cutting the birthday cake in the morning at the Mt. Marys office  is observed by Fr. Joe since many  years, with the birthday cake specially baked by the family of Constance and Simon’ families.
 
Newsdesk

 

 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Remembering Blessed Mother Teresa- Today -15th Death Anniversary


Newsdesk

Fr. Joe speaks to University Grant Commission lecturers affiliated to Mumbai University


Five lecturers doing their training  in the 102 orientation programme for university teachers, under the University Grant Commission visited Kripa Foundation, Bandra, Mumbai.

 Fr. Joe Pereira, The Founder Managing Trustee of Kripa Foundation and Class A Trustee of  Alcoholic Anonymous gave a lecture on the four steps of knowing oneself, the self help program namely Alcoholic Anonymous, the importance of meditation & yoga in recovery,  and the Kripa Model of treatment.The orientation ended with the screening of the film "Gods Grace."

Mrs. Saleha Soyad and Dr. Navin. M Punjabi of H.R. College of Commerce & Economics-Mumbai, Mr. Manoj R Pattarkar from Joshi Bedekar College of Arts & Commerce-Thane, Mr. Satish. B Maulage from K.S.K College -Beed and Mr.Madhavan G from SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce -Sion were the members of the visitng team.

Newsdesk
 

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Fr. Joe preaches for the youth of Our Lady of Lourdes Church- Kalyan, West.- "Youth and the Church"



The Nativity Novena theme chosen by the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Kalyan west is YOUTH and THE CHURCH.
 
Each day of the Novena is dedicated to one problem or phenomena associated with being a youth day. Youth are the present and the future of the Church and society and the way they shape their lives during these years will certainly reflect in the form of tomorrow's leaders.
 
To address these topics many 'youth friendly' priests are invited to address various topics concerning youth such as : media, family , sports and careers. One important topic was Youth and Addiction on saturday evening . Fr Joe Pereira from KRIPA celebrated a meaningful eucharist and shared his experience of working with troubled youth with various problems including addiction. Fr Joe cleared many doubts regarding addiction and its causes. He explained the 12 Step method and the importance of prayer and family support in overcoming addiction.

 
Fr Joe kept the Congregation spell bound with the held of youth testimonies and practical examples. He spoke convincingly about a God experience as a foundation to experience freedom and peace. The role of meditation and silence is the need of the hour and Christian meditation can deepen our experience of oneself in the presence of God .

Fr Joe reinforced his homily with power point presentation and he distributed handouts of the summary points for the families to take this message home. The community at Kalyan was indeed enriched and blest with this sharing from Fr Joe. The animators thanked Fr Joe with a bouquet of flowers, in response Fr. Joe in all humility thanked the parishioners and said (quote) " I come to you selfishly to ask you to join me and become FRIENDS OF KRIPA, so as we could jointly reach out to more people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction." (unquote).
The whole programme was well organised through the efforts  of Fr. Norbert De Souza, the parish priests team, and youth leaders of the parish.
 
Those wishing to have a similar programme of Fr. Joe Pereira can contact us on
 
2640505/ 26439295
 
News Desk,

Orientation programme for Missionaries of Charity Brothers at Kripa Vasai



 14 Brothers from the Missionaries of Charity visited Kripa Vasai on the 29th of August 2012.  The brothers were orientated and explained the Kripa model of treatment. Their visit also included interactions with various clients and the screening of the the Kripa Film "Gods Grace" which concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
This is a annual visit of fresh batches of brothers from different regions of India.
 
Submitted by
Mozen H
Kripa Vasai