Emotional Intelligence: A Renewal Experience

A four-day renewal programme on Emotional Intelligence was held from 27–30 December at the Provincialate, Pachmarhi – Fox Rock, for 30 young finally professed sisters of the Pachmarhi Province. The programme was thoughtfully arranged by our Provincial, Sr. Maurice, along with her team, as part of their ongoing commitment to the holistic formation of the sisters.

The sessions were animated by Fr. Joseph Xavier SJ, whose practical, insightful, and life-oriented inputs enabled the participants to deepen their emotional awareness and personal integration. Through reflective inputs and interactive sharing, the sisters were guided to grow in emotional maturity and self-understanding.

A central theme of the programme was self-awareness, highlighted as the foundation of emotional intelligence. The sisters were helped to recognize their emotions, strengths, and limitations, and to appreciate how these influence their personal and community life. Sessions on perception further enabled them to understand how assumptions and interpretations shape relationships and can either strengthen or weaken community living.

Special emphasis was given to empathy, encouraging deep listening, sensitivity to others’ feelings, and compassionate responses in both community and ministry. The inputs on motivation invited the sisters to reconnect with their inner call, nurturing joy, resilience, and sustained commitment in religious life.

The programme also addressed conflict management, offering practical tools for handling differences through healthy communication, emotional regulation, and reconciliation.

Overall, the renewal experience was enriching, and empowering, equipping the sisters with essential skills to live their religious vocation with greater balance, maturity, and effectiveness.