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Family counseling Counseling troubled families in Kerala, India, is one of hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to those in need today. After 22 years serving as a hospital anesthetist, Sister Rosy Alappattukunnel felt called to minister as a counselor. She studied at the Christian counseling center in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and initially worked with homeless boys. Two years ago, the diocesan center of Ernakulam invited her to be a counselor in the Family Apostolate Department, a center where many courses and activities take place. As she explains, “Both pastoral work and healing mission aim to bring about the active presence of Christ the healer, creating the newness and freshness to be a new person in the Spirit…our mission is to give Jesus to the world and give of oneself to each person.” Sister Rosy says, “In this ministry sometimes I see families with dowry problems, and sometimes mothers-in-law interfering in the lives of sons or daughters-in-law.” In many cases, the family has only one son who is very attached to his mother, which can result in the daughter-in-law being treated as an outsider.
“In my work I first see the married couples in the clinic at Kaloor Renewal Center. If we cannot come to some understanding, and if the mother-in-law cannot also come, I take the initiative to visit families in their homes. In this work it is important that everyone is included in decisions and action plans on how to proceed in a more harmonious manner,” Sister Rosy explains.
“For me it is a joy to help people see things differently, forgive one another and seek pardon for hurts or failures. Then a new life can begin. I give thanks for God’s hand in all of this.”
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