Twenty-four boarding girls in Lukse Village of Mindat Diocese took part in a three-day trauma healing training from November 9 to 11, 2026, led by Sr. Maria Yom Bu Li (FMM). The workshop aimed to help participants confront deep emotional pain and find inner peace.

The training was designed to create a safe space for psychological and spiritual recovery. Many young people carry emotional burdens and unspoken grief, and the program offered a structured way for the girls to process their past sufferings.

Day 1: Breaking the Ice and Understanding Trauma

The first day focused on building trust. The girls took part in introduction sessions where each participant had the chance to be seen and heard by their peers. Sr. Maria then introduced the core concepts of trauma healing, helping the girls understand how distressing experiences affect both the mind and body. By recognizing that their reactions and fears were shared human experiences rather than personal flaws, the group established an atmosphere of mutual trust and empathy.

Day 2: Divine Forgiveness and Letting Go

The second day moved into deeper spiritual and emotional territory. The theme centered on God’s forgiveness and the need to release accumulated emotional wounds. Sr. Maria guided the girls to understand that forgiveness is not about pardoning others’ wrong actions, but about making a courageous choice to free oneself from bitterness. Holding onto resentment, she explained, acts as an invisible prison. Letting go is the only true path to lasting peace of mind.

Day 3: Symbolic Release and a New Beginning

The final day was one of cathartic release. The girls were given the opportunity to express their hurts and hidden sorrows—both through spoken word and through written reflection. They poured their innermost grief, fears, and traumatic memories onto slips of paper. In a powerful ritual, these papers were gathered and burned, symbolizing the destruction of their past anguish. The rising smoke represented the lifting of their burdens and the start of a new chapter.

A Participant’s Reflection

The success of the workshop was reflected in the words of Elizabeth Hone Sein Pai, one of the boarding girls.

“I feel relaxed now. I can let it go which hurts me very much. At first, I was reluctant to attend this course but I feel lucky to attend this course and I become a new one.”

Her testimony captures the journey from hesitation to emotional liberation and personal rebirth.

Through Sr. Maria’s guidance, faith, and communal support, these 24 young women did not just attend a workshop. They reclaimed their peace, their dignity, and their futures. The training in Lukse Village was a reminder that healing is possible—even for wounds that have been hidden for years.

By RVA K’Cho Service