HOMEPAGE : WORKSHOPS - Weddings - TESTIMONIALS - sPIRITUAL Support - Rituals - Meditation - Coaching - Art - About AJC

THE LEARNING CIRCLE

Balances a Drop in the Ocean by Giving, Forgiving, Dying to self, Laughing

A Dance of Holiness around the Heart of Christ.

Coelho. 2003. Oils on canvas 20" x 24"

This painting of A WINDOW IN GOA captures the dance of holiness inspired by the Silver Jubilee of the Papacy of Pope John Paul II  on October 19, 2003 when he beatified Mother Teresa  just six years after her death on September 5, 1997.  SAINT JOSEPH VAZ [1651-1711] a Goan Catholic priest, the founder of the Oratorians in Goa,  a heroic missionary to Sri Lanka was beatified 284 years after his death in Kandy, Sri Lanka, by Pope John Paul II in 1995. He was canonized by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015. This painting won the third prize and a White Ribbon in the Spiritual/Visionary category at The San Mateo County Fair 2015 Fine Arts Gallery. It is currently displayed at Moima Ashram in San Bruno, CA.

A RESUME OF WORK SKILLS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES

"For it is in giving that we receive,  it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

 it is dying to self that we live eternally and it is in laughing that we glow as Integral Being."

[Peace Prayer of St. Francis modified by Ariosto Coelho]

PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

• [1998-        ] Spiritual Director and Multi-lingual Interfaith Counselor

• [1994-        ] Independent/Contemporary Catholic Priest, incardinated with the White Robed Monks

• [2000-2015] Youth and Family Therapist : Consejero Bilingue, South and Central Youth Teams - San Mateo County Mental Health / BHRS

• [1977-1994] Roman Catholic Priest  [Ordained in Navelim, Goa, India on December 21, 1977]

• [1967-1994] Religious Salesian of Don Bosco [Professed in Yercaud, Tamilnadu, India on May 24, 1968]

 EXPERIENCE

• experienced with 48 years of spiritual, pastoral and educational counseling to individuals, couples, families and communities in India, Italy and the U.S.A.

• volunteered over 30,000 hours for youth work, social work and community leadership in India from 1967 to1987 as a religious Salesian of Don Bosco.

• authored Mandalas, Personal Mythology and Mid-Life Spirituality: A Trans-Epistemological Inquiry... Pūrņa Yoga. (1994)

• authored Integral Art: How to Awaken, Balance and Center Light and Delight - Drawings and Paintings of Soul Travel. (2010)

• registered [1997] & licensed [MFC 43885] Family Therapist by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, CA

TRAINED IN

• Applying creative and traditional processes including Sacred Rituals, Art from the Heart, Spiritual Dreamwork, Intensive Journal Writing, Neuro-Linguistics, Psycho-Neuro-Immunology, Integral Yoga, Ignatian Discernment of Spirits and the Salesian System of Education based on reason, religion and loving kindness, ... @ various locations in India, Italy and the USA.

• Conducting Interfaith ceremonies, Ecumenical liturgies and Catholic sacraments including those from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, ... @ white robed monks, St. John' s Church & other locations in CA.

• Functioning as a Procedural Writer [Training Manuals & Disaster Preparedness Procedures] and an Airport Emergency Chaplain @ San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA.

• Co-leading Multi-Family and Parent Education Groups, Juvenile Sex Offender Programs, ... @ North Peninsula Family Alternatives. South San Francisco, CA.

• Offering Clinical Pastoral Education, Interfaith Spiritual Direction, Grief Counseling, ... @ Stanford University Hospital. Stanford, CA.

• Leading Anger Management Groups, Brief Couple's Therapy, Co-Parent Counseling, Child Abuse Treatment,  ... @ Family Service Agency of San Mateo County. Burlingame, CA.

• Volunteer Leadership with the Elderly, Care of the Soul and Elder Friendship, ... @ Convalescent Hospital Ministry of Santa Clara Valley, Campbell, CA.

• Integrating Health and Spirituality, Cultural Competency and Mental Health, Brief Psychotherapy, Dual Diagnoses, Co-Occurring Disorders, Integrated Treatment and Recovery/Resiliency Initiative as a Change Agent, Children and Trauma, ... @ San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, CA.

• California Brief Multicultural Competency Scale Certification. Redwood Shores, CA. October-November 2010.

• A.S.I.S.T. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. Belmont, CA. December 2010.

• Spirituality Initiative @ San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, CA. 2011-'13.

PARTICIPATED IN

• First Asian Salesian Spirituality Seminar at The National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Center. Bangalore, India. July 1985

• Congresso Mondiale degli Studii su Don Bosco at Pontificia Studiorum Universitas Salesiana. Rome, Italy. January 1988

• World Parliament of Religions at Palmer House Hotel. Chicago IL. August-September 1993

• Research Conference Integrating Spirituality and Health into Service Delivery at the National Institute of Health. Bethesda, MD. April 2003

• Gomant Vishwa Sammelan at Campal Convention Center, Panaji, India. January 2004.

• 2008: World Congress on Psychology and Spirituality: Furthering Their Integration at India Habitat Center. Delhi, India. January 2008

• First-Ever California Change Agent "Un-Convention": Changing the World ... Conducted by Zia Partners, Inc., Burlingame, California. April 24-25, 2008.

• XVI Annual Cultural Competence Summit, California - Mental Health; Burlingame, California. November 17-18, 2009.

• Milton Erickson Foundation Conference: The Evolution of Psychotherapy. Anaheim Convention Center. Anaheim, CA. December 9-13, 2009.

• Solo Exhibition of Integral Art at Hourian Art Gallery, San Francisco. September-October, 2010

• The Phtovoice Project of the Spirituality Initiative of San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, CA. April-May, 2012

EDUCATION & DEGREES

• Doctorate in Philosophy and Religion. [1993] California Institute of Integral Studies. San Francisco.

• Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy - Art Therapy. [1997] College of Notre Dame [University of Notre Dame de Namur]. Belmont, CA

• Master of Pastoral Studies. [1990] Loyola University of Chicago. Chicago, IL

• Licentiam Teologia - sp. Spiritualitatis. [1989] Pontificia Studiorum Universitas Salesiana. Rome, Italy

• Master of Divinity. [1978] Kristu Jyothi College. Bangalore, South India

• Hindi Sahitya Ratna. [1976] Sahitya Sammelan. Allahabad, North India

• Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Hindi Literature. [1974] Pune University, Maharashtra, Western India

• Certificate in Drawing [1973] Government of Maharashtra, Bombay, Western India

• Bachelor of Humanities - Salesian Studies [1970] Sacred Heart College, Yercaud, South India

• Pre-University Degree [1967] St. Anthony's College, Guwahati University, Shillong. North-Eastern India

• Secondary School Leaving Certificate [1966] Maharashtra Board of Sec. Ed., Mumbai. Western India

• Segundo Ano do Liceu. [1962] Liceu Dom Bosco. Panaji. Goa. South-Western India

MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATIONS

• [1950-87] Arquidiocese Primacial [Roman Catholic] de Goa e Damão, India

  [1955-60] Escola Primaria de Santa Terezinha, Pandavam Copel. Aquem Alto, Goa. India Portuguesa

  [1957-60] Carmelite Monastery. Aquem Alto, Goa. India Portuguesa

  [1960-62] Liceu Dom Bosco. Pangim, Goa. India Portuguesa

  [1962-67] Don Bosco Apostolic School. Lonavla, Maharashtra. India

  [1967-93] The Salesians of Don Bosco in India, Italy, France and U.S.A.

  [1967-70] The Retreat, Yercaud, Tamilnadu, India

  [1970-72] Don Bosco High School, Lonavla, Maharashtra, India

  [1972-74] Don Bosco High School, Matunga, Bombay, India

  [1973-74] Salesian Provincial House, Matunga, Bombay, India

  [1973-75] Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Wadala, Bombay, India

  [1974-78] Kristu Jyothi College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

  [1976] Dominic Savio Boys' Home, Andheri, Bombay

  [1977] Don Bosco Youth Center, Baroda, Gujarat, India

  [1978-81) of Don Bosco Farm, Sulcorna-Quepem, Goa, India.

  [1981-87] Don Bosco Agro-Educational Complex, Sulcorna-Quepem, Goa, India

  [1987-89] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rome, Vatican

  [1987-89] Universita Pontificia Salesiana, Rome, Italy

  [1988] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, IL

  [1988] Ouevres et Mission Don Bosco, Lyons, France

  [1989-93] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, CA

  [1989-92] St. Francis of Assisi Parish, San Francisco, CA

  [1992-93] St. Paul's Parish, San Francisco, CA

  [1994-    ] The White Robed Monks of St. Benedict  for Contemporary Catholics

  [1994-99] The Anglican Catholic Diocese of the Pacific and South West

  [1994-97] Christ Church, San Mateo & St. Thomas a Becket Church, Sacramento, CA

  [1995-97] San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA

  [1995-97] The Learning Annex, San Francisco, CA

  [1996-    ] The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

  [1996-97] North Peninsula Family Alternatives, South San Francisco, CA

  [1996-2005] The American Art Therapy Association

  [1997] Delta Epsilon Sigma: National Scholastic Society

  [1997-98] Stanford University Hospital, Stanford, CA

  [1997-2006] St. John's 1928 BCP Parish for Traditional Episcopalians, Hayward, CA

  [1997-2000] Family Services Agency of San Mateo County, Burlingame, CA

  [1998-2008] Spiritual Directors International

  [2000-15] El Buen Pastor Parish Church, San Mateo, CA for Latino Catholics

  [2000-15] San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services - Youth Team, Redwood City, CA

  [2000-03] Convalescent Hospital Ministry of Santa Clara Valley, Campbell, CA

  [2002-04] International Center for the Integration of Health & Spirituality

  [2002-04] Elderkind Network for Volunteer Elder Friendship Programs San Francisco Bay Area CA

  [2002-04] Goa Sudharop Community Development, Inc. Berkeley, CA

  [2003-04] The American Cash Flow Association

  [2003-    ] San Bruno Oil Painting Group, San Bruno, CA

  [2009-11] Burlingame Art Society, Burlingame, CA

  [2010-11] Western Art Society, Redwood City, CA

  [2013-14] ReSurge International, San Francisco, CA

  [2015] Life Crafting program, San Francisco, CA

   

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

• nominated for 1986 National Child Worker Award by the Government of Goa, India.

• awarded in 1987 the Outstanding Young Person Award → by the Jaycees of Goa, India "for distinguished services rendered to the nation" by transforming the Don Bosco Farm into an  Agro-Educational Complex for the poor and the marginalized, especially children and teenagers in remote Sulcorna in the Quepem Taluka.

• recognized by The Board of Supervisors, County of San Mateo, State of California, for 10 years of service to the people of San Mateo County. "The Board hereby extends its sincere wish for continued success, health and happiness." Date: May 2010 Signed: Richard S. Godon, President, Mark Church, Carole Groom, Rose Jacobs Gibson, Adrienne J. Tissier

• awarded a Red ribbon at the Spring Show conducted by the Burlingame Art Society in 2010. Face to Face with Creation [gold & silver leaf and oil on canvas 20" x 24"] won the second place as judged by Ferenc Besze on 05/16/10. In this meditative painting the artist draws inspiration from Maxfield Parrish’s Ecstasy [1929] and from a simulated computer drawing in Exploring Space [2004] which depicts the birth of the first star. "Then there was light: About 100 million to 300 million years after the big bang, in what had been an ocean of darkness, the first star was born. It happened inside a swirling cloud of hydrogen and helium gas gathered together by the gravity of dense, invisible 'dark matter,' as depicted in a computer simulation."

• awarded one Blue and two White ribbons at The San Mateo County Fair 2013 Fine Arts Gallery in San Mateo, California. Beyond Emotion [oil on canvas 16" x 20"] won the first prize; Integral Flames [gold leaf and oil on canvas 24" x 24"] won the third prize, both in the Spiritual/Visionary category. An Angry Wolf [oil on canvas 16" x 20"] won the third prize in the Wild Animals category.

• awarded three ribbons [one Red, one White and one Gold] at The San Mateo County Fair 2014 Fine Arts Gallery in San Mateo, California. The Annointed One [oil on canvas 20" x 24"] won the second prize; The Enlightened One [oil on canvas 24" x 20"] won an Honorable Mention, both in the Spiritual/Visionary category. Sweet Vivian [oil on canvas 30" x 30"] won the third prize in the Flowers category.

• awarded a Certificate of Appreciation on April 1, 2015 "in recognition of the excellent work you have provided to the communities of San Mateo County for 15 years. Your compassion and dedication for your work and your clients is admirable. Thank you for sharing your heart, and your gift of flowers from which your spirit shined through for many years. We will miss you. [Signed by the Leadership of] San Mateo County, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services [and South County Youth Services] Paul Sorbo, LCSW, Diane Dworkin, LCSW, Linda Simonsen, LCSW, Ziomara Ochoa, MFT."

• awarded two ribbons [one White and one Gold] at The San Mateo County Fair 2015 Fine Arts Gallery in San Mateo, California. A Dance of Holiness [oil on canvas 20" x 24"] won the third prize in the Spiritual/Visionary category, and Proud as a Peacock  [oil on canvas 24" x 24"] won an Honorable Mention in the Birds category.

SERVICES: Personalized Weddings - Interfaith Rituals - Sacraments for Catholics - Spiritual Counseling - Psychotherapy & Coaching

HOMEPAGE - Feedback - News : Glow - Spiritual Practices - Spiritual Support @ St. John's Church, 1950-2011, 2012-14, 2015-

© Spiritual Direction 1998-2015 [09-25]

where the soul glows and grows

where graceful, grateful, peaceful and playful laughter ♥ silence!

Email: ariostocoelho@yahoo.com  - Phone: 650-952-9456