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1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. Seeking Nominations for NACC Board Position
3. What does Christ the Power and Wisdom of God look like?
4. Hospice/Palliative Care NACC Chaplains Networking
5. SCC Summit ‘09 Website for Summit Materials
6. NACC 2010 Conference
7. NACC Member having book published
8. Second Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) - April 16, 2009
9. The beginnings of networking among diocesan pastoral care ministry directors.
10. Association of Professional Chaplains call for proposals for 2010 Conference.
11. The Catholic Health Association’s 2009 Catholic Health Assembly
12. A Graduate Certificate Program in Clinical Health Care Ethics
13. Another idea for audio conferences with chaplains
14. Local/regional event dates!
15. Other educational events
16. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
17. Recent job postings
18. Positions wanted

Yesterday’s readings from the Fifth Sunday of Lent expressed the longings of every Christian and the desire of every minister, didn’t they? Jeremiah addresses our lifelong longing: it’s written on our hearts- never lost or forgotten – that we are God’s own, and we will always be able to “know” God’s love! Wow! In John 12, the Greeks’ question to Philip is also ours: "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Wouldn’t we? Don’t we? In our ministry settings, the gift of noticing His presence authenticates our servant ministry. Jesus asserts, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” However, we are also reminded by the “unless a grain falls…” that our ministry is marked by the shadow of the cross. Inseparable from and essential to ministry is recognizing and embracing our daily dyings that ground us in our humanity and fuel our ministry. If it dies, it produces much fruit… So what do my dyings look like? The awareness of an inner turmoil that can distract my attentive listening? The weariness that can overtake me as I emotionally carry too many heartaches of the day? The moodiness that is mistaken for true reflectiveness that keeps others at a distance and prevents me from being truly present when I need to be? Being aware of negativity or despondency that haunts my disposition and infects my ministerial exchanges? What does it look like? What brings me to my knees, and makes my kissing the cross on Holy Friday truly an act of humility?

A favorite “by heart” prayer that daily guides me is modern version of the Anima Christi by David Fleming, S.J. Perhaps it can be one of our prayers as we walk to and through this coming Holy Week.

Jesus, may all that is you flow into me.
May your body and blood be my food and drink.
May your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with you by my side enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross.
Let me not run from the love which you offer,
But hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love.
Keep calling to me until that day comes,
When, with your saints, I may praise you forever. Amen.

The NACC Board of Directors (BOD) is calling for nominations for the at-large BOD elected member to replace the position that will be vacated by Patrick Bolton in 2010 when his term expires. This year, the BOD did an assessment and determined that candidates with one or more of the following experiences are needed for leadership in the NACC in order to carry forth the vision and strategic plan of the organization:

• Has experience in institutional/organizational thinking
• Has experience in cutting edge communication and marketing tools
• Has experience in the NACC and knows the membership well
• Has experience in management and strategic planning
• Has previously served on a board

Please go to www.nacc.org/aboutnacc/board_election.asp for the details on how to nominate members, and to download an application. All applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2009!

All certified members who meet the basic criteria (both the competencies and professional experiences listed above) may stand as candidates for election. We encourage members to nominate a peer who meets these criteria along with a brief letter of recommendation for candidacy (please, no more than one page). Nominees must be informed and agree to stand for election. Certified members who meet the criteria may also self-nominate, providing a brief letter indicating their rationale for candidacy. All applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2009 and will be reviewed by members of the NACC Governance committee. The slate of candidates will be proposed to the voting membership by September 2009. Elections will take place, on-line, during the month of October. This new election method will be explained in future issues of NACC Now and in the Vision. Results will be announced on November 1, 2009. Any questions about the nomination process can be directed to David Lichter (dlichter@nacc.org) at the national office.

Several readers of my prior Executive Reflections responded with their own reflections on the question I posed, “What does Christ the Power and Wisdom of God look like?” Please go to www.nacc.org/resources/e-news/power_and_wisdom.asp to read their thoughts.

Some NACC chaplains working in hospice and palliative care ministries have asked for the opportunity to network with each other for ministry enrichment and examining ministry issues particular to this ministry. If you would like to participate, please e-mail dlichter@nacc.org and we will arrange an initial conference call and set up a listserv for this group.

The SCC website has posted on its Summit ’09 webpage workshop materials and photos from the Summit. Please visit www.spiritualcarecollaborative.org/summit-archive.asp and use as a resource.

The 2010 NACC National Conference will be held March 20-23, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza – Riverfront, St. Paul, Minnesota. We are in the process of finalizing our conference planning team. Please watch for opportunities for involvement in the educational offerings of the conference soon – including workshops and pre-conference workshops. And remember to save the date!

Our NACC member and Maryland state liaison, Susan Mitchell, is publishing a book this May entitled, Through the Valley. It is a meditation and liturgical service on the way of the cross at the end of life. Congratulations, Susan! For more information go to www.veritas.ie and click on page 16 of their Spring/Summer 2009 catalogue.

The NACC, along with over 500 other national, state and community organizations, is proud to participate in the second annual NHDD which will be celebrated on Thursday, April 16, 2009. The theme for this year’s NHDD is “Leading by Example.” What are your plans? For resources go to www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

Deanna Sass, Director of the Office of Pastoral Care, Trenton, NJ, a member of NACC, received some responses to the announcement in the prior NACC Now that invited directors of diocesan offices that serve as liaisons to their institution-based pastoral care ministry. She has begun networking among those who responded. Please contact Deanna at Dsass@DioceseofTrenton.org, if you want to be part of this networking.

The Association of Professional Chaplains has issued a call for proposals for the 2010 APC Conference, April 10-14, 2010, in Schaumburg, IL. In keeping with the conference theme, Professional Chaplaincy: Reaching New Heights, they invite our members to share their special expertise by presenting workshops that will not only educate but also challenge and stimulate. Please go to www.professionalchaplains.org/index.aspx?id=1213 for proposal materials.

“In Our Hands: Changing Ourselves, Our Communities, Our Nation” is taking place June 7-9, 2009, at the Sheraton in New Orleans. Because the NACC is a partner with CHA, CHA has graciously offered the Ministry Partner rate to NACC members who serve outside of CHA-member facilities and want to register for this year's CHA Assembly. Please contact the NACC office (414-483-4898 or send email to cbridges@nacc.org) to learn how to receive this rate. For more information, go to www.chausa.org/assembly.

The Department of Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University offers a Graduate Certificate Program in Clinical Health Care Ethics. The Certificate consists of eight credit hours that may be completed within one or two years, and combines distance learning with two on-site seminars lasting two days each. The program also offers an optional concentration in Catholic Health Care Ethics. All courses are for graduate credit, and many students have received tuition reimbursement from their employers. Students are also eligible to receive continuing education credits for a small processing fee. Further information on the program is available online at hce.slu.edu/Certificate_Index.html.

Our NACC member Jim Hoff in Boise, Idaho, offers a suggestion to members regarding continuing education and audio conferencing. The University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio offers an audio conference series.

The audio conferences series comes from the following address:
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Teleconference Network of Texas - MSC 7978
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
1-800-982-8868
www.uthscsa.edu (UTHSC website)
ims.uthscsa.edu/training/chaplaincy.aspx (link to the audio conference listing)

They offer programs for multiple disciplines or other topic areas, i.e. social work, nursing, end-of-life issues, ethics, etc. The series that Jim and the group participate in is the chaplain series that is offered once a month on the second Friday of each month. The cost is a minimum of $125.00 a session for up to five participants or a yearly series for $1295.00. Any participants above five are $20.00 each for the individual session, and $15.00 each if the annual series is bought. Materials are sent several weeks ahead of schedule, and a certificate of attendance is awarded for 1.5 hours each session attended. You can also buy a six-month package.

What Jim has done in his area is to compile an email list of all interested chaplains, some certified, some not. About ten days before the session, he sends an announcement about the topic, and invites the group to join him. Each chaplain not from Mercy/Holy Rosary gives Jim $15.00 to cover his/her cost. Jim invites them for a complimentary continental breakfast at 8 a.m. then the teleconference begins at 9 a.m. and goes to 10:30 a.m. Some stay afterward to discuss the topic or connect with a chaplain they haven't seen in a while; others leave right after the conference. It has helped build support among the chaplains in the San Antonio area.

Several state liaison groups are working to finalize details for gatherings. Please review the list below, and mark your calendars. More details of events will be in future NACC Now's.

• Friday, April 17, 2009, Centennial, CO. Joint APC/NACC. See details/register
• Thursday, April 30, 2009, Minneapolis, MN. See details/register
• Friday, April 24, 2009, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta, GA. See details/register
• Monday, May 18, 2009, Assumption College, Worcester, MA. See details/register
• Tuesday, June 9, 2009, New Orleans, LA. See details/register
• Thursday, July 23, 2009, Omaha, NE. Joint APC/NACC.

In the past two weeks we have been alerted to other educational events that you can find on the NACC website. They include:

• April 16-17, 2009, St. Anthony Retreat Center, Marathon, WI, The Soul of Caring VI, The Ethic of Narrative in Palliative Care, Palliative Care Retreat
• April 15, 2009, Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University, Chicago, An Evening with James Carroll and his new book, Practicing Catholic
• April 16, 2009, Avera Sacred Heart Campus, Yankton, SD, “The Many Faces of Pastoral Care.”
• April 23, 2009, Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, OH, Chaplains Association of Ohio, “Keeping Yourself Healthy in Stressful Times”
• April 24-26, 2009, St. Raphaela Retreat Center, Haverford, PA, A Tincture of Healing: a Weekend for Women Survivors
• May 8, 2009, Lakewood, NJ, First Pastoral Care Conference, “Spiritual & Medical Care: Partners in Healing”
• June 5 , 2009, Trenton, NJ, Day of Reflection for those who Care for the Sick & Dying, “Pastoral Care through the Eyes of Saints Francis and Clare”

Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. We continue to pray for Fr. Bill Spacek (detached retina and other eye issues); Jim Castello (recovering from surgery); Sr. Nancy Crane, OP (cancer treatment); Bro. Brian Boyle, CPPS (broken foot), Rev. Jim Radde, SJ (recovering from surgery), Sr. Hilda Mallet, MHS (cancer treatment), Sr. Rita Rzeppa, IBVM (recovering/rehab from knee surgery), and Dennis Eldridge (Kathy's husband, for cancer treatment).

The following positions have been posted in the last two weeks. Please go to www.nacc.org/positions/available.asp for more information about them.

CPE PROGRAM
     Temple, TX – Scott & White Hospital

PT CHAPLAIN
     Hudson County, NJ – Compassionate Care Hospice

CHAPLAIN II
     Albuquerque, NM – UNM Hospitals

MANAGER – MISSION INTEGRATION/PASTORAL CARE
     Miramar Beach, FL – Sacred Heart Hospital

BOARD CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN
     Fort Lauderdale, FL – Holy Cross Hospital

DIRECTOR, CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
     Portland, ME – Mercy Hospital

In this time of change and uncertainty it is more important than ever to use every resource available. If you have lost your job recently, if you’re just seeking a new or better position, or if you are an employer seeking a chaplain for your organization, be sure to visit our Positions Wanted webpage. NACC members can take advantage of this free service by placing a job-seeking ad, for free, which will run for 60 days. To see the ads, visit www.nacc.org/positions/wanted.asp

To place your own ad, send an email to Phil Paradowski: pparadowski@nacc.org.