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Contents:
1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. National Conference provides education and inspiration
3. May in Milwaukee! NACC National Conference 2011!
4. Seeking applicants for NACC Board of Directors
5. Would you consider being a leadership mentor?
6. 2010 Renewal of Certification Applications
7. Logging your Continuing Education Hours
8. How do I find a Peer Reviewer?
9. 2010 Renewal of Certification Fee
10. Renewal Contact Person
11. New positions for NACC members
12. You are welcome to join the Palliative Care/Hospice Networking Calls
13. An invitation to those ministering in long-term care settings
14. Are you interested in sharing your Patient Satisfaction strategies?
15. NACC member writes on role of chaplain in palliative care
16. In case you didn't get a chance to respond…
17. Helping families when an infant has died
18. National Healthcare Decisions Day is set for April 16, 2010
19. American Red Cross SRT Training – APC 2010 Conference
20. Order your video promoting the chaplaincy profession
21. Local/regional event dates
22. Other educational events
23. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
24. Recent job postings
25. Positions wanted
We have entered Holy Week! May these coming days of commemorating and celebrating the sacred mysteries of our faith deepen our spirituality and renew all of us in the Lord’s Paschal Mystery that is at the heart of the healing ministry of Jesus in the name of the Church in which we share. In the past, I have quoted David Fleming’s (S.J.) modern translation of St. Ignatius’ Anima Christi. Some verses I share with you as my Prayer for us this week: May your passion and death be my strength and my life… May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross... Let me not run from the love that you offer… On each of my dyings shed your light and your love…
I must confess, with our National Conference just ending this past Tuesday, this Holy Week seemed to “come quick.” Yet, I would characterize this year’s National Conference that gathered more than 400 (16 percent) of our members, as our association’s own prelude to Holy Week.
While only a percentage of our members were able to participate in it, I believe the conference will be a source of renewal for all of us. Many remarked that it was a special conference. One sister who has attended many conferences commented that it was the best she had attended. When I asked her what made it so, she just said that each aspect of the Conference seemed to be so well done and fit so well together, and that people brought a spirit with them. I would also offer that each plenary speaker touched in some way on the mystery of this Holy Week.
Fr. Michael Joncas’ personal and faith reflection on his life-threatening encounter with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and its defining effect on his life, music and ministry powerfully embodied the phrase “may your passion and death be my strength and my life.”
Dr. Ira Byock’s presentation on the meaning of death, including his observations about the four things that matter most (please forgive me, I forgive you, thank you, and I love you), led me to reflect again on the death in every now, how death’s reality gives poignancy and purpose to living, and led me to pray earnestly “on each of my dyings shed your light and your love.”
Dr. Shawn Copeland exhorted us to live with a prophetic Hope that neither ignores the weight of some elements of our present ecclesial reality, nor allows us to define the present times as the ultimate reality. Prophetic Hope is a daily praxis, “a divine requirement, not a heavenly gift.” We are to be living signs of God’s investment in God’s people. I could not but pray, “may the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross,” as we were called to be living signs of God’s investment in us.
María Elena González, RSM, humbly and heroically laid bare our narrow cultural comfort zones, and held up to us John Paul II’s call to conversion, communion, and solidarity. Conversion is just not a new way of doing the same thing, but an invitation to us to go beyond our own cultures. She reminded us of how we come to who we are and our self-image in and through our relationships with others, and questioned what happens when that self-image is cracked and distorted because we encounter others with a cultural aversion to diversity. Three statements most stay with me: “global culture is owned by a particular person in a particular culture;” “the Kingdom comes when one person accepts with one’s heart another;” and “change is inevitable but growth is optional.”
In light of this personal call to integrity, compassion, and inclusivity and to faithfully stand with Jesus in our ministry this Holy Week, please join me in the prayer, “let me not run from the love that you offer.”
A blessed Triduum and a Glorious Easter to you!
Appreciatively,
David Lichter, Executive Director
More than 400 participants experienced this year’s NACC National Conference at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront in St. Paul, MN. Many remarked that it had a very special feel to it marked by superb plenary speakers, quality workshops, nearly 25 percent first time participants, and very prayerful and nourishing liturgies. Thanks to all the volunteers on site who helped to make the conference successful. A special thanks to the Conference Planning Task Force for their preparation, leadership, and hospitality! See a photo of the newly certified members.
Fr. Michael Joncas, a plenary speaker at this year's conference, was recently interviewed by The Catholic Spirit, the Saint Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocesan newspaper. You can read the article, which also mentions his talk at the NACC conference, at this link.
May in Milwaukee! NACC National Conference 2011!Mark your calendars! May in Milwaukee! Next year’s NACC National Conference will be held in Milwaukee at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, May 21 – May 24, 2011! Our national staff and the Milwaukee members look forward to welcoming you. If you need to begin budgeting for it, the hotel rates will be $125 single/double plus tax.
Seeking applicants for NACC Board of DirectorsThe deadline of submitting an application for the Board of Directors is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 30, 2010. The NACC Nomination Panel has been working at identifying potential candidates for the two elected member NACC board positions for 2011. Click here for a letter from Jim Letourneau, chair of the Nomination Panel, and an application form. Please read the letter, reflect on your qualification for and openness to consider being a candidate for the NACC Board.
Would you consider being a leadership mentor?We have received a few more responses to this invitation in the last two issues of NACC Now, as well as at the National Conference. The Care Services Task Force has recently made available Spiritual Leadership Competencies for those who have been given or are aspiring to pastoral care leadership responsibilities. Are there NACC members who would consider being a mentor for other NACC members? Please let David Lichter (dlichter@nacc.org) know if you would be open to consider being a mentor. Click here for questions and answers regarding mentoring.
2010 Renewal of Certification ApplicationsRenewal Reminder Letters were mailed to those members due to renew their certification by 12/31/2010. Please be sure to visit www.nacc.org/certification/renewal.asp to print your renewal of certification materials.
Renewal of Certification Applications received by June 24, 2010, will be reviewed at the July 8-11, 2010 meeting (Milwaukee, WI) with notification mailed out by August 10, 2010.
*Please Note: For those members requiring notification prior to December 31, 2010, it will be necessary to submit your Renewal Application and materials in time to be reviewed at our last Commission meeting of the year (October 2010). Although you have until December 31, 2010, to complete the process, we urge you not to wait until November or December unless you are okay with waiting until mid 2011 for your notification letter.
Logging your Continuing Education HoursWhen logging your Continuing Education Hours (CEHs), please be sure to use a separate Education Report Form for each year. So, you will have a total of five (5) Education Report Forms to submit with your application/materials. If you have an abundance of CEHs to record, then please use the Education Report Form (longer version), which will allow more entries.
How do I find a Peer Reviewer?To select a Peer Reviewer (an active or retired certified NACC member) to complete your one (1) hour peer review session, please visit the NACC Online Membership Directory (sorted by US State of residence), Enter your Username (your Member #) and your Password (your last name in lowercase letters). You will be able to scroll down the list to find your state’s abbreviation and view the members in your area. (Must also see the Peer Review Process located in the Certification Procedures Manual on our website.)
2010 Renewal of Certification FeeThe 2010 Fee for Renewal of Certification is $160.00, made payable to the NACC.
Renewal Contact PersonIf you have questions or concerns regarding the renewal process, please contact Becky Evans, Certification Assistant at bevans@nacc.org or (414) 483-4898 ext. 310.
New positions for NACC membersJust a reminder to you, please let us know if you have accepted a new position/responsibility. E-mail Cindy Bridges (cbridges@nacc.org). We want to congratulate you and let others know, too. Below is our current list of updates from members:
Mary George-Whittle
Mary George-Whittle has relocated from Columbus, Ohio to Portland, Oregon to work as Director of Pastoral Services at Mary’s Woods, a continuing care retirement community with 450 residents.
Isabelita Q. Boquiren
Isabelita was recently promoted from hospital chaplain to Lead Chaplain for the Carondelet Health Network Spiritual Care Services.
Peter Gelfer
Effective Jan 10, 2010 Peter Gelfer was officially appointed as Staff Chaplain at St. John of God Retirement & Care Center, Los Angeles, CA, sponsored by his community the Brothers of St. John of God. This is his 4th return to this Center providing spiritual care to their residents in Independent, Assisted and Skilled nursing care, early dementia unit and Alzheimer's Unit.
D.W. Donovan
D.W. “Donovan,” who previously served as the Regional Manager of Pastoral Care in Bon Secours Richmond, began in December 2009 as the Director of Mission Leadership with Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, with oversight responsibilities for mission integration, ethics, and chaplaincy services.
Deacon Tom Waken
Tom has accepted the position of Director Pastoral Care for St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville IN.
Over the past months, the NACC has offered monthly, one-hour conference calls for those ministering in palliative care/hospice settings. The group sets a topic and shares experiences /wisdom/resources on the topic. More than 50 members are on the e-mail list alerting them to the calls and themes. If you are not on the list and want to be, contact Cindy Bridges (cbridges@nacc.org).
An invitation to those ministering in long-term care settingsLast Spring, the NACC invited members ministering in long-term care settings to network among one another. A listserv address was offered and there were initial exchanges. We want to invite again these members to let us know of their interest in networking. We could set up regular networking calls among these members, if there is interest. If interested, please contact Cindy Bridges (cbridges@nacc.org).
Are you interested in sharing your Patient Satisfaction strategies?NACC member Jerry Herauf, Director - Pastoral Care Department, Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, is interested to learn if other NACC members are willing to share their Patient Satisfaction strategies, and the results Pastoral Care Departments are having and how they are using them. If there are several members, we can help Jerry set up a conference call on the issue. Please contact Jerry directly at JHerauf@saintpetersuh.com.
NACC member writes on role of chaplain in palliative careIn the Advocacy section of the current issue of PlainViews (Vol. 7 No. 4) Chaplain Linda F. Piotrowski, BCC, has contributed an article on the role of the chaplain on the palliative care team. She wrote in response to an article by Geoffrey Tyrrell, D.Min., which appeared two issues earlier, titled "The Clinical Value of the Chaplain on the Palliative Care Team." Linda's article repeated the title and added "Continuing the Conversation." Linda offers a detailed list of her clinical duties and responsibilities and emphasizes the importance of educational endeavors: "I believe well-trained, well-spoken palliative care chaplains are in the forefront of making change happen in the way chaplaincy is perceived within the medical world. If physicians, administrators, nurses, etc., remain [as another article respondent had contended] "clueless"...about what chaplains do, we must accept responsibility." To read Linda's article, with links to the entire dialogue, click here.
NACC Members who publish (or are featured in) articles on chaplaincy or on their particular ministry are encouraged to notify David Lichter ( dlichter@nacc.org) so that this information can be shared with the membership.
In case you didn't get a chance to respond…Don't miss your final opportunity to respond to a survey about your use of the Internet in patient care. Please go to (www.surveymonkey.com/s/XPY89X7) and take a brief survey. Questions? Contact Chaplain Mary E. Johnson at johnson.mary3@mayo.edu or (507) 255-5544.
Helping families when an infant has diedPhyllis Howley, of Decatur, IL, is seeking resources/pamphlets/booklets to help families deal with the death of an infant. If you have suggestions for Phyllis, could you please e-mail her at Phyllis.howley@comcast.net? She will also share with NACC members the recommended resources she receives.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is set for April 16, 2010Join Americans across the country in making future healthcare decisions known to family, friends and healthcare providers. Share your wishes and complete your advance directive, because…YOUR DECISIONS MATTER. Learn more about National Healthcare Decisions Day and get free information at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.
American Red Cross SRT Training – APC 2010 ConferenceThe American Red Cross Spiritual Care Response Team (SRT) is an integral part of the ARC Critical Response Team and is deployed following aviation and other transportation disasters, mass casualties, WMD/Terrorism events, and by government request. If you could not make the training at our NACC conference in St. Paul this year, you are welcome to contact Earl Johnson, Senior Associate, Spiritual Care Partner Services at the American Red Cross to see if there is space available at the APC conference, April 10-14, 2010 in Schaumberg, Illinois. Earl’s email is: JohnsonEA@usa.redcross.org
Order your video promoting the chaplaincy professionOur video on Chaplaincy, both a recruitment version (that begins and ends with “Is God Calling You?”), and a version without this question, are available in DVD format. The charge is just $6.00, the cost of production and shipping. You may preview the video at this link. To order copies please email Cindy Bridges for instructions.
Local/regional event datesMore local gatherings are being set. Please review the list below, and mark your calendars. More details of events will be in future NACC Now's.
Here are other events for our members:
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. We continue to pray for: Gloria Troxler (preventive chemo therapy after ovarian surgery), Fr. James Radde, S.J. (radiation therapy), Sr. Barbara M. Link, FSPA (chemotherapy treatment), Fr. Kevin Ikpah (eye troubles), Sr. Micheletta McGee, RSM (pancreatic cancer), Lourdes B. Ruta (wife of Peter Ruta, in recovery), Fr. Bob Nee, BCC, LICSW, CT (intractable epilepsy), Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (cancer: daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton), Joyce Fink (heart attack/recovery from open heart surgery), Mike J. Murphy (cancer treatment), Fr. Bill Spacek (detached retina and other eye issues); Sr. Nancy Crane, OP (cancer treatment); Sr. Hilda Mallet, MHS (cancer treatment); Sr. Rita Rzeppa, IBVM (recovering/rehab from knee surgery), and Dennis Eldridge (Kathy's husband, for cancer treatment).
Recent job postingsThe following positions have been posted in the last two weeks. Please go to www.nacc.org/positions/available.aspx for more information.
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Palos Heights, IL - Palos Community Hospital
DIRECTOR, MISSION INTEGRATION
San Diego, CA - Scripps Health
CHAPLAIN
Fraser, MI - Trinity Senior Living Communities
DIRECTOR OF SPIRITUAL CARE
Los Angeles, CA - St. Vincent Medical Center
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.