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Contents:
1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. 2010 NACC Annual Member Support Campaign coming soon!
3. The NACC recognizes NCVACC Board Certified Chaplains
4. May in Milwaukee! NACC National Conference 2011!
5. Would you consider being a leadership mentor?
6. Friends vs. fans: interacting with the NACC via Facebook
7. New positions for NACC members
8. First 2010 NACC audio conference set
9. A recent article on National Public Radio website
10. National Healthcare Decisions Day is set for April 16, 2010
11. Order your video promoting the chaplaincy profession
12. Local/regional event dates
13. Other educational events
14. Healing Tree: A request for prayers
15. Recent job postings
16. Positions wanted
Yesterday’s Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter provided us the story of Thomas the Apostle, and his doubting Christ’s first appearance that led to his encountering the Risen Lord, and coming to believe after seeing. He represents all of us with our own named and unidentified doubts and skepticism about the real and the possible that our Christian faith challenges us to embrace. If Christ is Risen, what difference does it make?
I am daily reminded of Don Nicola, a priest I worked with nearly 40 years ago in a shanty town on the outskirts of Rome. He was a worker priest: factory by day, home visits at night, Mass daily, always emanating a vibrant, contagious, joyful hope in the midst of the persistent squalor and desperate conditions that marked his people’s lives for decades. One day I asked him, “Don Nicola, how do you do this?” He looked at me, somewhat surprised by my question, and quickly responded, “But, David, he has already conquered!” The caring, but chiding tone was, “David, didn’t you take that Christology course!” I blushed, as I realized I lacked, and too often still do, in my life a “living” conviction of the mystery of the Risen One.
While I can have a healthy skepticism about the daily diet of data that comes to us from many sources of information, and live with understandable doubts about some areas of our religious traditions, living within the mystery of the Resurrection and ministering out of the conviction that Christ has risen are wonderfully challenging. What difference does this conviction make to me as I enter a patient’s room, sit with a family in grief, discern ethical choices with the interdisciplinary team, converse with nurses feeling exhausted at the end of their shift? I knew what it looked like in Don Nicola’s eyes, in his tone of voice, in his crisp gate, in his kind expression. I could read it to the point of making me ask. Perhaps, the next time someone asks me or asks you, “___, how do you do this?” what did they read in my ministry, that led them to ask? What will be my response, your response?
Let me know, when you have a moment.
Appreciatively,
David Lichter
Executive Director
Later the week of April 19th, you will be receiving in the mail our annual member support campaign letters. We have been greatly blessed by your financial generosity, as our member participation has increased by 66 percent in each of the last two years! Thank you in advance for your support! If you have questions, please contact David Lichter (dlichter@nacc.org).
The NACC recognizes NCVACC Board Certified ChaplainsAt its March 2010 meeting, the NACC Board of Directors moved to recognize members of the National Conference of Veterans Affairs Catholic Chaplains (NCVACC - www.ncvacc.org) who have successfully completed their USCCB/CCA approved board certification process and are fully board certified chaplains. The NCVACC had already recognized our NACC board certified chaplains. This opens the way for NCVACC board certified chaplains to also become members of NACC.
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. Please contact Susanne at the NACC National Office, schaw@nacc.org if you are interested in helping to plan the 2011 conference.
Would you consider being a leadership mentor?We have received a few more responses to this invitation in the last three issues of NACC Now. The Care Services Task Force has identified Spiritual Leadership Competencies for those who have been given or are aspiring to pastoral care leadership responsibilities. We are seeking 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.
Friends vs. fans: interacting with the NACC via FacebookSince the NACC created a Facebook page, we have had many email requests from NACC members to add them as friends, to view their photos, play games, etc. We are not ignoring your requests – we have no way of responding to them because we have a Facebook page, not a profile. There are several differences between an individual user’s account (a Facebook profile) and an organization’s account (a Facebook page). One of the differences is that the NACC cannot “add you as a friend” – that function requires a personal profile. However, if you are a user of FB, you can click below to become a fan of the NACC.
Just 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:
Lisa Floch Gilvary
NACC Member Lisa Floch Gilvary has recently been hired as a pool chaplain at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee.
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.
Mark your calendars! The first 2010 NACC audio conferences are set for Thursdays, May 27th and June 3rd, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (central time). John Paul Slosar, Ph.D. Senior Director, Ethics, Ascension Health, will present on “Recent Revisions to the ERDs regarding Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (ANH).” We will be completing our plans for the audio conference series that will focus on theological topics. They all will be offered on Thursdays at noon (central time). Watch for details for these first audio conferences.
A recent article on National Public Radio websiteSeveral members notified us of a recent article on the National Public Radio website entitled, “On Good Friday, Here's Why I Remain Catholic,” by Elizabeth Scalia.
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.
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), 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.asp for more information.
CHAPLAIN
Miramar Beach, FL - Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast
CHAPLAIN
Boston, MA - Children's Hospital Boston
VP OF MISSION LEADERSHIP
Missoula, MT - Providence
CPE RESIDENT and EXTENDED UNIT INTERN
LaCrosse, WI - Gundersen Lutheran Health System
CHAPLAIN
Wichita, KS - Via Christi Health
CHAPLAIN/CATHOLIC PRIEST
Waterbury, CT
PRIEST/CHAPLAIN
Lindenhurst, IL - The Village at Victory Lakes
DIRECTOR PASTORAL CARE
Santa Maria, CA - CHW
PRIEST CHAPLAIN (Part-time)
Reading, PA - St. Joseph Medical Center
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Billings, MT - St. Vincent Healthcare
DIRECTOR OF CHAPLAINCY
Los Angeles, CA - QueensCare
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Los Angeles, CA - QueensCare
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.