Puchalski wants chaplains to work side by side with fellow clinicians

By Laurie Hansen Cardona, Vision editor

Plenary speaker Dr. Christina M. Puchalski, speaking at the 2011 NACC National Conference in Milwaukee, shared her own personal career journey, called for chaplains to embark on research, and challenged them to be leaders in interdisciplinary spiritual care models.

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Priest-theologian, pondering Christ’s ongoing crucifixion worldwide, finds despair, hope

By Michelle Lemiesz, MDiv, BCC

Fr. Bryan N. Massingale, speaking to chaplains at the NACC National Conference, expressed sadness over the loss of lamentation in our world and our church today, stating his conviction that the deep divisions in our world and church cannot be resolved through mere rational planning, but instead require “a response of lament and deep compassion.”

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Newly certified chaplain reflects on missioning, complex rhythms of life’s ‘drum’

By Austine Duru, BCC, MDiv, MA

As I proclaimed, “I do,” standing in the microcosm of a very diverse church, I could feel the affirmation of the NACC family, with hands raised in prayer for us. It was a very powerful image that will sustain me for years.

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Table conversations provide valuable start for future planning

By David Lichter, D. Min.
Executive Director

As you know, the NACC 2007-2012 Strategic Plan lifespan is soon coming to closure. The NACC Board of Directors devoted part of its May 20-21, 2011, meeting to begin discussion on what process to use to review and update this plan. Most affirmed the success of the planning process that resulted in the current plan, as well as the resulting energy and life the plan implementation gave to the association.

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Lichter explains how recent vote by bishops on certification will affect NACC

By David Lichter, D. Min.
Executive Director

Last Monday, June 20, 2012, Nancy Frazier O’Brien of Catholic News Service published the story about the Catholic bishops deciding to dissolve the USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA) and moving the responsibility for certifying Catholic ministers to a subcommittee of the USCCB Secretariat of Education. This was the recommendation of the USCCB’s Committee on Priorities and Plans. Several members have asked, “What does this mean for NACC?”

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Order form available for May 2011 NACC conference sessions

Interested in ordering a DVD, CD or MP3 audio file of a plenary talk or workshop from the 2011 NACC National Conference held in Milwaukee May 21-24? You can order the complete conference or individual talks from Digital Conference Providers, Inc. at the link below.

Order Conference recordings here (PDF)

2011 Conference photos

You can view a collection of photos taken at our recent National Conference in Milwaukee at the link below. Photos are by Thomas J. Butler, Allen Fredrickson, and Laurie Hansen Cardona.

2011 Conference photos