Volunteer of the Month: February 2008
Name:
Sharon A. Mason, D.Min.
Work:
Chaplain, St. Vincent
Indianapolis Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
NACC member since:
1990
Volunteer service:
Certification
interviewer 1994-2001; Region VII
conference planning, 1992-1999;
Indiana representative for Region VII,
1994-1998; 2002-2003
events planning
subcommittee member for Toronto EPIC
conference; Interview Team Educator, 2003-
2008; conference planning committee, 2008.
Book on your nightstand:
Jane Goodall,
Reason for Hope
Book you recommend most often:
Thomas Green,
Opening to God; Jerome Groopman, M.D.,
How Doctors Think
Favorite spiritual resource:
Ignatian prayer
and silence
Favorite fun self-care activity:
Gardening
Favorite movie:
The Color of Paradise
(Iranian)
Favorite retreat spot:
Loyola House, Guelph, Ontario. I
have been going on retreat there for more than 20 years. There
are 600 acres of land to walk, wonderful daily liturgies, silence,
good food, and good directors.
Personal mentor or role model:
My spiritual director,
Mario Galleazzi. Mario has taught me the incredible power
and presence of God in silence, and helped me to remain in
that silence. He has taught me what it is to listen, and to
receive whatever another person has offered in trust.
Famous/historic mentor or role model:
Therese of
Lisieux. The life of St. Therese helps me to remember that
even brief ministry encounters with patients, families, or staff
are charged with the presence of God.
Why did you become a chaplain
The most truthful
answer is that I didn’t really have any idea what I was getting
into. Had I known where this path would lead 20 years ago,
I would most likely have been too terrified to come this way.
But God has a way of getting me to say yes when I don’t
know where I am going, and then giving me the strength
and wisdom to do what God has asked.
Why do you stay in the NACC
Being a professional
in ministry is important to me. I think patients
and families deserve someone who is trained
and accredited to be with them in their hour of
need. I think the NACC provides a quality
assurance for all the institutions that hire us to
provide ministry. Being a chaplain is much
more than just having good intentions and
wanting to help, and NACC both prepares us
and continues to provide education for us.
Why do you volunteer
I began
volunteering because I thought it was
important for members to be involved and to
give back to the organization. Now I have to
admit that it is a lot of fun, as well as work. I’ve
met and worked with chaplains from all over the country,
and learned different ways of dealing with the same issues
that provide me with new ideas to take back to my own
hospital. I’ve learned a lot and become a better chaplain
because of the volunteer opportunities that I’ve been
involved in.
What volunteer activity has been most rewarding?
I’ve really felt rewarded by all of them, but maybe the most
has been working as an Interview Team Educator. It is
rewarding to work with and meet dedicated and talented
chaplains from all over the country, and also to have a part in
providing professional accreditation to new chaplains. It is
wonderful to see all the new people who are joining us in
this ministry and be part of their journeys.
