Volunteer of the Month: October 2007
Name:
Angie Vorholt
Job title and institution:
Director of Pastoral
Care; DePaul Health Center,
Bridgeton, MO
NACC member since:
1995
Volunteer service:
Site
coordinator for certification
interviews in St. Louis, several
years
Favorite book:
Spiritual—
Hinds Feet on
High Places. Any Disney
business book—
Be Our
Guest, If Disney Ran Your Hospital, Imagineer Workout.
The Disney books help me stay creative and approach
concerns with a more global view.
Favorite spiritual resource:
Spiritual direction is
the gift that keeps me going. I am also a member of a
spiritual movement called Focolare—the Spirituality of Unity.
Favorite movie:
Meet Me in St. Louis (love Judy Garland!);
The Power of One
Favorite retreat spot:
Il Ritiro, Ditmer, Missouri
Personal mentor or role model:
I have had several to this point.
Famous/historic mentor or role model:
Jesus, of course. I have always admired and tried to follow Francis of Assisi.
Another major influence is Louise de Marillac. All three served
the sick and poor and relied on God and their communities for
their needs. I also admire Gandhi.
Why did you become a chaplain?
I worked with a religious sister in the early 1970s who served in city hospitals in
St. Louis — Catherine Shallom, CPPS. She was fantastic and
had such a passion for the sick and the staff who cared for them.
I wanted to assist people at one of their most vulnerable
times — illness.
What do you get from NACC?
We must ensure that chaplaincy remains as professional as possible and
becomes even more than it is. The credentialing and
networking that occurs to make this happen is lifegiving.
It is important to me, also, that Catholic
chaplains have a network on which to rely.
Why do you volunteer?
I believe in NACC and in the certification process. I want my profession to remain
a stable force, and that happens when many come together to
support the initiative.
What do you learn from volunteering?
Before I serve as site coordinator, I review the Standards again in an effort to be as
sharp and well-versed as possible to assist the candidates as well
as the interview teams. It is a learning experience for me to hear
what others perceive of the experience and the process.