50th Anniversary 1965-2015
50th Jubilee Recollections – 1965-2015
Our brand-new publication 50th Jubilee Recollections has been published! To read, click below:
50th Jubilee Recollections: National Association of Catholic Chaplains 1965-2015
(To download a copy to read offline, right-click and save to your computer)
Examples of early chaplaincy training program materials
NACC Executive Director David Lichter recently had the privilege to meet with Sr. Anna Marie (Gerard) Schwieder, OSF, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, now 92 years old, who in the early 1970’s was one of the first five sisters to become members and certified. In the ’70’s she and colleague sisters offered a five-week hospital training program, mostly for sisters of other communities, that helped prepare them to become certified. Sr. Anna Marie recently sent a copy of the announcement for the hospital ministry training programs, and a listing of lectures and topics. Thank you, Sr. Anna Marie!
1972-73 Programs in Hospital Ministry (flyer)
1978 Program in Health Ministry – Listing of Lectures and Presentations
Letters of Congratulation and Recognition
The NACC received letters of congratulations and recognition for its 50th Jubilee from Bishop John Quinn, Bishop of Winona and Chair of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Certification of Ecclesial Ministry and Service, and from Professor Dr. Anne Vandenhoeck, Coordinator of The European Network of Health Care Chaplains, who also serves on the faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium:
Bishop Quinn – Letter of Congratulations
European Network of Healthcare Chaplains – NACC 50th
Opening Reflection: Honoring the Gift by Mary T. O’Neill
For the opening prayer service of the 2015 NACC Conference, our NACC member and chair-elect of the NACC Board of Directors, Mary T. O’Neill, D.Min., BCC-S, provided a beautiful, and insightful reflection on the meaning of our 50th Jubilee theme, Honor the Gift. Thank you, Mary T., for your thoughtful reflection! You can click below to read her reflection. Let us honor our gifts!
Mary T O’Neill – NACC HONORING THE GIFT Opening Reflection
Honoring the Gift
Below you can view the “Honoring the Gift” PowerPoint celebrating the NACC’s 50th Anniversary, featured at the March 2015 National Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
Music: “We Honor Your Gifts,” Words and music by Blair Holtey, Jeff S. Paul, C. Denise Young
Jubilee Prayer
Lord, as we gather in celebration, we echo the words of St. Paul, “Glory be to God whose power working through us can accomplish far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Eph 3: 20-21). Looking back over fifty years, we are humbled by the accomplishments made by the NACC in continuing the healing ministry of Jesus in the name of the church. We are grateful for those called to this ministry of compassion, a ministry that incarnates your Spirit of love. You, the Sower of good seeds, have cultivated and nurtured our diverse gifts, allowing for the formation of life-giving relationships, for advocacy regarding the dignity of the human person, and for the growth and development of the profession. May your power continue to work through all our membership. May our gifts of presence, compassion, wisdom, empowerment, and leadership reap a harmony between our gifts and the needs of those you sow beside us. As we honor the gifts of our Association, we pray that we will always remain deeply rooted in the Gospel of discipleship and dedicated to providing spiritual care to those experiencing the challenges, sorrows, and joys of life. Amen
— Sue Crowley, MA, BCC
Reflecting on the Ministry
In each issue of NACC Now, during our 50th jubilee year, we featured a reflection by one of our NACC chaplains on his or her ministry, and an experience of a gift of that ministry. These have been collected into a special publication titled Chaplain Encounters: Stories of Grace and Spiritual Healing from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
NACC 40th Anniversary writings (1965-2005)
Below you can read excerpts from the NACC’s 40th Anniversary publication Wellsprings Of Our Journey.
The 70s: Building Professionalism
The 80s: Growing Professionalism
The 90s: Professionalism Through Partnerships
New Millenium Challenges
Fifty Years of Facts (appendix)
NACC – the first ten years (1965-1975)
What do you know about the founding of the NACC? To read about those first ten years, please go to Our 40th Anniversary page (2005).
