Issue #200 – June 22, 2015
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(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)
NACC
1. Executive Director’s Reflection*
2. Interviewer Recruitment for October 3 & 4, 2015 Certification Interviews*
3. Member News: Georgia Gojmerac-Leiner, DMin, BCC, and Chaplain Marie Philomène Péan*
4. NACC 2015 50th Anniversary Annual Member Campaign continues well!*
5. Did you read about John Allen’s talk on the Francis Effect in May-June Vision?*
6. This is our 200th issue of NACC Now!*
7. Please read about NACC’s new member card process and distribution.
8. Have you read this notice regarding your NACC membership renewal process?
NACC – 50 YEARS OF CONTINUING THE HEALING MINISTRY
9. NACC Board of Directors’ Actions in April 2005 – 40th Anniversary of NACC*
10. Reflecting on the ministry: Watch what you promise, by Frances Smalkowski, CFSN*
2016 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 22-25, 2016
11. Mark your calendar for April 22-25, 2016, for the NACC 2016 National Conference!
12. 2016 NACC Conference Theme*
13. 2016 NACC Conference call for workshops proposals*
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
14. Have you seen this recent research article on the relationship of chaplain visits and patient satisfaction?*
15. Are you preparing for certification? Then the next NACC Webinar is a must for you!*
16. NACC 2015 Webinars*
17. NACC Local Gatherings*
18. Other Educational Offerings*
19. Healing Tree: a request for prayers*
20. Recent job postings*
Executive Director’s Reflection*
Have you ever found yourself or heard another person respond to the question, “How’s it going?” with “Same old, same old.” I have heard it, and have every once in a while caught myself saying it! Oh, my! What a dismal response! It’s usually when I allowed myself to slip into what Karl Rahner called the “desolate dailyness of life” where I am wallowing in a desolate dullness. What a shame! Or should I say, “How unchristian!”
This came to mind when reading yesterday’s second reading from 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. In fact, the first words of that reading, “the love of Christ impels us,” or “Caritas Christi Urget Nos” was adopted by some religious communities, such as the Vincentians and Pallottines, as their grounding motivation for ministry. St. Paul grounds this motivation in the fact that we all died and were raised in Christ who died and rose for all. Through baptism, we live in this new reality; “the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”
So, when I catch myself in the “same old, same old,” I now have to ask myself, “What does ‘the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come’ look like every day for me, for us?” Is it sometimes just a statement of faith when it sure doesn’t look or feel “new”? Is it a lens through which I am challenged to see, name and embrace “newness” when it might be only hints and guesses? What does it mean to live in this baptismal reality that is not simply, “Oh, yes, I am baptized,” but is truly a graced existence that infused you and me with a charism to see and embrace newness? Perhaps, that is why we are able to stay at bedsides when all seems lost, or not to back away from what seems a hopeless cause, or to wait humbly with a family grieving a lost one. Perhaps, something deep within us, subtly, subconsciously, and over time has tuned us to that baptismal charism that keeps us from living in the “same old, same old” desolate dailyness of life. Maybe, deep down we have gracefully accustomed ourselves to the belief that “the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” Perhaps we live in a reverential, reflexive resiliency grounded “in Him we live and move and have our being.”
What a strong statement, Caritas Christ Urget Nos!
David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director
Interviewer Recruitment for October 3 & 4, 2015 Certification Interviews*
We are in the midst of recruiting interviewers in the areas of Irving, Texas; Middletown, Connecticut; Orange County, California; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you are interested in becoming an interviewer and live nearby the interview locations, especially if you are experienced, please contact Ramona Zeb at rzeb@nacc.org. Interviewers must be currently Board Certified members of the NACC.
Member News: Georgia Gojmerac-Leiner, DMin, BCC, and Chaplain Marie Philomène Péan*
Georgia Gojmerac-Leiner, DMin, BCC publishes article in Reflective Practice
Member Georgia Gojmerac-Leiner, DMin, BCC, published an essay titled, “An Ear for the Therapeutic in the Stories of Religious Experience,” in the journal Reflective Practice, Volume 35, The Narrative Perspective. Volume 35 of Reflective Practice: Formative and Supervision in Ministry is now available online. The following abstract describes the content of Georgia’s essay: This essay presents stories of religious experience told by people who were hospitalized for a variety of reasons. The stories are analyzed for therapeutic purposes, through theological reflection and applying the scientific research of Alister Hardy, researcher and author of the book The Spiritual Nature of Man.
Chaplain Marie Philomène Péan Awarded Doctorate
Congratulations to Chaplain Marie Philomène Péan, who was awarded her Doctorate in Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School on May 16th, 2015. In addition to getting her Doctorate, she was also awarded the “Scholastic Award” in Christian Education. Chaplain Péan joined the Spaulding Spiritual Care team in October of 2010, and has served as an Interfaith Chaplain at Spaulding West Roxbury, Spaulding North End, Spaulding Boston and Spaulding Cambridge. She is a board-certified Chaplain as well as a Spiritual Director. Congratulations, Philomène from your colleagues in Spiritual Care – awesome achievement!
NACC 2015 50th Anniversary Annual Member Campaign continues well!*
We continue to receive gifts from NACC members toward the 2015 50th Anniversary Annual Member Campaign. We are deeply grateful to those who have already given! Thank you! If you have not yet contributed, please do so as soon as you can either by sending your gift in the donation envelope provided to you, or you can go right now to our NACC website and contribute online at https://nationalcatholicwiassoc.wliinc32.com/forms/donation. If you are not an NACC member (more than 1,600 non-NACC members subscribe to NACC Now), we also invite and encourage you to contribute to this special 50th Anniversary Campaign, by going to: https://nationalcatholicwiassoc.wliinc32.com/forms/donation. Your contribution helps us provide what we do, including this NACC Now and all NACC resources. Thank you in advance for your commitment and generosity!
Did you read about John Allen’s talk on the Francis Effect in May-June Vision?*
Veteran Vatican reporter John L. Allen Jr. offered insights into the Francis papacy during the closing plenary session of the NACC national conference. Pope Francis “is today by far the most popular religious leader on the planet, and one of the most popular leaders of any sort,” he said. To read a summary in the May-June issue of Vision, click here.
This is our 200th issue of NACC Now!*
Our first issue was published on September 10, 2007. In the almost eight years since then, our newsletter has grown into a robust publication of news, resources, research, and interaction between pastoral care professionals. NACC Now keeps us keep in touch with our membership as well as almost 1,700 nonmember subscribers. We are grateful to all for being involved and look forward to learning and working together in the coming years!
Please read about NACC’s new member card process and distribution.
With the implementation of our new database we have been working on a new Membership Card that is compatible with the system. The card has been designed and is now ready to be emailed to you after your membership dues payment is processed. Please watch for the email as it will contain not only your receipt of payment but also the Membership Card on the bottom of the receipt which can be cut off and saved. If needed a Membership Card Receipt may be mailed to you upon request.
Have you read this notice regarding your NACC membership renewal process?
We want to remind our members that since our conversion to the new NACC database last fall (that made possible your ability to enter your profile information and make membership payments via the NACC website), we needed to change the membership expiration date to the first day of your renewal month. So we now are sending via email your first membership renewal notice two months prior to your renewal month, and indicate that your dues are to be paid by the first day of your renewal month. Our second notice is sent to you via email, the beginning of the month prior to when your dues are expected to be paid. Please note that we are still providing you with two months in which to remit payment. However, we are providing you with two months prior to your due date in which payment should be received. We do apologize for any inconvenience this might initially cause you the first time around with this process, and ask for your prayer and patience with the implementation of our new system. Thank you.
NACC – 50 YEARS OF CONTINUING THE HEALING MINISTRY
NACC Board of Directors’ Actions in April 2005 – 40th Anniversary of NACC*
The NACC Board of Directors met prior to the conference in Albuquerque, NM, on April 8-9, 2005. The following is a summary of actions of the Board. The Board passed the following motions:
- To approve the roles and responsibilities of the Standards Committee, whose initial responsibility is to integrate the Common Standards with the NACC Standards. Going forward, the Standards Committee will be responsible for performing an annual review of the Standards, in addition to reviewing and recommending Standards changes to the Board of Directors.
- To establish a Governance Committee to create a board profile and a decision-making matrix for the association.
- To appoint Mr. Alan E. Bowman; Ms. Mary Lou O’Gorman; Ms. Mary T. O’Neill; Ms. Linda Piotrowski; and Dr. Jane W. Smith to the Standards Committee.
- To approve the Confidentiality Agreement and Gift Policy Disclosure Statement as NACC policy.
- To authorize the creation of a membership task force to review and develop appropriate levels of membership and levels of certification.
- To adopt the Bylaws as amended.
- To empower the Council on Collaboration to pursue the development of a consensus CPE document.
Source: Vision, June 2005 Vol.15 No.6, pg. 12.
Reflecting on the ministry: Watch what you promise, by Frances Smalkowski, CFSN*
“So,” you ask, “how did you get to pass Pastoral Care 101 and not learn that making promises is a no-no?”
“I suppose I knew that,” says the wise woman, “but sometimes the lighthearted and foolhardy act differently.”
I had known Dano’s father, Danny, since he was a young boy. You might even say that we fell for each other from the time he broke his arm. He was 3; I was 30. Fast forward four decades, and now Danny’s son, Dano, was struggling to live, let alone even think about ever walking again. At 18, Dano was in a serious motorcycle accident and left with little hope.
During my first visit with him in an out-of- state hospital, I hardly knew what to say. Though I had seen him previously as a much younger child, I had no real chance to get to know him. Also, it felt awkward with so many family members around his bed. Having traveled a good distance to visit him, I found that the only words I could speak were that my prayers and love were with him. My heart hurt not only for him, but also his loving family.
Time passed. Then, much to my surprise, during a second visit, I saw he was attempting painfully to walk on the hospital corridor. When done, he settled quite sadly in his bed to watch a video. You would have thought I could leave well enough alone, but no.
I noticed that the video he was watching was of someone flying in the air in a squirrel suit. I glibly said, “When you recover, Dano, we will go skydiving together.” He looked up and smiled. Needless to say, his smile was a gift, since again I was feeling quite helpless. (In retrospect, I wonder if his smile held some kind of secret.)
Several months later, he came to my convent home for his great-aunt’s golden jubilee celebration. During the festive meal, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Dano said, “Sr. Frances, did you really mean what you said, that we would go skydiving together when I got better?”
And so it was on June 21, 2014! That gorgeous day I earned my tandem skydiving certificate, bumper sticker, pictures, DVD, and lots of pastoral care lessons about promise making and promise keeping which I hope I’ll remember FOREVER!
Frances Smalkowski, BCC, CSFN, is director of pastoral care at St. John Paul II Center in Danbury, CT.
In each NACC Now, during this 50th jubilee year, we are featuring a reflection by one of our NACC chaplains on his or her ministry and an experience of a gift of that ministry. Please allow Frances’ reflection to inspire you in writing this year one of your “gifts” of ministry. Your own reflection is welcomed! If you want to share a reflection, please contact David Lewellen (dlewellen@nacc.org).
2016 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 22-25, 2016
Mark your calendar for April 22-25, 2016, for the NACC 2016 National Conference!
Please mark your calendars for our 2016 NACC National Conference to be held Friday, April 22nd, to Monday, April 25th, 2016, at the Chicago Marriott (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chiap-chicago-marriott-ohare/) near Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The Conference Planning Task Force is pleased to announce the theme for the 2016 National Conference is “Making All Things New: Co-creation, Transformation, Resilience and Hope”
More details on the theme will be available in the coming weeks.
2016 NACC Conference call for workshops proposals*
Watch the NACC Now in the coming weeks for our official “call” for workshop proposals. Please consider this opportunity to share your gifts as a workshop presenter.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
We recently received notice of this research article that investigates the relationship between chaplain visits and patient satisfaction as measured by Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and Press Ganey surveys from 8,978 patients who had been discharged from a tertiary care hospital.
Go to www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08854726.2014.981417.
Are you preparing for certification? Then the next NACC Webinar is a must for you!*
One of the standards for certification most frequently deficient is 302.41: Demonstrate an understanding of The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. Whether you are preparing for certification or deep in ministry, the NACC Webinars of July 9 & 16 on Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services: Implications for Spiritual Care Decision-Making, by Rev. Thomas A. Nairn, OFM, Ph.D., are invaluable. Sign up today at ON LINE REGISTRATION.
The NACC webinars for 2015 are in full swing. They address often-requested topics by our members. All are scheduled, as in past years, on Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Central Time. For these webinars we offer the option of registering (and paying by credit card) online: ONLINE REGISTRATION. The registration form may be accessed by clicking on this link: REGISTRATION FORM. Mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for the special invitation to register online coming later this week!
July 9 & 16
Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services: Implications for Spiritual Care Decision-Making
Presented by Rev. Thomas A. Nairn, OFM, Ph.D.
August 13
Renewal of Certification with the NACC
August 20
Certification with the NACC
September 10 & 17
Pastoral Care of the Sick and Dying: Theology and Practice of the Rites
Presented by Bruce T. Morrill, SJ
October 15 & 22
The Journey of Mental Illness for Chaplains, Family Members, & Caretakers.
Presented by Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ, BCC
November 5 & 12
Practical Theology and Implications for Professional Ministry.
Presented by Kathleen A. Cahalan, MA, Ph.D
December 17
90 minutes
“Honoring the Gift: NACC and Chaplaincy Going Forward”
Presented by David A. Lichter, D.Min and Mary Lou O’Gorman, BCC
Several local gatherings are being scheduled for 2015. Some have registration details. For the others, please “hold the date,” as details will follow. If you would like to consider hosting and helping plan an NACC local event to mark our 50th Anniversary, please contact Andris Kursietis (akursietis@nacc.org).
- September 14, 2015, St. Louis, MO, details to follow
- September 17-18, 2015, Alexandria, MN, see details
- October 29, 2015, Pontiac, MI, details to follow
- November 6, 2015, Buffalo, NY
- November 17, 2015, Washington, DC area
Fall 2015 special course offerings at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University—”Spiritual Paths in World Religions” and “Theology, Ethics, and Practice at the End of Life.” More information can be found here.
Healing Tree: a request for prayers*
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. Also please let us know when you want us to remove your name from our Healing Tree.
We continue to pray for: Diana Annunziato (Mother-in-law of NACC staffer Jeanine Annunziato), Sister Patricia Watkins, GNSH, Rev. Gerald U. Onuoha, David Markiewicz (grandson of NACC member Roberta Markiewicz), Sister Stephanie Morales, FMI, Marybeth Harmon, Renato Fallico, Konstanty Pawicz (husband of former staff member Mary Pawicz), Pam Kimmel, Susan Balling, Maria Meneses, Chaplain Julia Mary Sweeney (mourning the death of her sister, Margaret Maureen Lewis, BA Honors), Sr. Sheila Prendeville, CPPS, AnaLisa Bischoff, Sr. M. Dianna Hell,
Sister Maria Theresa Hronec, Betty and Louis Skonieczny, Mary Theresa (niece of NACC Chaplain Sister Dorothy Kline), Jim Castello, Kelly Bigler (mourning the death of her father, Vernon),
Jeff Michel (brother-in-law of David Lichter), Thomas from Chicago (12 years old), Thomas Smiley (brother of member Diane Smiley),
Marga Halala, Donn Renfro (son-in-law of Karen Pugliese),
Amy in Atlanta (friend of NACC member Theresa Sullivan),
Thomas (grandson of NACC member Ginny Grimes Allen), Beth from Boston (friend of NACC member Dana Sandlin),
Sr. Janet Bielmann, Kelly Folan (daughter of NACC member Marty Folan),
Mary Potts (twin sister of Deacon Francis Potts), Elizabeth A. Walsh,
Francesco Marshall, Glenn and Pat Teske,
Susan Murphy, Fr. Jim Radde, SJ, Sr. Mary Clare Boland, SP,
Sr. Phyllis Ann DiRenzo, Kathy Brier (daughter of NACC member Theresa Brier),
Gloria Troxler, Fr. Kevin Ikpah, Lourdes B. Ruta (wife of Peter Ruta), and
Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).
The following positions have been posted recently on our Positions Available page.
HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN
Appleton and Neenah, WI – ThedaCare (Appleton Medical Center and Theda Clark Medical Center)
DIRECTOR – SPIRITUAL CARE
Green Bay, WI -Hospital Sister’s Health System
CHAPLAIN
Waterloo, Iowa – Covenant Medical Center
CPE RESIDENCY
La Crosse WI – Gundersen Health System
DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE and MISSION INTEGRATION
Lemont, IL – Franciscan Village
DIRECTOR of MISSION INTEGRATION / PASTORAL CARE
Lindenhurst, IL – The Village at Victory Lakes
CHAPLAIN
Nashville, TN – Saint Thomas Health
BILINGUAL CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN
Dilley, TX – CCA’s South Texas Family Residential Center
DIRECTOR, PASTORAL CARE
Sanctuary at Holy Cross in Burtonsville, MD
