Issue #229 – August 8, 2016

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(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
We daily minister in the world of people experiencing the unexpected. Whether it is illness, accident or death, it’s usually unexpected. Life is upturned, and futures put into question. I was reflecting on this in light of yesterday’s readings, especially the line from the gospel, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Lk. 12:40)

I don’t know about your life circumstances, but it seems the unexpected is a constitutive dimension of life. We expect the unexpected. And the unexpected usually creates some form of chaos, whether in small or big doses.

I deeply appreciated being introduced last week to the person and writing of James Keehan, SJ, who spoke at the American Association of Catholic Correctional Chaplains (ACCCA) Conference in Boston. He presented on the role of mercy in Catholic ministry. You might be familiar (I wasn’t) with his book, Works of Mercy: The Heart of Catholicism (2007). In it he describes the act of mercy as the willingness to enter into the chaos of another.

I was taken by his description of mercy, and it led me to reflect on mercy and chaos. You probably remember from your theological studies the Hebrew terms for chaos and waste used in Genesis 1 – tohu. The term defies a singular translation but many words have been used to describe it, such as: chaos, confusion, emptiness, desolation, futile, meaningless, formless, nothing, waste, etc.
(http://biblehub.com/hebrew/8414.htm; http://www.usccb.org/bible/gn/1:1) I suspect not many of our spiritual assessments include chaotic or tohu, but many of these descriptions touch on spiritual distress, do they not?

When we consider again the definition of spirituality as that aspect of humanity that seeks to express meaning and purpose, and the way individuals experience their connectedness to the moment, the self, the other, nature, and the sacred (https://smhs.gwu.edu/gwish/sites/gwish/files/Improving_Spiritual_Palliative_Care.pdf), we can appreciate even more the disruptive experience of chaos in all forms that causes meaninglessness and disconnectedness. Then, when we think about chaos as the reality before creation, what a wonderful mystery is ministry as mercy! We enter into the chaos (tohu) of another and, in faith, pray that we can be part of God’s recreation and renewal for that person or family. Our ministry is an expression of mercy, that is, God’s creative, life-giving, meaning-giving, reconnecting, healing presence.

So we can live by Jesus’ mandate to be prepared, for at an hour we do not expect, the Son of Man will come. Yet, as the unexpected sends us into chaos, may our belief in our creative and merciful God help us live out our ministry of mercy with gratitude and faithfulness.

What do you think? How is your ministry an expression of God’s mercy?

Blessings,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Welcome to our new NACC members who joined us in July! *
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our newest NACC members who joined us in July!

Full Members
Mr. Joshua Betancourt (Riverside, California)
Dr. David T. Chapin (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
Rev. Charles O. Dwomoh (Hungerford, Texas)
Rev. Thomas W. Harshman (San Francisco, California)
Mrs. Kathleen Lombardozzi (Billings, Montana)
Mrs. Cara A. Perille (San Antonio, Texas)

Student Members
Sr. Olarewaju T. Adeboye (Manvel, Texas)
Mrs. Jeanette M. Zerella (East Patchogue, New York)

3. Cognate partners create a joint communication tool. *
The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) developed a joint communication piece to be used in a variety of settings. It speaks to our common commitment to excellence in pastoral care. We have copies for use by our members. To view this document, please click here. With questions, please contact David Lichter (dlichter@nacc.org).

4. Please send by September 1 your nominees for the three NACC awards!
The NACC Annual Awards Advisory Panel invites NACC members to nominate NACC members who exemplify the award criteria both for the Distinguished Service Award and for the Emergent Leader Award (for an NACC member 50 years of age or younger who is serving NACC in some leadership capacity). Also, the panel invites you to nominate a non-NACC member professional colleague who embodies the award criteria for the Outstanding Colleague Award. These awards will be presented at our 2017 Annual Conference. Criteria and nomination forms can be found here. Please send in your nominations by Thursday, September 1. For questions, please contact Tim Charek (tcharek@nacc.org).

5. Seeking applicants for additional NACC leadership positions
The Board of Directors election process has concluded for 2016. The Nominations Panel is now focusing its efforts on the NACC leadership positions that will be open January 1, 2017. Currently identified openings are:

Certification Appeals Panel (1)
Certification Commission (2)
Editorial Advisory Panel (1)
Educational Advisory Panel (2)
Ethics Appeals Panel (2)
Finance Committee (1)
Governance Committee (1)
Nominations Panel (1)
Standards Commission (2)

You can access the Roles, Responsibilities and Criteria for the various committees, commissions, and panels on the NACC Website at www.nacc.org/about-nacc/leadership/association-leadership. Make a difference and get involved, as NACC is a membership-directed organization! Please contact Tim Charek (tcharek@nacc.org) at the national office for more information.

6. Please contribute to the NACC 2016 Annual Member Campaign!
We are deeply grateful to those who have already given to the 2016 Annual Member Campaign! We are more than halfway to our goal already! As of August 5, 2016, we have received $34,190 in gifts. Our Annual Campaign Goal is $52,000. 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.aspx.

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 year’s Campaign, by going to: https://nationalcatholicwiassoc.wliinc32.com/forms/donation.aspx. 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!

7. Retired Member Status and Maintaining Chaplain Board Certification *
This past week the NACC national office emailed to all NACC Certified members information relative to maintaining certification during retirement. This communication was the same as the communication which was mailed to all NACC certified members on July 8, 2016. The communication outlines the Board of Directors’ decision to reduce the requirements for renewal of certification for Retired members of the association. Please contact Jeanine Annunziato at the NACC National Office with any questions (jannunziato@nacc.org) related to the reduced requirements. We look forward to being blessed by retired chaplains/supervisors who renew their certification under the revised guidelines and we welcome their continued service to the NACC.

8. Vision: Can a self-employed chaplain find clients and make a living? *
At least one NACC member is making that model work: Bridget Deegan-Krause, the co-owner of Leadership Formation Partners. Click below to read an interview with Bridget, and much more about leadership, in the new issue of Vision.
www.nacc.org/vision/2016-jul-aug/laying-track-as-i-go-the-chaplain-as-entrepreneur/

9. Upcoming NACC networking calls in August *
If you wish to participate on any of these calls and are not already on that particular call list, please contact Tim Charek at tcharek@nacc.org

Tuesday, August 16, 12:00 p.m. Central Time – Long Term Care
Tuesday, August 16, 3:00 p.m. Central Time — African Members
Wednesday, August 17, 10:00 a.m. Central Time — Outpatient/Discharge/ACO Group
Thursday, August 18, 10:00 a.m. Central Time – Hispanic/Latino Members
Monday, August 22, 11:00 a.m. Central Time — NACC Retired/Emeritus Members
Monday, August 22, 1:00 p.m. Central Time — Deacon Members
Tuesday, August 23, 10:00 a.m. Central Time – State Liaisons
Tuesday, August 23, 2:00 p.m. Central Time — NACC Retired/Emeritus Members
Wednesday, August 24, 2:00 p.m. Central Time – State Liaisons
Thursday, August 25, 11:00 a.m. Central Time — Palliative Care/Hospice Group

10. Seeking Vision writers for the November-December issue on the mental and behavioral health ministry.
We are considering a theme of mental and behavioral health ministry for the November-December issue of Vision. Relatively few of our members work exclusively in mental health settings, but the topic has wide relevance to the work of spiritual care. If you have ideas for an article related to this theme, please send a note to Vision editor David Lewellen at dlewellen@nacc.org.

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

11. Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, is site for our April 28-May 1, 2017 NACC Conference! *
The April 28 – May 1, 2017 Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, just outside Albuquerque. It is in a beautiful setting ideal for our conference. More information on hotel reservations will be forthcoming. To view the Resort and Spa, go to tamaya.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html.

12. 2017 NACC Conference Planning Task Force announces 2017 Conference Theme! *
The Conference Planning Task Force is pleased to announce the theme for the 2017 National Conference is “Hearts on Fire, Our Own Emmaus Journey: Living Tradition, Sacred Stories, God Always with Us, Continually Transformed.”

In April, Catholic Chaplains and Chaplains of other faith traditions from across the nation, Canada, and beyond, will gather in New Mexico to be energized, supported, challenged and transformed personally and professionally. This year’s conference theme, “Hearts on Fire, Our Own Emmaus Journey,” will render the opportunity for each person to reflect on his or her own journey as Followers of Christ.

We will begin our journey with recognizing our Living Tradition – a Tradition that travels through time with a shared experience and history making us who we are as individuals and as chaplains. This Living Tradition is deeply rooted in faith and theology.

The road we travel is one in which we are continually developing our own story while we engage in the stories of those we minister to, as well as a global story. These stories are filled with challenges, struggles, brokenness, strife as well as joy, grace, peace and reconciliation. As we encounter the roads of life, how do we as individuals, as a Church and as an organization, continue the Living Tradition through these Sacred Stories?

This road we travel and the ministry we engage in are not done in isolation. As we continue on the road to our own Emmaus, we are constantly reminded that God is always present – ahead of us and beside us. This God is one of faithfulness who we are called by to continue the work of His saving action.

As we discover the meaning of our own Emmaus, we are transformed every step of the way. With the presence of God and Burning Hearts, we continually change and grow personally, professionally and as Followers of Christ. It is with Transformed Burning Hearts that we continue the mission of a Church with a Living Tradition and Sacred Stories always in the Presence of a Living God.

13. 2017 NACC Conference Logo *

Visit the NACC website to get a first look at the 2017 Conference Logo.

14. 2017 NACC Conference call for workshop proposals *
September 11 is the deadline for 2017 NACC Conference workshop proposals
On behalf of the NACC Conference Planning Task Force, you are invited to submit an application to lead a workshop for the upcoming 2017 NACC Conference. This conference promises to be rich and memorable, with the gift of presence of friends, mentors and colleagues old and new. We welcome the addition of the gift of your presence as a workshop presenter.

Visit the NACC website today to view the Submission Guidelines and download an application form.

Workshop applications will be accepted through Sunday, September 11, 2016.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

15. Request: Information on formation programs for preparing individuals for pastoral care ministry *
As you might know, the NACC received from the Raskob Foundation a grant for collaborative planning for educating, forming, and equipping those involved in the pastoral care ministry in the name of the Church. We are convening in October key partners of diverse Catholic ministries to share current practices, and systematically identify: those with the most critical pastoral needs and the settings where they are most found; the type or types of pastoral care needed; the competencies needed to meet those needs; the diverse ministries (board certified, pastoral associates, volunteers, parish nurses) needed with these competencies; the standards/training/formation required to obtain those competencies; the core elements for professional and volunteer pastoral care formation, the accountabilities required; and an agreed-upon organization approach to provide the ministry preparation needed in response to what is learned. Part of our preparation is to learn of leading practices in current pastoral care preparation practices. If you are involved in and/or know of pastoral care preparation programs, we invite you to complete a data finding form. Please send us this information by Monday, August 22. For questions, please contact David Lichter (dlichter@nacc.org).

16. Request: Learning from Chaplains: The Role of Spirituality in Medical Education *
Vision editor David Lewellen is gathering sources for an article in Health Progress about spirituality education in medical schools and nursing schools – programs such as the Healer’s Art course and the Physician’s Vocation Program at Loyola. Do any NACC members know of other programs (not necessarily Catholic) along those lines? If so, please send a note to David at dlewellen@nacc.org. Thank you very much.

17. NACC Local Events *
Several local gatherings are being scheduled for 2016. 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, please contact Andris Kursietis (akursietis@nacc.org).

August 26, 2016, Milwaukee, WI, see details
September 29-30, 2016, Alexandria, MN, see details
October 8, 2016, Seattle, WA, details to follow
November 10, 2016, Cincinnati, OH, details to follow
November 15, 2016, Baltimore, MD, details to follow

18. The upcoming 2016 NACC webinars! *

Renewal of Certification by the NACC
Presented by NACC Certification Commissioners: Augustine (Austine) Duru, MA, MDiv, BCC, Kathleen M. Ponce, MAPS, BCC, and Jane W. Smith, DMin, BCC, AADP
Thursday, August 18, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Metrics for Spiritual Care Interventions: a CHI Kentucky One Initiative
Presented by Rabbi Dr. Nadia Siritsky, MSSW, BCC
Thursday, September 22, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

What Every Chaplain Should Know About the Business of Health Care
Presented by Tim Crowley, MHA, MAPM, LFACHE
Thursday, October 13, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Ethical Issues Facing Our Healthcare Settings, and Implications for Spiritual Care
Presented by Rev. Thomas A. Nairn, OFM, PhD
Thursday, November 10, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Certification by the NACC
Presented by the NACC
Thursday, November 17, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Chaplaincy and the Ritual Ministry: Its Role and Value
Presented by Jim Letourneau, BCC and Linda Bronersky, BCC-S
Thursday, December 8, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

To register for these webinar, please visit the webinar page on our website by clicking on this LINK. The web page contains a link to a downloadable paper registration form, but you can also register online by clicking on REGISTER.

19. Other education offerings *
Registration is now open for Providence’s October 28 conference on Spiritual Care and Mental Health.

As you know and are experiencing, mental health is a growing challenge for our communities and for all of us in health care. Please take this opportunity to gather with interdisciplinary teams and learn with a highly recommended expert who is bridging the worlds of chaplaincy, spiritual care and mental health.

For details and registration information, please click on this link.
This conference will be of interest to many professionals in addition to chaplains, so please pass this information along to your teams and peers. ALL are welcome. We have kept it very affordable (and flexible if you can only make part of the day).

For questions, please contact:
Julianne Dickelman MA BCC
Chaplain Educator, Providence Health Care
Coordinator, Schwartz Center Rounds®
Instructor, Respecting Choices®
Trainer, VitalHearts® Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training
Providence Center for Faith & Healing
509-474-2303
julianne.dickelman@providence.org

20. Healing Tree: a request for prayers *
We continue to pray for: Rosemary Benya BCC, Sr. Nancy Beckenhauer, Linda Dickey, Mara Kujawa (very good friend of NACC staffer Sue Walker), Marilyn and Chuck Silkey (sister and brother-in-law of NACC member Kathy Ponce), Dr. David Nile (Husband of recently deceased NACC member Lucy G. Nile BCC),Amy in Redwood City, CA (friend of NACC member Theresa Sullivan), Julie Bablin, the family of Dale Dewitt, Fr. Douglas F. Faraci, Maritza Ramos-Pratt, Jane Chiamaka Onuoha (very young baby of our NACC member Michael Onuoha), Kathleen (Kate) Sullivan, Sandy Tiefenbrun (spouse of Anita Barni), Marie Coglianese, Nancy and Sheila Amrich (nieces-in-law of NACC member Sr. Paracleta Amrich), Isabelita Boquiren, Sister Patricia Watkins, GNSH, Rev. Gerald U. Onuoha, David Markiewicz (grandson of recently deceased NACC member Roberta Markiewicz), Sister Stephanie Morales, FMI, Marybeth Harmon, Renato Fallico, Susan Balling, Maria Meneses, Chaplain Julia Mary Sweeney (mourning the death of her sister, Margaret Maureen Lewis, BA Honors), Sr. Sheila Prendeville, CPPS, Sister M. Dianna Hell, Sister Maria Theresa Hronec, Betty and Louis Skonieczny, Jim Castello, 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), Thomas (grandson of NACC member Ginny Grimes Allen), Beth from Boston (friend of NACC member Dana Sandlin), Sr. Janet Bielmann, 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, and Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).

21. Recent job postings*
The following positions have been posted recently on our Positions Available page.
For more information go to www.nacc.org/resources/positions.

SPIRITUAL CARE MANAGER
Vancouver/Longview, Washington – PeaceHealth

PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Washington, DC – MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Jackson, Mississippi – St. Dominic Hospital

CHAPLAINS
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin – Agnesian HealthCare

CATHOLIC PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Fullerton, California – St. Jude Medical Center

SPIRITUAL CARE COORDINATOR
Grand Rapids, Michigan – Mercy Health Saint Mary’s

CATHOLIC PRIEST
Portland, Oregon – Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

DIRECTOR of SPIRITUAL CARE
Portage, Wisconsin – Divine Savior Healthcare

DIRECTOR OF MISSION SERVICES
Paterson, New Jersey – St. Joseph’s Healthcare System

View these jobs and more at: www.nacc.org/resources/positions.

NACC Now #229

Issue #229 – August 8, 2016

NACC

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

Issue #229 – August 8, 2016

NACC

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

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