Issue #230 – August 22, 2016

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
I remember many years ago the theologian and author, Jack Shea, commenting that in most pastoral settings there is usually some pastoral need couched behind a random theological question. That came to mind when I reflected on yesterday’s Gospel where Luke’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30) had someone asking Jesus a curious soteriological question, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” So I found myself asking, “What was the pastoral need couched behind the question?”

Jesus’ response was no Rogerian comeback, such as, “What I hear you asking is…” Rather it seemed like it was an almost impatient “Listen! Hey! Stay focused? Don’t surmise about something unknown, but be alert in the here and now to God’s reign present!” So his reply, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough,” carries a critical urgency! Don’t fret about your or another’s ultimate end, but stay focused on the here and now and the needs of one’s brothers and sisters where I dwell and cry out to you now!

I think about the theological-type questions you and I might hear when someone is in pain, experiencing loss, or at a crossroads of a decision-point where neither option is wanted. Where is God? Does God care? What is God telling or asking of me? Is there a heaven? Does God forgive when one lingers in resentment? Most likely we have been taught well, not to answer those questions theoretically but engage the person further to the person’s world behind the question.

As I reflect on the “narrow” gate, and I think about it in terms of time rather than space, it helps me focus on the Kairos nature of God’s invite. The narrow window of time to respond with compassion and generosity – to be attentive to one in the moment in that narrow window of opportunity to be present to a brother or sister in need. I know each day I miss those narrow windows of opportunity. Here are four of my favorite quotes that remind me of this.

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches. (Rainer Marie Rilke)

For the way to what is near is always the longest and thus the hardest for us humans. (Martin Heidegger)

Every moment and every event of every man’s (sic) life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity and love. (Thomas Merton)

“In good time we shall see God and his light, you say. Fool, you shall never see what you do not see today!” (Angelus Silesius, 17th century)

So what are other ways to interpret the “narrow” gate?

Blessings,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Not many days left until September 1 to submit your nominees for the three NACC awards!
Please send in your nominations by Thursday, September 1, for your nominations of 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 NACC Annual Awards Advisory 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.

3. September 15 Initial Certification Application Deadline Approaching
September 15 is the next certification application deadline. All materials must be postmarked no later than September 15, 2016, for consideration for a May 20 or 21, 2017, certification interview. For questions regarding the application process, please contact Ramona Zeb at rzeb@nacc.org or at (414) 483-4898 ext. 304. Best wishes to all those who are working to prepare their materials!

4. Please consider applying for these NACC leadership positions!
Please consider applying for these leadership positions. We have several transitions in key leadership roles. Help us in this discernment by offering your gifts! The Nominations Panel has identified the following openings:

Certification Appeals Panel (1)
Certification Commission (2)
Editorial Advisory Panel (3)
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.

5. Death of a former NACC member and ACPE Supervisor, Kathleen (Kate) Frances Sullivan
Former NACC member and ACPE Supervisor, Kathleen (Kate) Frances Sullivan died on August 17, 2016. Kate joined the NACC in 1987 and was board certified in 1988. She was fondly known and deeply loved and appreciated by those who had her for CPE in the greater Milwaukee area, both at St. Camillus and the Village at Manor Park. May the Lord grant her eternal peace.
www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?n=kathleen-frances-sullivan-kate&pid=181119477

6. Please keep sending the names of our deceased NACC members to honor!
For the 50th anniversary conference in 2015, the NACC Conference Planning Task Force had made a memorial altar cloth graced with the names of all those NACC members who are now home in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Each year the cloth is updated with any members who pass in that year. Please take a few moments to review our current listing of names at www.nacc.org/membership/memoriam-deceased-nacc-members and please share with us the names of any deceased NACC members who are missing from our list.

We are endeavoring to have the cloth include all those who have come before us and now rest in peace. Please submit their names to Jeanine Annunziato at the NACC office (jannunziato@nacc.org).

7. Vision: Spiritual Care Department needs a strategic plan to thrive!
A spiritual care department needs a strategic plan of its own to thrive within its healthcare organization. In the July-August issue of Vision, Jennifer Paquette encourages spiritual care leaders to think big when they plan. To read more, click below.
www.nacc.org/vision/2016-jul-aug/a-good-strategic-plan-can-help-your-department-thrive

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

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
Friday, September 16, 10:00 a.m. Central Time – CPE Supervisors

9. 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 15, 2016, we have received $38,390 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!

10. 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 go to www.nacc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Cognate-Communication.pdf. With questions, please contact David Lichter (dlichter@nacc.org).

11. Retired Member Status and Maintaining Chaplain Board Certification
Early in July 2016, the NACC national office mailed and emailed to all NACC Certified members information relative to maintaining certification during retirement. 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.

12. 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

13. Consider today!! 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 2017 NACC Conference Logo

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

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

17. Register TODAY for September’s NACC Webinar!
Don’t miss the next NACC webinar in our 2016 program which is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time. Rabbi Dr. Nadia Siritsky, MSSW, BCC, will present “Metrics for Spiritual Care Interventions: a CHI Kentucky One Initiative.”

If you have not already done so, it is still not too late to register for this webinar.

Program Summary
CHI Kentucky One’s Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY, gets over 100 Emergency Department (ED) visits a day that puts pressure on maintaining high quality service and on staff health. The Jewish Hospital Clinical and Operational Excellence (COE) team worked collaboratively with the Pastoral Care and Clinical and Process Excellence (CPE) to launch an innovative Chaplain Intervention Program (ChIP) that integrated skilled chaplains into the ED environment with a two-fold approach to provide patient care and deliver staff support. Mission leader, Rabbi Nadia Siritsky, BCC, a social researcher by background, will share the process of developing the metrics used to measure effectiveness, what they are learning, and how they are moving forward to integrate metrics in spiritual care.

Participants qualify for 2.0 CEHs total for the session (which includes 90 minutes for the webinar plus 30 minutes preparation time).

To register for this webinar, as well as for any other NACC 2016 webinars, 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.

18. Learn more about our September Webinar presenter, Rabbi Dr. Nadia Siritsky, MSSW, BCC in Health Progress.
Health Progress, March-April 2016 issue had an article by Rabbi Dr. Nadia Siritsky, MSSW, BCC, entitled “Reflections of a Rabbi Mission Leader.” You might enjoy reading it to gain a better understanding of her background.
https://www.chausa.org/publications/health-progress/article/march-april-2016/reflections-of-a-rabbi-mission-leader

19.
you might know, the NACC received from the Raskob Foundation http://www.rfca.org/ 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).

20. 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

21. The remainder of 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.

22. Mark your calendar for the APC 2016 Chaplain Symposium, October 6, 2016.
The APC 2016 Chaplain Symposium is entitled, “New Normal: The Evolving Challenges of Spiritual Care,” to be held on October 6, 2016. Go to the APC Website for more details!
http://www.professionalchaplains.org/content.asp?pl=72&sl=492&contentid=492

23. 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).

24. 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 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

DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE and MISSION
Waterville, Maine – Mount Saint Joseph Residence and Rehabilitation

DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
New York, New York – ArchCare at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center

DIRECTOR, PASTORAL CARE & EDUCATION
Akron, Ohio – Summa Health

CATHOLIC PRIEST
Topeka, Kansas – St. Francis Healthcare

CHAPLAIN-PRIEST
Indianapolis, Indiana – St. Francis Health

CHAPLAIN
Manitowoc, Wisconsin – Holy Family Memorial

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

NACC Now #230

Issue #230 – August 22, 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

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Issue #230 – August 22, 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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