Issue #231 – September 6, 2016
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(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)
NACC
1. Executive Director’s Reflection*
2. Welcome new NACC members that joined us in August!*
3. NACC members in the news*
4. Death of a member*
5. September-October Vision issue now available on NACC Website*
6. September 15 Initial Certification Application Deadline is fast approaching.
7. Please consider applying for these NACC leadership positions!
8. Please keep sending the names of our deceased NACC members to honor!
9. Upcoming NACC networking call in September
10. Seeking more Vision writers for the November-December issue on the mental and behavioral health ministry
2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017
11. September 11 deadline for Conference 2017 workshop proposals is next week!*
12. Join us at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, for our April 28 – May 1, 2017 NACC Conference!*
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
13. Request: Policies and protocols on charting, HIPAA regulations and chaplain review of charts*
14. Register TODAY for September’s NACC Webinar!*
15. The remainder of 2016 NACC webinars*
16. NACC Local Events*
17. Other educational offerings*
18. Healing Tree: a request for prayers*
19. Recent job postings*
1. Executive Director’s Reflection*
As you know, this past Sunday, September 4, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was canonized a saint in Rome. It has been instructive to read the variety of news articles about her canonization in diverse media from the Wall Street Journal last Thursday, and The Guardian, to CNN.
Yes, I would say she was a complex, even controversial (to some people) individual who lived out a simple, searing truth of God’s endless love and mercy.
I was blessed in the early ’70’s to serve with her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, while working in and helping run an after school program in the Prenestina Baracche (shanties) area on the outskirts of Rome. I recall being confronted by representatives of some Italian political parties who also ran after school programs to get families to align with their social cause. They questioned why were we there doing this work. I remember internally struggling with balancing the need for social change with addressing the direct need of helping children learn. Families were appreciative of the direct help for their children. It was complex.
I was blessed a few times to meet Mother Teresa, and sit with her once for an extended period. Honestly, I felt exposed in my own individual complexity as she looked at me, feeling my confusion, my littleness, yet being loved. The complexity around me vanished for a moment as I experienced her riveted, reverential regard. Nothing was otherworldly about it, just a human gaze with unencumbered care.
I remember her speaking once to a group of students in Fr. Edward Malatesta’s class on the Letters of John. It was, as usual, a simple message of God’s love. A student asked her about how he could help participate in and advance her work. She just replied, “Look across the table with love at the person sitting across from you. Give that one your unwavering, respectful regard.”
It was a blessing to spend three months in India with the Brothers and Sisters of Charity in the summer of 1973. I certainly came to appreciate more their ministry, and her charism. In the late 80’s when I was back on staff at the North American College, I had the privilege to celebrate Mass with the sisters and Mother at their convent. Mother was always in the back, quietly sitting on her legs, eyes lowered or fixed on the Crucifix and the words, Ho Sete (I thirst) written next to it. I have no doubt that her own complexity was brought to her contemplative stance in adoration and Eucharist, where she knew in faith while not experiencing it (due to her own dark night) the simple, searing truth of God’s endless love and mercy.
Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us. Help us live out our ministry, offering to one another the respite of mercy, and that unwavering, respectful regard in the midst of the complexity of our lives.
Blessings,
David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director
2. Welcome new NACC members that joined us in August!*
Please extend a warm welcome to all our new members who joined us in August 2016!
Full Members
Rev. Richard W. Bauer MM (New York, NY)
Rev. Patrick E. Besel (Essex, MD)
Rev. Charles L. Calabrese (Fort Worth, TX)
Deacon Dare D. Dutter (Dewitt, NY)
Mrs. Donna M. Gormley (Wyckoff, NJ)
Jane C. Maglio (Barrington, RI)
Nathalia I. Mendieta (Houston, TX)
Mr. Michal T. Schemmel (Sumner, IA)
Ms. Mary Anne XH Ta (San Jose, CA)
Student Members
Dr. Joan E. Denton (Sacramento, CA)
Rev. Enoch K. Kyeremailng (Worcester, MA)
Rev. Albert N. Shuyaka (Washington, DC)
Associate Members
Mrs. Eloisa B. Ackerman (Harlingen, TX)
Mrs. Yolanda Carrillo (Brownsville, TX)
Rev. James R. Nunes MS (Brookline, MA)
3. NACC members in the news*
Our NACC member, Shafi Thomas, BCC, recently was featured in a nice article about the pastoral care services at his hospital, Albany Memorial Hospital, Albany, NY.
www.timesunion.com/local/article/Faces-of-Faith-Hospital-chaplain-for-all-9173705.php
4. Death of a member*
We just recently learned of the death of our NACC member, Sr. Patricia L. Murphy, SSJ. Sr. Patricia died April 26, 2016. She joined as a member and was board certified in 1980. She remained certified with NACC through 2012. For the past 34 years she had served as a chaplain at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, and for the past 10 as director of the pastoral care department. May she enjoy the fullness of God’s love. obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?pid=179800570
5. September-October Vision issue now available on NACC Website*
Our September-October Vision is now available to read on our NACC Website at www.nacc.org/vision. This issue’s articles explore the spiritual care ministry’s role in attending to the religious and cultural diversity of those for whom we care.
6. September 15 Initial Certification Application Deadline is fast 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!
7. 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.
8. 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).
9. Upcoming NACC networking call in September
- Friday, September 16, 10:00 a.m. Central Time – CPE Supervisors
10. Seeking more 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. September 11 deadline for Conference 2017 workshop proposals is next week!*
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.
12. Join us at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, 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.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
13. Request: Policies and protocols on charting, HIPAA regulations and chaplain review of charts*
Our NACC member, Deedee VanDyke, BCC, at Presence Health in Chicago, informed us that they are looking to update their system’s spiritual care policies and ongoing education with system chaplains on their charting protocols and policies, as well as the issue of HIPAA regulations and chaplain review of charts. She is seeking to learn of articles on the issue and/or other systems’ policies and protocols on charting. If you can share any information on your system’s policy on this area, Deedee would be deeply grateful, and will gladly share with those who contribute what she learns from others. You can contact her, Deedee Van Dyke, MA, BCC, Coordinator of Spiritual Care, Dorothy.VanDyke@PresenceHealth.org or 630-801-2615.
14. 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.
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
15. The remainder of 2016 NACC Webinars*
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 with 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 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. You can also register to access the recordings of previous 2016 webinars at the same web page.
16. NACC Local Events*
Several local gatherings are being scheduled for 2016. Some have registration details – for further information about the events and how to register, please click on the links. 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).
- September 29-30, 2016, Alexandria, MN, see details
- October 8, 2016, Seattle, WA, details to follow
- November 10, 2016, Cincinnati, OH, see details
- November 1, 2016, St. Louis, MO, details to follow
- November 15, 2016, Baltimore, MD, see details
17. Other educational offerings*
- 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 - Mark your calendar for a seminar series organized by Daylesford Abbey during October – December 2016.
A series of seminars (5 sessions) for spiritual directors, chaplains and pastoral ministers will be held between October 5 – December 8, 2016. For information about these seminars, and how to register, click on this link: Nurturing a Discerning Heart.
18. Healing Tree: a request for prayers*
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. We will leave the person’s name on the Healing Tree list for three months, unless you ask us to remove your or the person’s name earlier. You can always request us to leave the name on longer. In the coming week, we will be contacting those who have been on our list to learn how they are doing and whether they desire to keep their name or the name of their loved one on the list.
We continue to pray for: Mason Richter, Shane Rebholtz, 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 Teresa 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), 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, 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 Teresa Hronec, Betty and Louis Skonieczny, Jim Castello, 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 Teresa Brier), Gloria Troxler, Fr. Kevin Ikpah, and Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).
19. 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.
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
DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Brainerd, Minnesota – Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center
DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Palos Heights, Illinois – Palos Health
PRIEST-CHAPLAIN
Dubuque, Iowa – Mercy Medical Center
View these jobs and more at: www.nacc.org/resources/positions.