Issue #236 – November 14, 2016

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
These readings on the last Sundays of the Liturgical Year always leave me a little squeamish, as I consider my readiness of suffering in the name of God. I appreciated the last line of yesterday’s first reading of Malachi, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice will arise with healing in its wings;”(Malachi 3:20a) Also the final verses of Luke’s Gospel passage, “You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Luke 21:16-19)
“Put some of you to death” and “be hated” has me reflecting on what martyrdom looks like today. This thought took me back a few months when Pope Francis spoke about martyrdom, as captured by CRUX on June 19, 2016.
cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/06/19/pope-says-martyrdom-not-genocide-best-word
He was commenting on the killing of Christians in Iraq, Syria, and Libya. He exhorted his listeners that “martyrdom,” not “genocide,” should be used to describe these killings, or those who were exiled due to Islamic radicals. He considered “genocide” was a “reductive” sociological explanation.

He is quoted in Crux: “’The tragedy of the Christian community around the word… it’s true,’ Francis said, answering a question put to him during a visit to Rome’s Villa Nazareth. ‘But this is the destiny of a Christian. Giving witness is a difficult situation. I don’t like it when [some] speak of a Christian genocide in the Middle East: It’s a reductionism.’”

This Crux article further quotes Pope Francis using some rather new language to name the 13 Egyptian Copts who were beheaded in 2014 by ISIS, calling them not “theologians, but doctors of Christian coherence, they were witnesses of the faith.” Doctors of Christian coherence! Wow, what a phrase to describe a life of integrity where one’s choices are “coherent” with one’s beliefs in the most challenging situation. Are you and I potentially doctoral candidates of Christian coherence?

He is quoted further, “There’s the martyrdom of blood for Christians, but also the martyrdom of every day, the martyrdom of honesty in this world that can be called ‘the paradise of bribes.’”
Pope Francis is quoted again where he aims at parents: “It’s a world where many parents feed their children the dirty bread of the double life!” Wow, now he’s calling all of us to live lives of integrity rather than feeding others the “dirty bread” of our “double life.” Wow, so martyrdom today is both not only staying with our faith in the face of a deadly ISIS terrorist, but also being willing to pay the price of integrity, seeking to be doctoral candidates of “Christian coherence!”

Pope Francis says this not only requires courage but also patience, a patience to “hold over our backs the weight of each day, including pain, including our own sins, our own inconsistencies.”

I don’t know about you, but his reflections give me a lot to think about. Does my life reflect that type of martyrdom (root meaning – to witness)? Does my life reflect that level of integrity? Do I live with the courage and patience to hold on my back “the weight of each day, including pain,” including my own sins and my own inconsistencies?

Something to reflect on… Do I seek to be a doctoral candidate of Christian coherence?

Blessings,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. The NACC Board of Directors met in Milwaukee October 26 and 27. The following is a report of some of the highlights of this meeting. *
The Board members focused on several current activities. First, Bishop Hying, the NACC’s USCCB Episcopal Advisor, engaged in discussion with the Board about the recent provincial (regional) Bishops meetings in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Hartford, Miami, and Albuquerque which were attended by designated NACC members. These discussions have provided an opportunity to enhance the bishops’ understanding of the role and function of the board certified chaplain as well as the challenges confronted by those engaged in this ministry. David Lichter outlined the plan to expand these meetings throughout the country with the expectation that this will be a three-year process. The World Day of the Sick, Pastoral Care Week and the feast of Saint Luke present additional opportunities for communication with the Bishops regarding the ministry of chaplains.

David, Mary T. O’Neill and Jim Letourneau reported on the recent planning meeting in Milwaukee of 20 persons engaged in pastoral care and representing a range of Catholic ministries. The gathering was hosted by the NACC and funded by the Raskob Foundation. They described the content and process of the meeting, the collaborative spirit and engagement of the participants and the plan to continue the activities, begun at the meeting, via work groups in preparation for a second meeting in May. The groups will explore a range of topics including competencies, training/education/ formation, and levels of certification/credentialing for various levels of pastoral care ministry. The group will convene again in May 2017 to share the results of the work groups, and work toward consensus on the desired outcomes of the process. Here is a link to those the desired outcomes of the planning process and those who participated in this first planning session: www.nacc.org/about-nacc/strategic-plan/#raskob

The financial state of NACC remains healthy. However, the decrease in the number of members is a source of concern. Board members discussed strategies for member involvement and recruitment as well as marketing and fundraising in order to grow and sustain this organization.

The board charged David with continuing to focus strategically by leading the work associated with the Raskob grant and the meetings with the Bishops, as well as engaging in collaborative partnerships with our cognate group colleagues. He will also explore fundraising sources. In addition, 2017 marks the completion of NACC’s current strategic plan. David will work with the Board to develop and implement a plan for the immediate future. At this October meeting, the Board began the work of the next strategic plan development by reviewing current goals and activities, exploring a vision for NACC that will ensure its viability, and identifying potential strategies to shape NACC’s mission and future.

We welcome your input and feedback on the work of the Board. We represent you and work to be supportive and good stewards. Please feel free to send your response to this summary report and to let us know your views and concerns.

Mary Lou O’Gorman, MDiv, BCC, Chair, NACC Board of Directors, mlouog@gmail.com
Mary T. O’Neill, DMin, DMin, BCC-S, Chair Elect, NACC Board of Directors, marytoneill121@gmail.com

3. NACC Episcopal Advisory Council meets tomorrow in Baltimore. *
NACC Executive Director, David Lichter, and Board Chair-Elect, Mary T. O’Neill, will meet tomorrow morning, November 15, with the NACC Episcopal Advisory Council (www.nacc.org/about-nacc/leadership/episcopal-advisory-council) at the USCCB Fall General Assembly in Baltimore (www.usccb.org/about/leadership/usccb-general-assembly). Bishop Don Hying, NACC Episcopal Advisor, will chair the meeting. The Council will be updated on NACC, will learn about the Raskob Partners in Planning initiative and discuss the findings-to-date from the NACC members’ meetings with bishops at their provincial meetings. The Council has been very helpful in providing feedback on NACC plans, and offering recommendations for content of the World Day of Sick letters sent annually by David Lichter to the bishops. To see content of those letters, you can scroll to the bottom of the same link to the Episcopal Advisory Council above (www.nacc.org/about-nacc/leadership/episcopal-advisory-council).

4. A warm welcome to our new NACC members who joined us in October! *
Please join us in welcoming our new NACC members.

Full Members
Rev. John C. Agbasiere (Sparta, IL)
Mr. Ronald Ewell (Burlington, KY)
Rev. Augustine Jacob (Jacksonville, FL)
Deacon John W. McMullen (Evansville, IN)

Student Members
Chaplain Jayne A. Nachtrab (Temperance, MI)
Deacon Gerald E. Nora (Vernon Hills, IL)
Rev. Raphael Sarkodie (Worcester, MA)

5. NACC is getting closer to its Annual Member Campaign Goal! Can you help meet it? *
We are deeply appreciative to our members who have been able to contribute to our 2016 Annual Member Campaign. Our 2016 goal is $52,000, and we are at $49,433.54. In the past two years we have been able to meet and exceed our goal. If you have not yet contributed, and can do so, please help us reach this year’s goal! With deep gratitude for your generosity. www.nacc.org/donate

6. The unhealthy relationship of “bad theology” to mental illness *
Many hyper-religious mental patients may believe they deserve to suffer, or that they are a key figure from their religion. Donna Dickerson calls this “toxic religion,” but it does not change the chaplain’s role of providing a non-judgmental listening presence. To read more in the new issue of Vision, click below.
www.nacc.org/vision/november-december-2016/toxic-religion-unhealthy-relationship-bad-theology-mental-illness

7. Vision needs articles about ministry to families *
The January-February issue of Vision will have the theme of ministering to families, and we welcome contributions from our members. We would like to cover the unique aspects of ministering to families in various subspecialties (long-term care, pediatrics, trauma, etc.); the role of ritual in family ministry; and other ideas that you, our members, may think of. Please send a brief summary of your idea to Vision Editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org. The deadline is Dec. 5.

8. Next Monday, November 21, is the deadline for submitting prayers for the World Day of the Sick cards. *
Next Monday, November 21, will be the final date for submitting prayers for NACC World Day of the Sick prayer cards for Sick Persons and Caregivers. We hear from many people who appreciate and utilize these cards in hospitals, hospices, long-term care facilities, parishes, and for anyone else interested in the spiritual needs of sick persons and caregivers. We again invite our members to write prayers to be used on these prayer cards for the February 11, 2017 World Day of the Sick. We will again publish two cards: Prayer for Sick Persons and Prayer for the Caregiver. You may submit prayers for either or both. Prayers may be written in any style or format you like, but they should be no more than 32 lines long, with an average line length of not more than 10 syllables. To see examples of past prayers, click here. We will notify the person(s) whose prayers will be used by December 2. We are not able to offer payment, but the authors will be credited. We will share a total of two prayers in print, although some honorary selections may be featured on our website later in the year. Please send your submissions to Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org). Thank you in advance for sharing your gifts.

9. Shop at Smile.Amazon.com and help NACC! *
During the upcoming Christmas season remember to shop at smile.amazon.com and a portion of what you spend will be donated to the NACC!

#StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com/ch/39-1368967

Please note: the link smile.amazon.com/ch/39-1368967 will take you directly to the NACC charity page. To find us by searching at smile.amazon.com, search for “catholic chaplains” (not “NACC” or “National Association of Catholic Chaplains”) and you’ll find us in the list.

10. Upcoming NACC networking calls in November/December *
If you wish to participate on any of these calls and are not already on that particular call list, please contact Ramune Franitza rfranitza@nacc.org.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. CT – Canadian Chaplain Members
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. CT – Long Term Care Members
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 1 p.m. CT – Integrative Health Members
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 3 p.m. CT – African Members
Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 10 a.m. CT – Hispanic/Latino Members
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 2 p.m. CT – Correctional Group Members
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 11 a.m. CT – Nurse Chaplain Group Members
Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 10 a.m. CT or Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 2 p.m. CT – New Members
Monday, December 5, 2016 at 2 p.m. CT or Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 11 a.m. CT – State Liaison Members
Monday, December 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. .CT or Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 2 p. m. CT – Retired and Emeritus Members
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 2 p.m. CT – Deacon Members
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 1 p.m. CT – Under 45 Members
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 3 p.m. CT – One-Person Department

Members

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

11. Conference Schedule announced*
Visit the NACC website to view the 2017 conference schedule. www.nacc.org/conference/schedule

12. What do you know about NACC 2017 Conference plenary speaker Dr. Dianne Bergant, CSA, who is speaking on Friday, April 28, 2017?
Dianne Bergant, CSA is Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP Distinguished Professor Emerita of Biblical Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She was President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America (2000-2001) and has been an active member of the Chicago Catholic/Jewish Scholars Dialogue for the past thirty years. For more than twenty-five years she has been the Old Testament book reviewer of The Bible Today, having been a member of the editorial board for twenty-five years. Five of these years she served as the magazine’s general editor. She wrote the weekly column The Word for America magazine (2002-2005), reflections that have now been published by Paulist Press. She has authored numerous articles and publications, including most recently: A New Heaven, A New Earth, (2016). She is currently working in the areas of biblical interpretation and biblical theology, particularly issues of peace, ecology and feminism.

13. Make your reservations 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.
Visit the NACC website to find out more about the hotel and how to make a reservation.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

14. Solidarity Bridge seeks Mission Team Chaplains for Medical Missions in Bolivia*
Solidarity Bridge (SB), together with our partner organization Puente de Solidaridad (PdS) trains and equips medical communities in Bolivia, empowering them to provide high-complexity surgery and other health care for those living in poverty. Our year-round medical programs have grown out of partnerships between U.S. and Latin American medical personnel who are committed to serving the poor.

At the invitation of Bolivian hospitals, SB Medical Mission Teams include US doctors and nurses who work alongside Bolivian medical professionals in an effort to build solidarity as they treat patients together and grow through the encounter. SB mission trip training and equipping in turn supports local, year-round medical programs in General Surgery, Gynecologic Surgery, Heart Surgery and Neurosurgery.

Solidarity Bridge’s Mission Team Chaplain provides pastoral care to patients, families and our religiously diverse mission team while offering the mission team opportunities for spiritual growth and transformation.

Click here to see the job description

For more information, contact:
Megan Kennedy-Farrell, Senior Director of Mission and Identity
megan@solidaritybridge.org

(847)328-7748
www.solidaritybridge.org

15. Take advantage of this coming Thursday’s NACC Webinar on Certification by NACC!

Certification by the NACC
Presented by Linda Bronersky, BCC-S, Sean K. Doll O’Mahoney MDiv, BCC, and Dr. Matthias J. Merges, BCC
Thursday, November 17, 2016 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

To register for this 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. You can also register to access the recordings of previous 2016 webinars at the same web page.

16. Don’t miss the final 2016 NACC Webinar on Chaplaincy and the Ritual Ministry!*

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

17. Call for audio conference/webinar proposals for presentation in 2017*
The NACC is in the process of planning its 2017 audio conference/webinar schedule, and would like to invite you to submit an application to present a webinar next year. NACC audio conferences/webinars (hereafter referred to as webinars) are usually held on the second or third Thursday of each month of the year, excluding the month in which the NACC National Conference falls. Each webinar is scheduled for 90 minutes (including a 15-20 minute Q&A session after the presentation itself), starting at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. All webinars are recorded, and therefore the presenter(s) will be required to sign a consent form to that effect.

Below is a suggested list of topics that the NACC Education Advisory Panel thought would be of interest to NACC members in our 2017 webinar series:

– Self-care/compassion fatigue
– Moral distress (perhaps related to veterans and family-related issues with returning veterans,
to be presented around 9/11 or Veterans Day)
– Mental health
– Dementia and growing older
– Neo-natal care
– Crisis care relating to adverse childhood experiences

If you are interested in presenting a NACC webinar in 2017 on one of the above topics (or if you have a suggestion for a different topic), please complete the application form and return it to the NACC national office (akursietis@nacc.org) by December 5, 2016. Submissions will be reviewed and decisions made by December 19, 2016, at which time you will be notified of the results.

18. Seeking position descriptions for chaplains working in outpatient settings.*
NACC hosts a regular networking call among those who are working in outpatient settings. The group seeks any examples you might have of position descriptions which include outpatient setting services. If you have any such position description, please send to Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org). We will gladly share descriptions we receive with those who contribute. Thank you.

19. Request: Seeking samples of pastoral care formation programs for Raskob planning*
As you know, the NACC hosted in October a Partners in Planning for Pastoral Care Ministry (www.nacc.org/nacc-now/nacc-now-233/#6). Now the partners are working in groups for diverse settings (elder care, criminal justice, parish settings, immigration/migration/refugee, preparing deacons) to further identify competencies for pastoral care and programs providing formation for those (paid or volunteers) providing pastoral care in those settings. If you have or know of those who have formation/training programs for those providing pastoral care training for any of those settings above and are willing to share your program with these working groups, please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) regarding your program. Thank you in advance.

20. Details of the two remaining 2016 NACC Local Events*
Several local gatherings are scheduled for the remainder of 2016. For further information about the events and how to register, please click on the links. If you would like to consider hosting and helping plan an NACC local event, please contact Andris Kursietis (akursietis@nacc.org).

November 15, 2016, Baltimore, MD, see details
November 19, 2016, Boston, MA, see details

21. 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.

We continue to pray for: Sr. MariaTheresa Hronec, Sr. Mary Thecla Kuhnline, Fr. Jim Radde, SJ, Mary Smiley (mother of member Diane Smiley), Mason Richter, Shane Rebholtz, Rosemary Benya BCC, Sr. Nancy Beckenhauer, Linda Dickey, 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, Marie Coglianese, Nancy and Sheila Amrich (nieces-in-law of NACC member Sr. Paracleta Amrich), Isabelita Boquiren, Sister Patricia Watkins, GNSH, Sister Stephanie Morales, FMI, Marybeth Harmon, Susan Balling, Maria Meneses, Chaplain Julia Mary Sweeney (mourning the death of her sister, Margaret Maureen Lewis, BA Honors), Sister M. Dianna Hell, Betty and Louis Skonieczny, Jim and Frances Castello, Thomas Smiley(brother of member Diane Smiley), Marga Halala, Thomas (grandson of NACC member Ginny Grimes Allen), Elizabeth A. Walsh, Glenn and Pat Teske, Sr. Mary Clare Boland, SP, Kathy Brier (daughter of NACC member Teresa Brier), Gloria Troxler, and Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).

22. 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.

CHAPLAIN
Tampa, Florida – BayCare Health System

CHAPLAIN
Milwaukee, WI – Wheaton Franciscan Health

PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Paterson, New Jersey – St. Joseph’s Healthcare System

SPIRITUAL CARE MINISTER (16 hours a week)
Green Bay, WI – St. Mary’s Hospital

CHAPLAIN, Full-Time
New Braunfels, Texas – CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital

DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Rockland and Orange Counties, New York – Bon Secours Charity Health System

FULL TIME and PER DIEM CHAPLAINS
Rockland and Orange Counties, New York – Bon Secours Charity Health System

NACC Now #236

Issue #236 – November 14, 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

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Issue #236 – November 14, 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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