Issue #239 – January 3, 2017

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
I suspect it was true for many of you also. As I visited with people in the days before and during the holidays, so many reflected on events of 2016 as unsettling, and leaving them uncertain about 2017.

As we entered 2017 two days ago, I appreciated the Sunday reading from Numbers (6:22-27) where it recounted the blessings of Moses to Aaron and his family (and to us!):

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!

These words are the ones I speak most often to those in vulnerable times. I recall how often I whispered them to Jeff, my brother-in-law, when leaving after a visit, or to other family members and friends when seeking to express God’s love and care. How tender and strong are these words! What more do we need to hear as we enter 2017! What more do we need to convey in our ministry of compassion and healing!

Then the Gospel invited us to share in the contemplative stances of being amazed, keeping what we see and hear in our hearts, and glorifying and praising God.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them. (Lk. 2:18-19)

These are contemplative practices that need to be part of my daily life also: being amazed at what I see and hear, keeping and reflecting in my heart, and glorifying and praying to God! How better to begin and live out 2017!

Of course, a message on hope for 2017 also came from Pope Francis in his final 2016 papal audience. “Hope opens new horizons, renders us capable of dreaming that which doesn’t even seem imaginable,” the pope said. “Hope allows us to walk in light, surrounded by the darkness of an uncertain future.”
cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/12/28/circus-like-atmosphere-pope-delivers-ode-hope

Reflecting, being amazed, dreaming, remaining hopeful… sound like good New Year resolutions, yes?

Blessings on your 2017!

David A. Lichter, DMin
Executive Director

2. Welcome new members who joined NACC in December! *
Please join us in welcoming our new NACC members who joined us in December! Welcome!

Full Members
Rev. Roberto C. Alvarado (El Paso, TX)
Mrs. Adrianne M. Dyer (Burien, WA)
Rev. Fldrent E. Kanga SAC (Milwaukee, WI)
Ms. Mary Beth Kirven (Denver, CO)
Ms. Helen Scheller Koszyk (Arlington Heights, IL)
Joan M. Sweeney (Hauppauge, NY)

Student Members
Mrs. Carolyn M. Lane (Federal Way, WA)
Mrs. Judy L. Magee (West Chester, PA)

3. Death of a former NACC member: Rosemary Burke *
We recently learned of the death of our former NACC member, Rosemary T. Burke. Rosemary joined NACC in 1989, becoming board certified with us in 1990. She served many years as chaplain at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford, MA. May she enjoy the fullness of God’s peace. www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=rosemary-t-burke-holland&pid=183055425&fhid=5156

4. New Vision issue treats theme of ministering to families of patients/residents *
The January-February issue of Vision has just been posted for your enjoyment. Our theme this month is ministry to families, and our featured articles include a template for ritual; how chaplains can help with difficult decisions; an overview of the patient- and family-centered care movement; and David Lichter’s memory of the care that his family received during his mother’s last illness. To read these stories and many more, go to: www.nacc.org/vision/january-february-2017

5. An important early New Year’s Resolution – updating your member profile! *
The NACC staff would really appreciate it if you would update your member profile if you have had any change of address, email, position changes in the recent past. It really helps communicating with you. Here’s how you update your profile on our website at www.nacc.org:

Start at www.nacc.org and “Member Login” and fill in your credentials.
To log in to the NACC website, use:
username = membership number OR email address
password = the last four digits of your work telephone number (this is automatically assigned. Best practice is to change it the first time you log in.)

If you don’t know your password or username, just click the message next to the login box “Click here if you have forgotten your password or username” and your credentials will be emailed to you.

Click on “Update your contact information” or the “Update Profile” button
You’ll see several options on the left-side menu:
• General Information (name, address, etc.)
• Additional Addresses
• Additional Phones
• Additional Email Addresses
• Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more. If you wish you can include your social media pages here.)
• Update Your Preferences (More demographic information, plus networking calls, notifications for job postings, NACC Now subscriptions, and more)

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

• Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 10 a.m. CT Outpatient Settings Group
• Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. CT Canadian Networking Call
• Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. CT Palliative Care Group

7. Important information for NACC interviewers, mentors and CPE supervisors.
Precipitated by the introduction of the Common Qualifications and Competencies by the Cognate Groups, the Certification Commission and NACC staff is in the process of revising the Certification Procedures Manual and supporting documentation. We have completed the revisions for Initial Certification and would like to share this information with you especially if you are involved in the Certification process as an interviewer, mentor or CPE Supervisor. Please contact Ramona Zeb at rzeb@nacc.org if you would like a packet of revised Initial Certification information emailed to you.

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

8. What do you know about NACC 2017 Conference plenary speaker Dr. Raymond Reyes, who is speaking on Monday, May 1, 2017?
Dr. Raymond Reyes currently serves as the Associate Academic Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and has been with Gonzaga University since 1987. He has 33 years of experience in Native American Education and professional development training, and has delivered workshops and seminars addressing the topics such as: multicultural education; emotional intelligence, diversity and organizational change; cultural competency in counseling psychology; the principles and practices of “Sacred Hospitality”; and team building using laughter, humor and play. He is a foster parent to three Native American children and the proud father of a 26-year-old son, a 23-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son. In 1996 he was awarded the Eugene T. Carothers Human Relations Award for outstanding service in the fields of human rights and human relations by the National School Public Relations Association. You can listen to a one-hour presentation on YouTube that Dr. Reyes gave at the Chautauqua Institution in August 2014: Death and Life in African Religious Traditions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpWrn4a7cdQ

9. Kiva Time *
Our 2017 Local Arrangements Co-Chair, Mary Catherine Casey, writes:

In the Southwest, especially New Mexico, we have communities of Native Americans who are considered part of the Pueblo. Each community stands on its own and has its own name, but may share a language that has common roots. What is unusual about the various Pueblo communities is that the people have lived on that land since their beginnings. Read more about the Pueblo communities and exploring your “inner Kiva” on the NACC website.

10. Registration Brochures for the NACC 2017 Conference have been sent out!
The 2017 Conference registration flyer has been mailed out. If you haven’t received it yet, please contact the NACC office (conference@nacc.org) and let us know so we can mail you one. This flyer contains much of the key information regarding our 2017 conference. All other detailed information (like workshop descriptions) will be found on the NACC website. The conference webpages are a “one-stop shop” for all conference-related information. Can’t find something you are looking for? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions sectionon the website OR email us at conference@nacc.org and we will be happy to help.

11. Conference Registration and Payment Options
There are three options for registering and paying for the Conference.

Register online using the registration portal and pay with Visa or MasterCard.
Register online using the registration portal and indicate you wish to be billed and will mail your payment.
Register by completing a paper registration form and mail the form with your payment (check/money order) to the NACC office.

12. As you register, please consider a donation to the NACC Scholarship Fund.
Please consider a donation to the NACC Scholarship Fund. All donations received will help an NACC member to attend the NACC National Conference. Every dollar counts; no amount is too big or small. Thank you for your support.

13. Conference Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships will be available from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains for registration fees for the 2017 NACC National Conference. The applicant must apply no later than Friday, January 13, 2017.
Visit the NACC website for more information.

14. American Red Cross Fundamentals in Disaster Spiritual Care – Training Course (Thursday, April 27, 2017)
If you are interested in learning more about supporting the needs of those impacted by disaster and mass casualties, please consider registering for this intensive five-hour training. More information on the session, prerequisites, and how to register can be found on the NACC website at www.nacc.org/conference/redcross

15. Roommate Referral Service
The NACC is pleased to again facilitate a Roommate Referral Service. Follow the link below to find out how to submit your information and get onto the list. We will send you a list of potential roommates. It will be up to you to contact individuals on the list to discuss the suitability of rooming together. The last date that names will be accepted is Wednesday, April 5, 2017. To sign up for Roommate Referral click here.

16. Please see more background on our 2017 Award Recipients!
You can go to www.nacc.org/about-nacc/annual-awards to read more about our 2017 Award Recipients:

• Distinguished Service: Nancy K. Cook, MDiv, MSW, BCC
• Outstanding Colleague: Cecille Allman Asekoff
• Outstanding Colleague Award: George Fitchett, DMin, PhD

17. Conference Schedule can be accessed.
Visit the NACC website to view the 2017 conference schedule. www.nacc.org/conference/schedule

18. 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

19. NACC member, Gordon Hilsman, published book on charting: Spiritual Care in Common Terms: How Chaplains Can Effectively Describe the Spiritual Needs of Patients in Medical Records. *
Our colleague, Gordon Hilsman, who has served NACC and ACPE in a variety of capacities and provided conference workshops and an NACC webinar on developing our charting skills, has just published his book on this topic. It is entitled Spiritual Care in Common Terms: How Chaplains Can Effectively Describe the Spiritual Needs of Patients in Medical Records. The brief write-up on the book states:

Encouraging a broad, compassionate, humanistic approach to spirituality, this book shows how patients’ spiritual needs can be communicated well within interdisciplinary teams, leading to better patient wellbeing. This book describes the art of charting patients’ spiritual perspectives in an open way that will help physicians and nurses to better direct medical care. It includes practical information on how to distil spiritual needs into pragmatic language, helping to demystify spiritual experience. Drawing on his extensive practical experience, the author also suggests key points to emphasize that will enrich chart notes for medical records, including brief, relative narratives, trusting one’s own impressions, reflecting holistically on the patient’s life, patient attitudes towards treatment and recovery, and describing families’ opinions on the health care situation of their loved one. The book shows healthcare professionals of all disciplines how to engage in a shared responsibility for the spiritual care of their patients.

You can access Gordon’s book at:
https://books.google.com/books/about/Spiritual_Care_in_Common_Terms.html?id=7RqZDQAAQBAJ&source=kp_cover&hl=en

20. Request for Chaplain Participation in Moral Injury Program Development Survey *
Brett Litz, PhD, and his colleagues at the Boston VA Healthcare System are conducting a program development and evaluation survey of individuals who provide care to Veterans and/or Service Members who have been exposed to different types of potentially morally injurious events. These are military or warzone experiences that transgressed or violated deeply held beliefs about right and wrong. Potentially morally injurious experiences may entail things that a Service Member did or failed to do (e.g., acts of perpetration of violence, mistakes, failing to stop unethical behavior, etc.) or they may entail transgressions of others that affected the service member (e.g., betrayal by trusted others, military sexual trauma, etc.). Dr. Litz and colleagues are asking chaplains and other providers across disciplines to summarize their observations of the diverse ways that potentially morally injurious experiences are affecting Veterans and/or Service Members who seek care. The aim is to gather ideas about the unique mental, behavioral, social, psychological, and spiritual outcomes associated with military and warzone transgressions, or moral injury.

If you have experience working with veterans and/or service members in this context, and are willing to participate in this foundational survey, please complete the attached survey form and return the completed form to Dr. Litz brett.litz@va.gov. The survey will take approximately 30-60 minutes to complete. The information you provide will be culled with others’ responses and no individual responses to the survey will be connected to you. This is a program development project, not a research study. Your participation is completely voluntary. These survey results will be used to generate ideas for honing the definition of moral injury as a multidimensional outcome and generating ideas for future research. Thank you very much in advance for your participation, and for sharing your expertise and knowledge.

To obtain the survey form please click here.

Please contact Dr. Litz, or John Schultz, Chaplain-Fellow, NYHHS VA, schultz.john5@va.org, with any questions.

21. NACC Webinars in 2017 *
The NACC is in the final stages of putting together its webinar/audio conference program for 2017. Details of the full schedule will be available later in January, but we can already announce our projected line-up for 2017. Some dates and presenters remain to be defined, and this information will be provided in the next issue of NACC Now.

Social Justice and Chaplaincy in Settings Other Than Healthcare
Presented by Barbara Sheehan, SP
Thursday, January 26, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Program Summary
This webinar explores the intersectionality of social justice and chaplaincy. It identifies the dynamics of those whose primary crisis is social and reflects on the areas of spiritual assessment and effective responses by a chaplain/ caring practitioner.

Program Objectives
1. To increase participants’ awareness of chaplaincy beyond institutional healthcare facilities.
2. To provide helpful assessment tools in caring with those challenged with social crises.
3. To enhance the participants’ practice of care of the whole person.
4. To deepen participants’ connection of actions and faith in the healing ministry of care for today’s needs.

About the Presenter
Barbara Sheehan is a Sister of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. Since August 1995 she is the ACPE Supervisor and Executive Director at Urban CPE Consortium, Inc., in Chicago, IL. She was fully certified as an ACPE Supervisor in 1986, and has spent 14 years as a Hospital/Medical Center Chaplain with foci on hospice, behavioral health (in-patient and aftercare), infant loss and general medical surgery. Sister Barbara earned a Masters in Theology from Xavier University, Cincinnati, and is the author of a book entitled Partners In Covenant: The Art of Spiritual Companionship, published by Pilgrim Press.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Opportunities for Chaplains
Presented by Jason Nieuwsma, PhD
Thursday, February 16, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Where’s the Evidence? Introduction to Research Literacy ~ Part 2
Presented by LaVera Crawley, MD, MPH
Thursday, March 23, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Promoting Inner Healing From Addiction
Presented by Rev. Dr. Victoria M. Kumorowski
Thursday, May 25, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Self-care/compassion fatigue
Presented by Jim Manzardo
Thursday, June 15, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Dementia and Growing Older
Presented by Sister Peter Lillian Di Maria
Thursday, August 3, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Dignity in Dying: Catholic Approaches to End-of-Life Intervention
Presented by Gerard Magill, PhD
Thursday, September 14, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Ministry in a World of Violence
Presented by Lori Kaufmann and Rev. Richard James
Thursday, October 19 or 26, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

ACE’s In Places – Adverse Childhood Experiences and their impact on Spiritual Care
Presented by Jack Conrad
Date to be decided

Moral distress
Date and presenter to be decided

Prison chaplaincy
Presented by Tom O’Connor
Date to be decided

Registration for these webinars is now open; to register online please use this LINK. Please note that we are offering a package deal that encompasses all 2017 NACC webinars, available at a significant discount.

We encourage you to share this information with your friends and colleagues who may not be members of the NACC – all are welcome to participate in our webinars/audio conferences.

22. Second and final invitation to being part of a behavioral health or student networking group *
This is the second and final invitation to be part of a network call for chaplains who work in Behavioral Health. Part of self-care is not going it alone. NACC offers networking groups, usually on a quarterly basis, for chaplains working in specific ministries. Whether you minister occasionally, part time or full time in behavioral health, would you like to be on the list of those networking in behavioral health? We will organize a group call around this specialty in January. Please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org).

This is also the second and final invitation to be part of a network call for Student Members. If you would like to network with other students, please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org). We will organize a group call around this specialty.

Also, if you would like to suggest a networking group that currently does not exist, or want to join an existing one, please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) with your contact information and ministry.

23. Request: We encourage to you participate in this survey on behalf of an NACC member. *
Our NACC member, Fr. Celestine Afugwobi, is conducting a survey on the importance of the skills of “presence” and “listening” in the pastoral care ministry as part of his Master’s Project in Pastoral Counseling. If you are able to complete the survey, please click the link below:
The Importance of Presence and Listening Skills In Pastoral Care Ministry
(https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=iIv_2BLXKnpzF2Cnp_2FahNDfQ_3D_3D)

Fr. Celestine deeply appreciates your willingness to complete this brief survey.

24. Other Education offerings *
We receive from other organizations and educational institutions notice of events or programs that might be of interest to our members. We also post these on our NACC website.

Chaplaincy Research Summer Institute, July 24-28, 2017, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL www.researchliteratechaplaincy.org/summer-research-institute
APC Webinars. January 10, 2017 – Spiritual Peace Reduces Mortality for Patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), WJC 6 S3
Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. Several spring semester (January 17-April 28, 2017) courses might be of particular interest to NACC members for their chaplaincy ministry or for continuing education interests. One can enroll in these courses as a non-degree seeking student without committing to a certificate or degree program. Click here to read about these courses.
IPS 404, Theologies of Suffering (online, Jean-Pierre Fortin, Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45)

IPS 467, Introduction to Canon Law (WTC, Dan Smilanic, Wednesdays, 4:15-6:45)

IPS 485, Religious Education, Evangelization, and Culture (Timone Davis, online, Tuesdays, 7:00-8:15)

IPS 599, Martin Luther King, Jr: Prophet of Justice (WTC, Timone Davis, Mondays, 4:15-6:45)

IPS 599, Documents of Vatican II (online or WTC, Tuesdays, 4:15-6:45, Michael Canaris)

IPS 570, Introduction to Theology and Ministry (online, Tuesdays, 4:15-5:45, Peter Jones)

IPS 615, Liberation Theology (online, Wednesdays, 7:00-8:15, Peter Jones).

25. 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: Fr. Jude Nwachukwu (on the unexpected death of his sister on New Year’s Eve), Frances Langdon (wife of member Jerry Kaelin: prayerful thanks for successful cancer surgery, an experience of realized eschatology this Advent), Sr. Ramona Nowak, OP, Charlotte Leas (on the death of her 97-year-old Mother, Bernyce Paltani), Sr. MariaTheresa Hronec, Sr. Mary Thecla Kuhnline, Fr. Jim Radde, SJ, 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, 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, Susan Balling, Maria Meneses, Sister M. Dianna Hell, Betty and Louis Skonieczny, Jim and Frances Castello, Thomas Smiley (brother of member Diane Smiley), Marga Halala, Glenn and Pat Teske, Sr. Mary Clare Boland, SP, Gloria Troxler, and Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).

26. 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
Brainerd, Minnesota – Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center

DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL CARE
Rockville Centre, New York – Mercy Medical Center

CPE RESIDENCY
La Crosse Wisconsin – Gundersen Health System

HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – Carle Foundation Hospital

CATHOLIC PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Blue Springs and Kansas City, MO – St. Mary’s Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Medical Center

CPE SUPERVISOR
Orange, California – St. Joseph Hospital

CHAPLAIN
Hinsdale and Chicago, Illinois – RML Specialty Hospital

DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Tampa, Florida – St. Joseph’s Hospitals and John Knox Village

CPE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND LEARNING
Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI

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

NACC Now #239

Issue #239 – January 3, 2017

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 #239 – January 3, 2017

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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