Issue #241 – January 30, 2017

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
When reflecting on yesterday’s readings for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, I was struck by the synchronicity of the power of Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and the bold statements of St. Paul in the second reading (1 Corinthians 1:26-31), to the nearness of our marking the 24th World Day of the Sick on February 11th. I was taken by Paul’s comments that:

Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.

I thought about the theme of this coming 2017 World Day of the Sick, “Amazement at what God has accomplished: ‘The Almighty has done great things for me….’” (Lk 1:49)
w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/papa-francesco_20161208_giornata-malato.html

I found myself dwelling on the mystery of God’s grace working in those to whom we minister. I think about those who at times appear to be buoyed and bolstered by their faith and who embodied the most profound meaning of the Beatitudes, to feel blessed in their brokenness and assured of God’s presence, purpose and power in their lives. I usually find myself feeling small, and at times shamed, in their presence as they seem to carry a peace and surrender in them, even in the midst of their pain and endless trial that I have never yet experienced, and wonder whether I would be blessed by such a grace. They embodied the most blessed gifts of emboldened faith. Pope Francis, in this year’s WDS message commented on Christ’s becoming one of us, and noted, The solidarity shown by Christ, the Son of God born of Mary, is the expression of God’s merciful omnipotence, which is made manifest in our life – above all when that life is frail, pain-filled, humbled, marginalized and suffering – and fills it with the power of hope that can sustain us and enable us to get up again.

I pray in the next couple of weeks, each of us might encounter again, or be reminded again, of one of those individuals (or many!) that evoke within us a true humbleness, even shame, in the face of their sense of being blessed in brokenness, and who live a quiet amazement of God in their lives. May we be grateful for them, as they call us to deeper conversion, enable us to get up again, and renew us in our commitment to continue the healing ministry of Jesus. In the words of Pope Francis:

Dear brothers and sisters – the sick, healthcare workers and volunteers – I ask you to join me in praying to Mary. May her maternal intercession sustain and accompany our faith, and obtain for us from Christ her Son hope along our journey of healing and of health, a sense of fraternity and responsibility, a commitment to integral human development and the joy of feeling gratitude whenever God amazes us by his fidelity and his mercy.

Blessings,
David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. NACC to send again a World Day of the Sick letter to all US Bishops! *
Just a reminder to all of our NACC members that each year on World Day of Sick, the NACC Executive Director, David Lichter, sends a letter to all US Bishops thanking them for their support of our NACC members, and providing them some important information about our chaplaincy ministry. You can access past 6 WDS letters and materials (since 2011) at bottom of the NACC webpage of the NACC Episcopal Advisory Council: https://www.nacc.org/about-nacc/leadership/episcopal-advisory-council/

PLEASE NOTE! Also for the past several years, we include in the letter to each ordinary a list of our NACC members who are serving in his diocese. This has proven to be very helpful to them. This is a reminder to our members to update the NACC office as soon as you have moved to another diocese for employment purposes! If you have not done so in the past few months, please contact Linda Yanasak (lyanasak@nacc.org) this week!

3. Reminder! DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15, 2017 – Initial Certification and Advanced Certification for Hospice Palliative Chaplain Application *
We are currently accepting application binders for initial certification and advanced certification for the February 2017 deadline. Please note the deadline for application binders is Wednesday, February 15, 2017. If you have any questions or would like informational materials on initial or advanced certification, please contact Ramona Zeb at rzeb@nacc.org or call (414)483-4898 Ext. 304. Please keep our applicants and those considering Board Certification in your prayers.

4.Reminder! NACC members can access past World Day of the Sick Prayers for use this year. *
Rather than providing our members new World Day of the Sick Prayers for patients and caregivers, we invite our members to access any of our past prayers for use. You can access them by going to www.nacc.org/resources/spirituality-and-prayer-resources/world-day-of-the-sick/archives and downloading and printing whichever ones you would like with no purchase necessary. For the 2017 World Day of the Sick message of Pope Francis, entitled, “Amazement at what God has accomplished: ‘The Almighty has done great things for me…’ (Lk 1:49)” go to: w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/papa-francesco_20161208_giornata-malato.html

5. Vision seeks examples of local collaboration *
Our next issue of Vision will have a theme of how the NACC collaborates with other groups, such as our cognate associations, CHA, the Joint Commission, etc. But in addition, we would like to have one or two articles on how collaboration happens at the local level. Is your pastoral care department doing something notable with a local parish or public health agency or disease association? If so, please send a note to Vision editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org. The copy deadline is Feb. 10.

6. In the current Vision: Ministry to families at the end of life *
When a patient is sick, the whole family is sick, as illness brings out the best and worst in everyone. In the new issue of Vision, Maggie Finley describes her experience ministering to one extended family over the course of several years and several deaths.
www.nacc.org/vision/january-february-2017/ministry-families-end-life-chaplaincy-360

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

7. The spirituality of Tamaya *
Our 2017 Plenary Speaker Chair, Tom Chirdo, writes:

The 2017 National Conference will take place at the Tamaya Resort and Spa, located on the Tamaya Indian Reservation in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. More than 800 tribal members call the Pueblo of Tamaya home. As a member of the Planning Committee Task Force, I visited the resort in October. The moment I first traversed the winding road, I began to get a sense of the deep spirituality embodied within the Tamaya resort, the land, and the people. Read more about the spirituality of Tamaya on the NACC website.

8. Conference Scholarships Awarded *
A limited number of scholarships was available from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains for registration fees for the 2017 NACC National Conference. The deadline of Friday, January 13, 2017 has now passed. Thank you to all those who submitted applications. We are happy to share that the NACC awarded a total of 13 scholarships. The NACC is very grateful for the support and generosity of a number of individuals who have made these scholarships possible. We also continue to welcome scholarship donations to help fund the scholarships awarded.

9. There is still room in the pre-conference workshops! *
For those looking to receive further continuing education hours before the conference, the Task Force is pleased to offer a selection of four pre-conference workshops. These four-hour workshops are offered in the morning on Friday, April 28, prior to the official start of the conference. Don’t spend your morning looking for something to do; spend it with others learning new and exciting things about pastoral care. Full descriptions for each of the pre-conference workshops can be found on the NACC website. Already registered but didn’t sign up for a pre-conference workshop? No problem! Visit our online registration portal, select the Pre-Conference workshop and pay with Visa or MasterCard or complete a paper registration form and mail it to the office with your payment.

10. Don’t wait too much longer! Early Bird Deadline of February 24, 2017 is less than one month away! Register today for the 2017 National Conference *
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.

11. Let others know about the possibility and value of a vendor table at the conference *
At each of its national conferences the NACC sets aside space for exhibitors to display and sell items of interest to the conference attendees. Such items may include card, artwork, books, musical recordings and similar inspirational religious giftware. We provide this opportunity because conference attendees look for resources and services that contribute to the work they do as chaplains as well as their own self-care. This conference supports the continuing professional development of our members.

We invite you to participate in our conference by displaying your products and/or services via a tabletop exhibit. Know that your exhibit will enhance that development. Please seriously consider being a participant at this special event.

If you are not a potential vendor yourself, but are aware of someone, or some organization, that may be interested in exhibiting at the conference, please pass this information to them, or else contact Andris Kursietis (akursietis@nacc.org) at the national office and provide him with contact information for the interested party.
We anticipate 400-450 attendees that will include chaplains, mission directors and other healthcare executives. The exhibitors for the 2016 conference will be located near the main ballroom where many major sessions will be held. This area will host coffee breaks. Full exhibitor specifications and application materials can be found on the NACC website at www.nacc.org/conference/vendors. Vendors can register online by clicking on this LINK.

12. Did you receive your Registration Brochure for the NACC 2017 Conference?
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 section on the website OR email us at conference@nacc.org and we will be happy to help.

13. 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.

14. What do you know about NACC 2017 Conference plenary speaker Dr. Megan McKenna, who is speaking on Saturday, April 30, 2017?
Dr. Megan A. McKenna, a native of New York City has lived, visited and gypsied through North and South America, Europe and Asia. She works with Indigenous groups, in base Christian Communities and with justice and peace groups as well as parishes, dioceses and religious communities. She has been on the United States National Board of Pax Christi. An internationally known author, theologian, storyteller and lecturer, she teaches at several colleges and universities and does retreats, workshops and parish missions. She has graduate degrees in Scripture, Adult Education and Literacy and a Masters in Systematic Theology. She is a lover of words: the Scriptures, stories and tales, poetry, images and phrases spoken aloud, written down and spun to make meaning and how these both convert and transform us and bring meaning and hope to the world. She has authored more than thirty books, including the recently released, Harm Not The Earth. She resides in Albuquerque.

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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Want to also make this a time for a vacation with another NACC member? *
Our NACC member, Kathy Heffernan, a chaplain in her late forties from Seattle, is seeking another woman or two to explore Taos and Santa Fe and go hiking for one or two days in Chaco Canyon in the week following the National Convention in Albuquerque. If interested, please contact Kathy at 206-920-4791.

19. Request: Do you provide any care/services to victims/survivors of human trafficking? *
Brent Anderson, Spiritual Care Manager at Dignity Health – Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, contacted NACC as their hospital has been extending care and services for victims/survivors of human trafficking. They are seeking to learn from and exchange wisdom/resources with others providing such services. If you are caring for victims/survivors of human trafficking and would like to network with others, please contact Brent directly (Brent.Anderson@DignityHealth.org). If we discern a need, we may develop a broader networking group for those serving this population.

20. Sign up now for the entire series of NACC Webinars in 2017!
The NACC webinar/audio conference program for 2017 is now complete. Following is our scheduled line-up for 2017. All of our webinars are recorded, so if you cannot participate in a webinar “live,” you can still register to receive access to the recordings.

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

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. Victoria M. Kumorowski, JD, LLM, MJS, DMin
Thursday, May 25, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Self-care/compassion fatigue
Presented by Jim Manzardo, BCC
Thursday, June 15, 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 Deacon Jack Conrad, BCC
Thursday, July 13, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Certification by the NACC
Presented by the NACC
Thursday, July 20, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

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

Renewal of Certification by the NACC
Presented by NACC Certification Commissioners Dr. Jane W. Smith BCC and Austine O. Duru BCC
Thursday, August 10, 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, BCC and Rev. Richard James
Thursday, October 19, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Moral distress
Presented by Dr. Rodger F. Accardi BCC and Karen Pugliese, MA, BCC
Thursday, November 16, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Certification by the NACC
Presented by the NACC
Thursday, November 2, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Developing & Competent Chaplains
Presented by Tom O’Connor, PhD
Thursday, December 14, 2017 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

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.

21.
Need CEH’s? Register now for discounted recordings of 2014-2016 NACC Webinars! *
We would like to remind our members that they can still sign up for recordings of previous years’ webinars. There are many interesting topics from which to choose, with CEH hours applicable to all of them. Especially if you are in the process of getting board certified, or renewing your certification, or if you are a student working towards your degree, it would be worth your while to review the 2014-2016 webinar offerings for subjects that are particularly relevant to you and your ministry.

In an effort to help you achieve your learning goals in a cost-effective way, the NACC is pleased to offer discounted webinar packages where you can pick and choose from any of the webinars that we presented during 2014-2016:

Members Non-members
1 webinar $ 40 $ 55
2 webinars $ 70 $ 100
3 webinars $ 90 $ 135
4 webinars $ 100 $ 160
5 webinars $ 110 $ 175
6 webinars $ 120 $ 180
7 webinars $ 140 $ 210
8 webinars $ 160 $ 240
9 webinars $ 180 $ 270
10 webinars $ 200 $ 300

The list of webinars from which to choose can be accessed at the following web page (scroll to bottom of page: Webinar Purchase Form (2014-2016). For registration, you have the option to fill in the paper registration form and return it in the mail with your payment to the NACC national office, or if you prefer to register online and pay by credit card you can do so at this LINK.

22. Final Reminder Request! A Call for Spiritual Care Research Volunteers *
U.S. healthcare pay-for-performance necessitates objectification of the results of clinical pastoral/spiritual care in order to provide demonstrable, replicable, evidence-based best practices resulting in desired outcomes. Toward that end a content analysis of the 83 spiritual care case vignettes in The Pastoral Caregiver’s Casebook, Volume One (Judson, 2015) identified and italicized words and phrases suggesting effectiveness. The most effective five cases (six or more words and/or phrases indicating effectiveness) underwent a more thorough analysis. A generic evidence-based spiritual care best practice protocol toward replication of multiple instances of effectiveness was constructed from the material in the five vignettes indicating greatest effectiveness. It is hypothesized that when this generic evidence-based spiritual care best practice protocol is used by a similar number of experienced spiritual caregivers and clinical pastoral education students, a significantly higher ratio of effective results will be obtained when compared to the original 83 case vignettes.

Participants in this next research group—experienced spiritual caregivers and students alike—will emulate the qualities of the above-mentioned five most effective caregivers while following a six-step procedure in their interventions for the study. A minimum of 80 chaplains, community clergy, lay volunteers, and/or CPE students is needed. Your help will be most appreciated! Contact Rev. John (Jack) Gleason, DMin, BCC (retired), ACPE Supervisor Emeritus, at mariejohn50@att.net to ask questions and sign up. If you are a CPE Supervisor, please so indicate in your response.

23. Final Reminder Request! For participation in survey on education and training for chaplains to respond to trauma events! *
Recently, our members received a request from our NACC member, Alin Dogaru, BCC, to participate in a research survey on the education and training for chaplains to respond to trauma events. If you have not yet answered the survey, you can access it here at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TraumaChaplaincy
Thank you in advance for participating!

24.
Final Reminder Request! For 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.

25. Reminder! Request for participation 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.

26. 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: Ginny Conron (recovery and healing from breast cancer), 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, 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).

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

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

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

PASTORAL CARE – Part-Time, Days – Flexible position
Chicago, Illinois: Palos Health

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST – CHAPLAIN (Full Time Days)
Albany, New York – St. Peter’s Hospital

FULL-TIME CHAPLAIN OPPORTUNITY
Redding, California – Mercy Medical Center Redding

SUPERVISOR – PASTORAL CARE
Lincoln, Nebraska – CHI Health

CHAPLAIN
Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Avera McKennan Hospital & University Center

CPE STUDENT
Boise, Idaho – St. Luke’s Health System

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

CHAPLAIN – PER DIEM
Worcester, Massachusetts – Notre Dame Long Term Care Center

SPIRITUAL CARE MINISTER – 32 hours a week
Green Bay, WI – St Vincent Hospital

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

SPIRITUAL CARE STAFF CHAPLAIN
Carroll, Iowa – St. Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home

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

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Towson, Maryland – University of Maryland St. Joseph’s Medical Center

CPE RESIDENCY
Torrance and San Pedro. CA – Providence Health & Services, California Center for CPE

CPE RESIDENCY
Burbank, Tarzana, and Santa Monica, CA – Providence Health & Services, California Center for CPE

NACC Now #241

Issue #241 – January 30, 2017

NACC

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

Issue #241 – January 30, 2017

NACC

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2017

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

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