Issue #258 – September 25, 2017
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(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)
NACC
1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. Recent member deaths
3. Continued thanks to donors to NACC Annual Campaign!
4. We still need photos of members for our marketing materials library!
5. We are grateful to the many people contributing to the October 14-15, 2017, Certification Interviews!
6. NACC Networking Calls for September/October 2017
7. In Vision: Skill at assessments carries many other benefits
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
APC/NACC 2018 CONFERENCE, Thursday, July 12, to Sunday, July 15, 2018!
8. Thursday, July 12, to Sunday, July 15, 2018, for APC/NACC Conference!
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
9. George Fitchett publishes research article, “Recent Progress in Chaplaincy-Related Research.”
10. Have you made plans yet for Pastoral Care Week 2017, “Hospitality: Cultivating Inclusion”?
11. Coming soon! Have you registered yet? Tuesday, October 17, 2017, Partners in Strengthening the Future of Spiritual Care
12. NACC encourages setting local events around October 17 Symposium!
13. NACC Local gatherings!
14. For information on the remainder of our NACC 2017 Webinar Series, please go to:
www.nacc.org/education-resources/nacc-webinars-and-audio-conferences
15. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
16. Recent job postings
1. Executive Director’s Reflection
“Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:15) So ends the story of the vineyard owner who hired laborers throughout the day and paid the same to all no matter what time they started. When those who worked the longest for the same pay grumbled, such was the owner’s answer.
Of course, each of us hears that question in one’s own way. For me, I remember back in college how this feeling of being envious and comparing myself to others was a challenge. One guide for me in those days was discovering in the writing of Dag Hammarskjold, Markings, his reflections on humility where he made the statement, “To be humble is not to make comparisons.” I had never thought about the antidote for my comparing myself to others was the gift of humility. Then he went on to describe humility as, “to experience reality, not in relation to ourselves, but in its sacred independence. It is to see, judge, and act from the point of rest in ourselves. Then, how much disappears, and all that remains falls into place… In the point of rest at the center of our being, we encounter a world where all things are at rest in the same way. Then a tree becomes a mystery, a cloud a revelation, each man a cosmos of whose riches we can only catch glimpses. The life of simplicity is simple, but it opens to us a book in which we never get beyond the first syllable.”
I had to consider how recognizing all that is, as it is, in its mystery and its beauty was enough for it to be. No comparison to other entities was needed. In fact, it would be a desecration of that reality.
Then I think back on the question, “Are you envious because I am generous?” I realize a compulsion of comparisons and the inner grumbling that results from it might very well be rooted in my lack of reflectiveness on God’s daily generosity to me in my life, as it is, and through the life about me, as it is. It’s my failure to be “In the point of rest at the center of our being, (where) we encounter a world where all things are at rest in the same way.”
So where does your inner grumbling growing out of comparisons come from?
Blessings,
David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director
2. Recent member deaths:
Please join us in commending to the Lord our members who have died. May they be blessed with God’s everlasting Peace!
- We recently learned of the death of our NACC Member Sr. Judith Oland, OSB, BCC-S, who joined NACC in 1979 and was certified in 1980, and remained a member until her death on September 11, 2017. She was a gifted and loved CPE Supervisor in her role as the Clinical Pastoral Education Coordinator and CPE Supervisor at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth, where she served until she retired on June 4, 2017. Here is a link to her obituary: www.duluthbenedictines.org/sister-judith-oland—funeral-notice-and-obituary
- One of NACC’s former leaders, Fr. Stephen R. Ryan, OSM, died on August 19, 2017. Fr. Ryan joined NACC in 1988 and was certified in 1989, then served as president and chair of the NACC Board 1999-2000. He retired from NACC in 2006. His leadership was during an important moment in NACC history when NACC needed to restructure. We can still benefit from his reflection on his leadership tenure which is the first reflection found in the NACC’s 40th Anniversary publication Wellsprings of Our Journey’s “New Millennium Challenges” section which can be found toward the bottom of the Website’s History page at www.nacc.org/about-nacc/history . Here is a link to his obituary.
www.catholicsentinel.org/Content/Obituaries/Current-Obituaries/Article/Fr-Stephen-M-Ryan-OSM/8/33/34016. - Our Emeritus member, Sr. Marie C. Bindseil SSJ, BCC, passed away on August 17, 2017. Sr. Marie joined NACC in 1982 and was certified in 1986. She served many years at Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie, PA, and continued to minister to the sick in the SSJ community after moving to the Sisters’ Community Living Center in 1993. You can read her obituary at: www.legacy.com/obituaries/erietimesnews/obituary.aspx?pid=186429723
- We also lost our NACC member, Elizabeth M. Crowell, BCC, who died on August 10, 2017. She became a member of NACC in 2003 and was certified that same year, after a devoted nursing career. You can read her obituary at:
www.legacy.com/obituaries/dignitymemorial/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-mary-crowell&pid=186353619
3. Continued thanks to donors to NACC Annual Campaign!
We are deeply grateful to those who have been able to give already to our 2017 Annual Campaign. To date we have received 342 gifts totaling $35,195, compared to 348 gifts totaling $39,855 at this time last year If you have not yet been able to make a donation, please consider doing so today or this week! Thank you!
Please note: We recently sent out a second or reminder request to those have not yet given. Also, you can make your donation online by going to the Annual Campaign webpage (www.nacc.org/donate) or just click here to donate. Please give as you can! Blessings!
4. We still need photos of members for our marketing materials library!
Thanks to those who have sent photos. As NACC develops more marketing materials we are in need of photos of our chaplains in ministry settings. If you have photos or can work with your institution’s marketing department to share photos, we would greatly appreciate. Please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) if you help us in this matter! Thank you in advance!
5. We are grateful to the many people contributing to the October 14-15, 2017, Certification Interviews!
The National Office and many volunteers have been busy completing preparations for the October 14-15, 2017, certification interviews. The interviews are being held in three locations: Lancaster, PA; Milwaukee, WI; and Torrance, CA. There are at least 61 people involved in the interview weekend: 23 applicants, 24 interviewers, 8 Interview Team Educators, 3 Site Coordinators, 3 Pastoral Care, and 1 Certification Commissioner-on-Call as well as Other Volunteers. Thanks so much for all our volunteers’ hard work and dedication to the NACC Certification process! Please keep our certification applicants and all of those involved in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare for certification interviews.
6. NACC Networking Calls for September/October 2017
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.
- Ambassadors Networking Group Call; Tuesday, September 26, at 10 a.m. CT
- Behavioral Health Networking Group Call; Wednesday, September 27, at 10 a.m. CT
- Canadian Networking Group Call; Wednesday, September 27, at 2 p.m. CT
- Palliative Care/Hospice Networking Group Call; Thursday, September 28, at 11 a.m. CT
- Correctional Chaplain Networking Group Call; Thursday, September 28, at 2 p.m. CT
- Deacon Chaplain Networking Group Call; Monday, October 2, at 10 a.m. CT
- State Liaison Networking Group Call; Monday, October 2, at 2 p.m. CT
or Tuesday, October 3, at 10 a.m. CT - Under 45 Member Networking Group Call; Tuesday, October 3, at 1 p.m. CT
- New Member Networking Group Call; Wednesday, October 4, at 2 p.m. CT
- One-Person Dept. Networking Group Call; Tuesday, October 10, at 10 a.m. CT
- Student Member Group Call Group Call; Tuesday, October 10, at 1 p.m. CT
- Long Term Care Chaplain Networking Group Call; Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at10 a.m. CT
- Retired/Emeritus Member Networking Group Call; Wednesday, October 11, at 2 p.m. CT
- Hispanic/Bilingual Networking Group Call; Thursday, October 12, at 10 a.m. CT
- Integrative Care Networking Group Call; Thursday, October 12, at 1 p.m. CT
- Directors of Spiritual Care Networking Group Call; Friday, October 13, at 10 a.m. CT
7. In Vision: Skill at assessments carries many other benefits
Newly certified chaplains are required to demonstrate their skill at writing patient assessments, but sometimes the very act of documenting your care can lead to better care. In the current issue of Vision, Carolanne Hauck describes the assessment template at Lancaster General Health, and some of the benefits that have come from it.
www.nacc.org/vision/september-october-2017/skill-assessments-carries-many-benefits
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
APC/NACC 2018 CONFERENCE, Thursday, July 12, to Sunday, July 15, 2018!
8. Thursday, July 12, to Sunday, July 15, 2018, for APC/NACC Conference!
Mark your calendars for the APC/NACC Conference in 2018! This conference will be held Thursday, July 12, through Sunday, July 15, 2018, at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, California. It will be preceded by preconference workshops and our NACC retreat. Plan to join us!
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
9. George Fitchett publishes research article, “Recent Progress in Chaplaincy-Related Research.”
Please look for the most recent publication by George Fitchett, DMin, PhD., entitled “Recent Progress in Chaplaincy-related Research, found in Journal of Pastoral Care & Counselling 2017, Vol. 71(3) 163–175. journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1542305017724811
10. Have you made plans yet for Pastoral Care Week 2017, “Hospitality: Cultivating Inclusion,”
October 22-28, 2017?
Pastoral Care Week 2017 is quickly approaching. For resources go to: www.pastoralcareweek.org
11. Coming soon! Have you registered yet? Tuesday, October 17, 2017, Partners in Strengthening the Future of Spiritual Care
The leading organizations in the field of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care have come together to offer a joint symposium, “Partners in Strengthening the Future of Spiritual Care.” This symposium will cover a range of information including partnerships, collaboration and research pertinent for those in the field of Spiritual Care. In addition, attendees will qualify for 4.5 hours of applicable Continuing Education credits towards their respective certifications.
Hosted by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), this learning event is geared towards all chaplains, spiritual caregivers, directors of spiritual care, mission leaders, healthcare leaders, and all engaged in, or having responsibility for, spiritual care in your institutions.
Please join us for a vital program that will leave you informed, inspired, and equipped to strengthen spiritual care in your setting.
The symposium (presented from the APC headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois) will be accessible via streaming video to remote audiences via high-speed internet. Primary participation will take place online at registered sites, but limited seats will be available for in-person attendees.
Participants will:
- Gain insights from Dr. Christina Puchalski into the vital role of spiritual care in current healthcare environment, and the critical partnerships needed to strengthen spiritual care for the future;
- Hear from the presidents of the five major associations on the key challenges to professional chaplaincy, and the collaborative efforts undertaken by these strategic partners to address these challenges;
- Receive the most recent resources and research for positioning and strengthening spiritual care within one’s place of work.
The program consists of three 90-minute presentations. The program qualifies for 4.5 CE hours for maintenance of ACPE, BCCI®, CASC, NACC, NAJC Certification. An additional 1.5 CE hours could be added with the use of guided discussions.
For more information, and to register for this event, please visit our website at this link: REGISTER.
12. NACC encourages setting local events around October 17 Symposium!
As our members plan for local events this fall, please consider setting the gathering to participate in the October 17 symposium.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Andris Kursietis at: akursietis@nacc.org.
We hope you will accept this opportunity to enhance your learning and to meet with fellow chaplains in your region. Please invite your colleagues, even if they are not members of the NACC – all are welcome.
13. NACC Local Gatherings!
- Local Events being planned for October 17, 2017, Partners in Strengthening the Future of Spiritual Care Symposium *
14. For information on the remainder of our NACC 2017 Webinar Series, please go to:
www.nacc.org/education-resources/nacc-webinars-and-audio-conferences
15. 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: Russ (husband of NACC member Linda Bronersky), Mary Columbo Reichert and family, Anne Murphy, Sr. Mary Clare Boland SP, Sr. Romona Nowak, OP, Fr. Jim Radde, SJ, Julie Bablin, Sheila Amrich (niece-in-law of NACC member Sr. Paracleta Amrich), Isabelita Boquiren, Susan Balling, Jim and Frances Castello.
16. 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.
FULL-TIME HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN
Hartford, Connecticut – Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
CHAPLAIN
Santa Rosa, CA – Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
CHAPLAIN
Southeastern Wisconsin – Ascension Healthcare
CHAPLAIN
Duluth, MN – Essentia Health
CHAPLAINCY SERVICES DIRECTOR
Duluth, MN – Essentia Health
CHAPLAIN
Valparaiso, Indiana – Dunes Hospice
View these jobs and more at: www.nacc.org/resources/positions.
