Issue #294 – February 25, 2019

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
Last week I read a headline that informed me that a certain politician’s approach to the 2020 Campaign will be to sow chaos and division. I winced as I read that, but painfully acknowledged that polarization is not just a byproduct of us holding tightly to what we believe, but has become in some arenas an overt, intentional relational strategy to keep the “other” at bay and to protect my own worldview. Fed by fear, uncertainty, and suspicion, we regard the other as an enemy, not a potential ally.

Then, I read from yesterday’s Lukan account of the Sermon on the Plain, “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)

It reminded me John Paul Lederach’s writing on peacemaking and reconciliation from the US Institute of Peace that I was recently reacquainted with. Lederbach dedicated his professional life to peacemaking. In his book, Sustaining Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies, he included a chapter, “Reconciliation: the Building of Relationship.” (https://bookstore.usip.org/browse/book/9781878379733/Building-Peace or https://pestuge.iliauni.edu.ge/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/John-P.-Lederach-Building-Peace.-Sustainable-Reconciliation-in-Divided-Society.pdf ) He offered some very helpful perspectives that challenge my daily encounters as much as they were guideposts for international initiatives for peacemaking among people and nations. He offered working assumptions that ground his international efforts in peacemaking and reconciliation. His first two are simple but disarmingly (metaphor-intended) true.

The first is “relationship is the basis for both the conflict and its long-term solution.” Can I see the other in his or her humanness, and not just as a threat to me or my worldview and concerns? What motivates and drives the other, what are the other’s loves and hurts? Can I even care?

The second requires encounter as I would put it in the interconnectedness of time. Lederach expressed it as, “Reconciliation, in essence, represents a place, the point of encounter where concerns about both the past and the future can meet. Reconciliation-as-encounter suggests that space for acknowledgement of the past and envisioning of the future is the necessary ingredient for reframing the present. For this to happen, people must find ways to encounter themselves and their enemies, their hopes and their fears.” I too often hold on to past hurts and see the other as a threat to my future rather than taking seriously and personally embracing the first sentences of Gaudium et Spes. The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.
www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html

Further on, he quotes Psalm 85:10, “Truth and mercy have met together; peace and justice have kissed.” And he goes on to tie these concepts together.

Truth is the longing for acknowledgement of wrong and the validation of painful loss and experiences, but it is coupled with Mercy, which articulates the need for acceptance, letting go, and a new beginning. Justice represents the search for individual and group rights, for social restructuring, and for restitution, but it is linked with Peace, which underscores the need for interdependence, well-being, and security.

Then I go back to Luke’s account, “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36) I realize be Merciful can’t be anything less than desiring relationship and encounter, nothing less than truly embracing and living the first sentences of Gaudium et Spes. It is much more than saying to another, “It’s nothing. Forget about it.” And politely dismiss the person along with the wrong done. Rather it has to be at some level to see the other as brother/sister, a companion in our world whom I might not have ever encountered as person if it were not for the wrong done me.

So what does Mercy feel like to you? What does it look like in your ministry world?

Blessing,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. 2019 World Day of the Sick letter to the US Bishops can be accessed on NACC website! *
Since 2011 the NACC has sent on World Day of the Sick a letter to the US Bishops reminding them of the NACC mission, informing them of specific NACC initiatives, sharing information on endorsing our members, and providing the ordinaries a list of our members who are working in their dioceses. These letters have been well received. We have posted all these letters and materials on the NACC website. You can access the 2019 letter and previous letters at https://www.nacc.org/about-nacc/leadership/episcopal-advisory-council/#wdsmailing.

3. Members in the News *

Our NACC member, Allen Siegel, BCC, was interviewed for and has an article written about him in Maryland’s Health Matters. You can read it on pages 8-9 of this PDF.
Sister Donna Moses, BCC, has an article about her education pursuits on Arizona State University website.

4. In Vision: Ethics and end-of-life care: Embracing the mystery *
The end of life often brings with it many questions involving healthcare ethics. In the current issue of Vision, Fr. Patrick Norris outlines 10 ethical considerations that he uses to help patients, families, and clinicians arrive at the best solution possible.

5. Applying for Certified Associate Chaplaincy (CAC) deadline is March 15, 2019. *
We are accepting six applicants for this pilot process. The postmark deadline for this process is March 15, 2019. One of the prerequisites is to have the equivalent of 32 hours of graduate-level theological education. In order to assess this prerequisite, we have an application form that needs to be filled out, with accompanying evidentiary documentation, approximately nine (9) weeks before application. You may find the application materials and more information here: https://www.nacc.org/certification/applying-for-cac-certification/

6. NACC Networking calls for February/March 2019 *
If you’ve had difficulty in joining calls using ZOOM please let Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) know so that we can address the difficulty. THANK YOU!

Monday, February 25, 2019 at 2 p.m. CT NACC Deacon/Chaplain
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 11 a.m. CT NACC Canadian Chaplain
Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 12 p.m. CT NACC Palliative Care/Hospice
Monday, March 11, 2019 at 1 p.m. CT NACC CPE-E Community of Practice
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 2 p.m. CT NACC Nurse Chaplain

As the time of the call gets closer and you have replied that you will participate, we will forward ZOOM passcodes for a visual connection via internet or, if you prefer, you can still call in via a phone line.

Registration for the call, even if you cannot participate, will allow you to receive notes of the conversation and resources shared.

NACC realizes the value of networking and appreciates members taking time out of their schedules to share and lend support to others who are ministering in the same area. Unfortunately, calls lose value if there are too few participants,. In order for the call to have the most value for participants, we will postpone a call until the next quarter if there are fewer than 5 participants who have registered for the call a week prior to its scheduled date. To sign up, contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org).

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 31 – JUNE 3, 2019

7. Friday, May 31, to Monday, June 3, 2019, for NACC National Conference
Mark your calendars for the NACC Conference in 2019! This conference will be held Friday, May 31, to Monday, June 3, 2019, at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein, IL. It will be preceded by preconference workshops and our NACC retreat. Plan to join us!

8. REGISTRATION IS OPEN! How to Register for the Conference. *
Conference registration is now open! The NACC provides three (3) options to register for the NACC Conference:

Register online and pay with Visa, MasterCard, or DiscoverCard
Register online and indicate you will send a check or money order.
Download and print a registration form, complete, and mail to the NACC National Office with your check or money order.

NACC Members – To receive the discounted Member rate for registration, you must log into the registration portal with your NACC username and password. The username is your NACC member number OR your primary email address (as noted in our membership database), unless you have changed it. If you do not remember your password or username, you can simply reset it.

9. Did you receive your Registration Flyer for the 2019 NACC Conference? *
By now you should have received your 2019 Conference flyers. This flyer contains much of the key information regarding our 2019 Conference, and all other detailed information can be found on the website. Didn’t get yours yet? Check out the electronic version online (see link below) OR email Andris at akurseitis@nacc.org and request one be mailed to you.
Visit the website today to view the electronic version of the Registration Flyer.

10. Conference Scholarships *
Thank you to all those who applied for conference scholarships. We received many applications for assistance. All those who applied will be notified of the outcome via email.

11. Pre-Conference 6-Hour Formation/Training Programs
On Thursday, May 30, the NACC Conference will offer three (3) 6-hour formation/training programs that focus on the diverse ways and settings that pastoral care is provided as a ministry of the Church.

Prison and Corrections Ministry 101
Catholic Laity in Pastoral Care Ministry – Equipping, Coordinating, Sustaining
Fundamental Aspects of Geriatric Spiritual Care Education

Visit the NACC website to learn more about these three offerings.

12. Conference Sleeping Room Options
The NACC is pleased to offer four (4) options for accommodations for your time at the 2019 Conference.

1. University of St. Mary of the Lake (USML)
2. ~~Joseph and Mary Retreat House (formerly known as Cardinal Stritch Retreat House)~~SOLD OUT! No more rooms available.
3. Marytown Franciscan Retreat Center
4. Doubletree by Hilton Hotel

Please note that the Joseph and Mary Retreat House is fully booked and there are no more rooms available.
Space is limited at the other three locations, so make your reservation early!

Visit the NACC website for more information about each option and how to make your reservation.
If you are looking for a roommate, please use the NACC roommate referral service to facilitate your search.

13. Become a Conference Sponsor *
We are inviting institutions, individuals and other non-profits to consider becoming a Conference Sponsor for our 2019 NACC Conference. There are several ways you can contribute to the NACC Conference. You can sponsor a plenary speaker, a 6-hour pre-conference training program, a 4-hour pre-conference workshop, a 90-minute workshop, or an event such as the Awards Dinner. We also have “Friends of the NACC Conference” sponsorships as low as $500. Every dollar helps us to provide our attendees with the best conference experience possible. We are also asking for your help in spreading awareness of these sponsorship opportunities to your institution or an affiliated foundation. Perhaps a donation might be made in honor of the work of your chaplaincy services team or because your institution strongly supports quality education for their professionals. Visit our website to see the available conference sponsorship opportunities.

14. Important Dates and Policies
All important “date” information is available on the NACC website at www.nacc.org/conference/important-dates/. Please review the important dates and policies prior to registering for the conference.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

15. Would you please consider participating in a chaplain survey? *
Chaplain Elizabeth Kitamura of NYU Langone Health requested our participation in a valuable survey. She writes, “Recently, a number of stories have been published about controversial cases in which families objected to declaration of death by neurologic criteria (brain death). As a neurointensivist with an interest in neuroethics, I am working with a chaplain at my hospital (NYU Langone Medical Center) to explore the perspective of hospital chaplains on the use of neurologic criteria to declare death. We would greatly appreciate your willingness to provide us with your thoughts on this topic by completing a brief (10 minute) anonymous survey at https://openredcap.nyumc.org/apps/redcap/surveys/?s=W4A7ETEF8L. The results will be included in a research study which will ultimately be submitted for publication. If you have any questions, please feel free to email ariane.kansas.lewis@gmail.com. Thank you very much.

16. Stay tuned for next Catholic Prison Ministry Coalition webinar on Pastoral Listening! *
Tuesday, March 5th at 12:00 pm CST will be the next Catholic Prison Ministry Coalition, “Pastoral Listening” by Rev. Dr. Ted Smith and Dr. Kathryn Getek Soltis. This webinar will give attendees an introduction into our new resources on formation for those ministering to those affected by incarceration. We will alert you to the registration details. Hold that time!

17. Sign up today for our March webinar in our 2019 series! *

Thursday, March 21, 2019. Spirituality in the Context of Secondary Trauma presented by Rev. Dr. Beth L. Muehlhausen, PhD, MDiv, BCC.

This webinar will share findings from a qualitative research project that sought to understand the role of spirituality in vicarious trauma. Doctors, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants who work directly with trauma patients were interviewed regarding how their spirituality impacted their work and how their work impacted their spiritual beliefs. Participants included 16 Protestant Christians, 7 Roman Catholics, 1 Hindu, 1 Muslim, 1 Conservative Jew, and 10 with no declared religious affiliation. Physicians represented trauma surgery, orthopedics, emergency, critical care/pulmonology and neurosurgery. Spiritual patterns emerged across religions and specialties including: 1) spirituality as a guiding force 2) strong need for a support system 3) use of coping mechanisms and 4) vicarious growth.

Program Objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Articulate a beginning understanding of qualitative research, specifically phenomenology methodology.
Identify and discuss themes of most interest to spiritual care providers (positive and negative coping).
Discuss implications for spiritual care departments in caring for front line staff who work with trauma patients and their families.

About the Presenter
Dr. Muehlhausen has been a chaplain with Ascension Health for the past seven years, is an ordained minister in the Christian Church Disciples of Christ and a licensed clinical social worker. She has led several research projects, currently splitting her time as a staff chaplain for St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis and working as a spiritual care researcher for Ascension Health. She has presented her research at the North American Association for Christians in Social Work, Association for Professional Chaplains (APC) and Transforming Chaplaincy. She is leading Ascension Health’s first system-wide spiritual care research project covering six states, exploring chaplain outpatient services to people with congestive heart failure. She will present findings from that project at the annual APC conference in June 2019.

To register online and pay by credit card, or for any other NACC 2019 regular series webinar, please visit the registration page by clicking on this LINK. NACC student members wishing to register online should use the following special link: STUDENTS. If you prefer to register using a paper registration form and pay by check, a downloadable registration form can be accessed at this LINK.

18. Don’t miss this free NACC webinar on research competency! *

Are you in the process of applying, or planning to apply, for NACC Certification or Renewal of Certification? Are you already certified but are looking to improve your skills in tackling research articles? NACC member LaVera Crawley, MD, MPH, has recorded a webinar entitled “How to Speed Read a Research Article: A Beginner’s Guide to Research Competency,” which is being offered by the NACC at no charge. The recording can be accessed at the following link: https://youtu.be/w-Yio7u-67w. Prior to watching this recording, you should download the following article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4015868/. It will be used for the practice session. Do not read it in advance of watching the recording.
1.5 Continuing Education Hours are offered for viewing this webinar recording.

19. Register for our entire 2019 NACC webinar series!
You can now register for the 2019 NACC webinar series! This year the series comprises 12 webinars, instead of the 11 per year that has been the norm during the past few years, plus the usual free webinars on Certification with the NACC and Renewal of Certification. Details of each of the webinars and information on how to register for them are available on our website: LINK.

For NACC members the registration fee for each individual webinar is $40 per connection for the live sessions or $40 to purchase access to the recordings. There is a special rate of $20 per webinar for those who have NACC student membership. For non-members the registration fee is $55 per connection for the live sessions or $55 to purchase access to the recordings. We are offering a special package that includes all twelve of our regular January – December 2019 webinars at a discounted rate of $340 for NACC members ($170 for NACC student members) and $450 for non-members.

To register online and pay by credit card, please visit the registration page by clicking on this LINK. NACC student members wishing to register online should use the following special link: STUDENTS. If you prefer to register using a paper registration form and pay by check, a downloadable registration form can be accessed at this LINK.

NOTE: All of the NACC webinars are recorded, and online access to the recordings is made available to all registrants. If you cannot participate live, you still have the opportunity to enhance your learning (and earn CEHs) by means of the recordings.

20. Access the CHA Resources for Lent and Easter *
Catholic Health Association (CHA) is again offering resources on Lent and Easter. They are providing weekly video and hardcopy reflections for the season of Lent, which starts with Ash Wednesday on March 6 and concludes Saturday, March 20. They also offer an Easter Reflection for Sunday, April 21. These connect themes of Lent with the realities of working in Catholic health and long-term care, each reflection shares a simple message that they hope resonate with associates and those in our care. It is available to all. You can access a sneak preview of Ash Wednesday video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka-DylbUUzI&feature=youtu.be and the reflection at https://www.chausa.org/docs/default-source/prayers/lent/2019-ash-wednesday.pdf.

21. Join the Solidarity Bridge community for prayer and reflection throughout Lent!
Throughout this holy season, receive weekly online tools to facilitate the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Each week, you will receive a brief reflection on the Sunday Gospel, along with a prayer tailored to the message of the Gospel and a tangible, practical way to implement fasting and almsgiving. As we journey together through Lent, we will explore the idea of solidarity and what it means to be in communion with Christ as well as with our brothers and sisters in need. All are invited to sign up for this journey at www.solidaritybridge.org/lent

22. Two events offered by Dr. Christina Puchalski! *

Interprofessional Spiritual Care Education Curriculum (ISPEC) July 9-11, 2019 Honolulu, Hawaii (www.nacc.org/ongoing-edops/interprofessional-spiritual-care-education-curriculum-ispec)
GWish Art of Presence 14th Annual Healthcare Renewal Retreat August 14-20, 2019, Assisi, Italy (www.nacc.org/ongoing-edops/gwish-art-of-presence-14th-annual-healthcare-renewal-retreat)

23. 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: Jennifer Luse, Sr. Theresa Chiappa SSC, Debra (Debbie) Shea and her family (for healing after the death of her husband, Danny.), Kathy Eldridge (for healing after the death of her son, Kurt), Conny Pawicz (husband of Mary Pawicz) Nolan (3-year-old grandson of member Dale Recinella), Sr. Mary Clare Boland, SP, 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.

24. 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.

ACPE CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
Fond du Lac, WI – Agnesian HealthCare

Full Time and Per Diem CHAPLAINS
Santa Rosa, CA – Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital

SPIRITUAL CARE MINISTER
Green Bay, WI – HSHS St Vincent Hospital

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
Rochester, MN – Mayo Clinic Hospital

CHAPLAINS (Remote chaplaincy positions)
Nationwide

MANAGER-SPIRITUAL CARE
Indianapolis, Indiana – Franciscan Health

FULL TIME CHAPLAIN NEEDED
Toledo, Ohio – St. Vincent Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SPIRITUAL CARE
Toledo, Ohio – Mercy Health

CHAPLAIN (Fulltime)
Baltimore, Maryland – Mercy Health Services

BOARD CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN
Rosemont, Pennsylvania – The Holy Child Center in Rosemont

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

Issue #294 – February 25, 2019

NACC

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 31 – JUNE 3, 2019

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 31 – JUNE 3, 2019

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

Issue #294 – February 25, 2019

NACC

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 31 – JUNE 3, 2019

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 31 – JUNE 3, 2019

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

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