Issue #318 – February 3, 2020

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

NACC

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. Death of a former NACC member
3. 2020 World Day of the Sick Message and Prayer Cards
4. Are you willing to serve NACC in a volunteer capacity? We have openings now.
5. Also you can learn more about NACC leadership by participating in the FREE webinar, NACC and You: Bringing Your Gifts to Leadership. Register now!
6. Remember the Saturday, February 15, 2020 DEADLINE for Initial Certification and Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification (Track 1-Interview) Applications!
7. In Vision: Military sexual trauma may scar veterans’ lives
8. February 14 is copy deadline! Request for Vision articles on organ donation
9. We can still send you materials for World Day of the Sick!
10. ATTENTION CORRECTIONS CHAPLAINS!
11. ATTENTION HISPANIC CHAPLAINS!
12. NACC Networking Call for February-March 2020 – All are welcome to participate!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
2020 CONFERENCE, Monday, May 11 – Thursday, May 14 in Cleveland, Ohio!

13. Registration for Vision 20/20 The Future of Spiritual Care Conference is now open!
14. Important things to know before you register
15. As you register, please consider a donation to the Scholarship Fund.
16. Opportunity for additional Continuing Education Hours.
17. Join us to honor our 2020 Annual Award Recipients.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

18. Request to participate in an Aphasia and Spiritual Healthcare research study
19. Register now for the next webinar of our 2020 series! Thursday, February 27, 2020. Empowering Faith Communities through Palliative Care Education presented by Diane G. McCarthy, MA, BCC and Vincent Nguyen, DO, CMD.
20. You can still register for this special 3-part February NACC webinar series on “Her Smile Is Enough for Me: Critical Care Pediatric Chaplaincy”, presented by Jim Manzardo and Glenda Spearman.
21. Register now for the 2020 NACC webinar series!
22. NACC Local Event
23. Chaplaincy and Chaplains in the news
24. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
25. Recent job postings

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
Yesterday’s Gospel for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord was Luke’s account of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple according to the Law. The story is so striking with the two elderly individuals, Simeon and Anna, recognizing Jesus through the gift of God’s Spirit.

For so many Catholics, the prayer or canticle of Simeon is one we pray each night as we go to bed. Simeon prayed (Luke 2:29-32):

As Christians we echo Simeon’s words as we retire each evening:

Then, my favorite antiphon…”Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in His peace.”

I reflect on the revelations of each day that come to us in and through our ministry and just in our daily living that allow us to take that deep sigh of awe at the end of the day. And we can repeat those words with their deepest meaning, “Let me go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation…” Have I lived life full enough today to have been led by God’s spirit to notice the salvation unfolding before me?” To have seen again the “Light” and “Glory?”

These words challenge me again to live that type of life where at the end of each day I can do more than just recite and repeat those words of “Nunc Dimittis.” It’s a little like, “Wow! I am really full today! I have witnessed again the marvel of God’s mystery and loving kindness in (fill in the blank)! If I were to die tonight (Nunc dimittis), I am filled with an everlasting peace due to what I have witnessed!”
Then comes that comforting prayer of vigilance and repose, “Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in His peace.” It’s my favorite antiphon because expressed my deepest intentions as I retire. What’s your favorite?

Blessings on your evenings and nights,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Death of a former NACC member
We recently learned of the death of our former member Sr. Marie Leonard SHSp, died on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. Sister Marie joined NACC and was certified in 1976. She spent many years providing pastoral care at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa. May God grant her the fullness of Joy. Here are two links about her. www.facebook.com/TheChildrensHospSA/photos/a.259246537505580/2641967812566762
www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/sr-marie-leonard-obituary?pid=195044194

3. 2020 World Day of the Sick Message and Prayer Cards
In early January, the Vatican has posted Pope Francis’ 2019 World Day of the Sick message. You can access it here: www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/papa-francesco_20200103_giornata-malato.html. It begins with:

2020 World Day of the Sick Prayer cards for the Caregiver and for the Patient are now available for download (www.nacc.org/resources/spirituality-and-prayer-resources/world-day-of-the-sick) from the NACC website. Board Certified Chaplain Carmela D’Elia’s Prayer for the Caregiver and Board Certified Chaplain Isabelita Boquiren’s Prayer for the World Day of the Sick are beautifully represented in English and in Spanish for your use. If you choose to reproduce and share this card, we only ask that you acknowledge the authors and NACC. We are grateful to all those who submitted prayers for consideration.

4. Are you willing to serve NACC in a volunteer capacity? We have openings now.
The NACC has opportunities for serving as a volunteer leader on its board of directors, committees, commissions, and panels. We need your engagement and leadership to fulfill our mission. Here is an opportunity to use your gifts to benefit your colleagues in chaplaincy and the profession.
We have openings on all our Committees, Commissions and Panels. Below are specific opportunities for 2020 or to plan for 2021.
For information on who is eligible to NACC positions, please see Committee, Commission and Panel Descriptions and responsibilities here: www.nacc.org/membership/volunteers.
Below is listing of openings. You may contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) for an application and position descriptions.

As you can see above, the NACC Board of Directors (BOD) needs to fill two elected-member seats by the end of 2020 when Jim Letourneau and Mary Heintzkill complete their Board Terms. In these coming weeks, the NACC Nominations Panel is seeking the names of potential candidates for election. If you would like to review the board member qualifications, please go to www.nacc.org/about-nacc/leadership/board-of-directors for a Board application form. Please also encourage other qualified members whom you think would be good candidates for the Board to complete an application. Please submit your application to be a candidate for the BOD by Friday, February 28, 2020 to: rfranitza@nacc.org.

5. Also you can learn more about NACC leadership by participating in the FREE webinar, NACC and You: Bringing Your Gifts to Leadership. Register now!
On Thursday, March 12, 2020 (12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. Central Time), Beverly Beltramo DMin, BCC, Mary Lou O’Gorman BCC and David Lichter, DMin will present a free webinar on the topic of leadership of the NACC.
Program Summary
This webinar will provide the participants an overview of the NACC with its governance structure, and the diverse committees, commissions, and panels that require our NACC members’ leadership, as well as the certification opportunities of interviewers and Interview Team Educators (ITE). The intent of this workshop is to provide the participants both an understanding of the diverse opportunities for leadership to support and advance the NACC’s mission and vision. This interactive exchange will allow time for you to reflect upon and discern where and how you might be able to offer your gifts in service of your fellow members and the profession of chaplaincy.

This free webinar will provide 2 CEHs (90 minutes for the webinar plus 30 minutes preparation time).

Registration
Although this webinar is offered at no charge, you are requested to register so that we can send you the access information. You can register online at this LINK. Alternatively, inform the national office via e-mail: Pamela Jones: pjones@nacc.org.

6. Remember the Saturday, February 15, 2020 DEADLINE for Initial Certification and Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification (Track 1-Interview) Applications!
Your application portfolios for initial certification need to be mailed to the office or uploaded on our website (LINK) by midnight on Saturday, February 15, 2020! Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification applications should be emailed to lisasarenac@nacc.org. If you have any questions or would like informational materials on initial or advanced certification, please contact Lisa Sarenac at lisasarenac@nacc.org or call (414) 483-4898 Ext. 304. Please keep our applicants and those considering Board Certification in your prayers.

7. In Vision: Military sexual trauma may scar veterans’ lives
Sexual trauma may not be on everyone’s radar as a military hazard, but a great many veterans have endured it. In the current issue of Vision, Alejandro De Jesus describes one harrowing case, its social and spiritual fallout, and the ways that a chaplain can help.
https://www.nacc.org/vision/january-february-2020/military-sexual-trauma-may-scar-veterans-lives/

8. February 14 is copy deadline! Request for Vision articles on organ donation
The March-April Vision will cover the topic of organ donation, and we are eager to receive articles from members with experience in this area. We particularly would like to address working with organ donation companies; conflict within a family; and working with living donors of kidneys. If you can address those topics or have another idea for an article, please write to Vision editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org. The copy deadline is Feb. 14.

9. We can still send you materials for World Day of the Sick!
The NACC office sent an email in early January asking if you would help promote chaplaincy at a local level. An opportune time may be the weekends surrounding the World Day of the Sick (February 11, 2020). Over the past year we have developed and distributed Choose Chaplaincy materials, as well as created our www.ChooseChaplaincy.org webpage. We already received several replies. Thank you! We do need your help! Please consider taking these steps. Here again is a link to that message. Please respond to rfranitza@nacc.org with a request for brochures and posters (LINK) They are also available in Spanish.

10. ATTENTION CORRECTIONS CHAPLAINS! *
We hope you have read about NACC’s recent partnership with new Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (www.catholicprisonministries.org). The NACC is collaborating on the development of spiritual care formation and certification for those providing Spiritual Care to the incarcerated, and their families. Please join our networking group on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 10 a.m. CT to support one another and to learn more about these initiatives, and the pilot projects underway. Contact rfranitza@nacc.org with your interest.

11. ATTENTION HISPANIC CHAPLAINS! *
Over the past year, in the NACC’s efforts to promote chaplaincy and to appeal to compassionate, caring individuals, we have also prepared resources in Spanish including our Pastoral Care Competencies (www.nacc.org/about-nacc/partners-in-pastoral-care) with plans to continue translating other Partners in Pastoral Care materials. As we continue our efforts, we would value your expertise and support to represent our ministry in a comprehensive way. Please join our networking group on Monday February 17, 2020 at 2 p.m. CT to support and test the initiatives being proposed and piloted. Contact rfranitza@nacc.org with your interest.

12. NACC Networking Call for February-March 2020 – All are welcome to participate!

To sign up or for more information, questions, comments or concerns contact Ramune Franitza at rfranitza@nacc.org.

You must reply to participate and receive the ZOOM code for the call. If you reply, we will forward ZOOM passcodes for a video connection through internet or, if you prefer, you can still call in on a phone line. Registering for the call, even if you cannot participate, will allow you to receive notes of the conversation and resources shared. Calls with less than 5 participants may be postponed.

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!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
2020 CONFERENCE, Monday, May 11 – Thursday, May 14 in Cleveland, Ohio!

13. Registration for Vision 20/20 The Future of Spiritual Care Conference is now open!
Hopefully you have received your email announcement that the registration for our 2020 Conference is now open. There will not be a mailed announcement. Visit the 2020 website to learn all about the conference. www.nacc.org/2020-vision

The Early Bird special pricing is only until February 14, 2020!

14. Important things to know before you register

15. As you register, please consider a donation to the Scholarship Fund.
Please consider a donation to the Conference scholarship fund. All donations received will help members to attend the Conference. Every dollar counts: no amount is too big or small. Thank you for your support.

16. Opportunity for additional Continuing Education Hours.
A selection of 14 Professional Development Intensives (aka Pre-Conference workshops) provide the opportunity for in-depth study of a topic. These unique educational experiences are available prior to the conference on Sunday, May 10 and Monday, May 11; as well as in the afternoon on Thursday, May 14 (following the conclusion of the conference). Visit the website to find out more.

17. Join us to honor our 2020 Annual Award Recipients.
As part of the NACC membership luncheon on Tuesday, May 12, we will present the NACC Annual Awards. Join us to honor and celebrate the three deserving recipients: Denice Foose, Kate Piderman, Ruth Jandeska. Find out more about this years’ awardees on our website.

For more information about the Conference go to:
www.nacc.org/2020-vision

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

18. Request to participate in an Aphasia and Spiritual Healthcare research study
It is well known that patients who experience significant medical illness often draw upon a variety of coping mechanisms, such as spirituality, to adjust to their new life. Laures-Gore et al., recently showed that patients with post-stroke aphasia (a language disorder affecting speaking, listening, reading, and writing) consider spirituality a positive coping mechanism and source of healing. Because spirituality plays a significant role in the aphasia recovery process, it is important to study whether spiritual healthcare providers both in and out of the healthcare system are trained to address spiritual needs in a way that patients with aphasia can comprehend and process. This study seeks to better understand whether spiritual healthcare providers are aware of and trained to communicate with patients who have aphasia.

Researchers
This study is a collaboration between Georgia State University and WellStar Health System. The involved researchers are as follows:

• Jason Lesandrini is the AVP of Ethics, Advance Care Planning, and Spiritual Health for WellStar Health System. He conducts research as well as creating and revising policy for the system.
• Dr. Jacqueline Laures-Gore is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Georgia State University. She directs the Aphasia and Motor Speech Disorders Research Lab.
• Fallon Hartman is a graduate research fellow at WellStar Health System in the Ethics Department.
• Erica Freestone is a graduate research assistant in the Aphasia and Motor Speech Disorders Research Lab
• Rev. Renée Lloyd Owen, M.Div., is the Executive Director of Spiritual Health for WellStar Health System. She has been a hospital chaplain for 20 years.
• Rev. Rhonda James-Jones is the Manager of Spiritual Health at WellStar Paulding Hospital. She works with interdisciplinary teams to provide whole-person care for patients and families, department and individual staff support and oncology support group services for the community.

We invite you to participate in this research by following this link to complete a 15-minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/77WQRFF

19. Register now for the next webinar of our 2020 series! Thursday, February 27, 2020. Empowering Faith Communities through Palliative Care Education presented by Diane G. McCarthy, MA, BCC and Vincent Nguyen, DO, CMD.
Program Summary
The presenters of this workshop are members of the Supportive Care Coalition, “…a coalition of Catholic Health ministries…advancing excellence in palliative care.” Diane and Dr. Nguyen are collaborating to present this workshop about their experiences in providing palliative care education to their faith communities in the Archdiocese of Boston and the Diocese of Orange respectively. Palliative care is generally misunderstood. These education initiatives dispel misconceptions about what palliative care is and also demonstrate how Catholic Church teaching supports the provision of palliative care.

Program Objectives
As a result of this webinar, participants will:

1. Learn about well-established programs to educate faith communities about palliative care, with the goals that this education will lead to better outcomes for patients with serious illness and their families and also that these educated health care consumers could affect the more widespread provision and support of palliative care in the health care provider, payor and legislative sectors.
2. Learn how these programs provide education to refute the provision/legislation of Physician Assisted Suicide.
3. Acquire a model/template for palliative care education that can be replicated in the attendees’ faith communities.

Diane McCarthy is the Parish Education Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Boston Initiative for Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning. A board-certified chaplain, Diane previously worked in Catholic long-term care where she spent much time with residents and families at care plan meetings and at the bedsides of the seriously ill and dying. Those experiences prepared her well to instruct the faith community of the Archdiocese of Boston about palliative care, advance care planning and how Church teaching supports both.

Dr. Nguyen directs the HOAG CARES Program, providing clinical and administrative oversight of the inpatient and outpatient palliative services at HOAG. In partnership with the UCI School of Medicine, he co-founded a Palliative Medicine Fellowship to train physicians in the art of hospice and palliative medicine. Dr. Nguyen is a Board-Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Specialist with Board Certifications in Geriatrics and Family Medicine. For the past six years, Dr. Nguyen served on the Board of Directors of the Orange Catholic Foundation, a 501c3 charitable corporation serving the Diocese of Orange. In collaboration with the Office of Pastoral Care for Families in All Stages, he serves on the Whole Person Care Leadership team, to implement best practices to improve care for the seriously ill and their families in the community.

To register online and pay by credit card for this webinar, or for any other NACC 2020 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.

20. You can still register for this special 3-part February NACC webinar series on “Her Smile Is Enough for Me: Critical Care Pediatric Chaplaincy”, presented by Jim Manzardo and Glenda Spearman.
This case-based three-part webinar series builds on the presentation “Her Smile Is Enough for Me: Critical Care Pediatric Chaplaincy”, given at the 2019 NACC National Conference, and is a response to both positive feedback and requests for more specific interventions. The presenters will describe the pediatric patients’ world through the developmental spectrum, the parents/caregivers’ world, and the healthcare providers’ world and ways the chaplain assesses and responds to the breadth of situations and needs.

Jim Manzardo, BCC is a chaplain at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago where he has worked for the past two years in the pediatric intensive care unit. Previously, he was the primary chaplain for the Hematology-Oncology-Stem Cell Transplant service for nineteen years. He also has been part of the Palliative Care and Ethics teams and is a facilitator of a nursing transitions program for new nurses during their first year of nursing. Jim also has been incorporating mindfulness meditation into the hospital environment.

Glenda R. Spearman, MDiv, BCC, is currently a Senior Staff Chaplain at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) where she has served since 2000. Glenda was board certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 2008. Glenda coordinates the Minister of Care volunteers who bring Communion to the Catholic patient families at Lurie Children’s. Glenda has been Primary Chaplain for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for the past ten years. Glenda facilitates the hospital’s Schwartz Rounds, and is a member of the hospital-wide Bereavement Committee, and Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Glenda is part of the Spiritual Care Chaplain Team who provides Mindfulness Meditation to staff. Glenda coordinates the annual televised Christmas visit by the Cardinal to the hospital’s patient families. In October 2017, Glenda was awarded the Bishop Quarter Award by Chicago’s Blasé Cardinal Cupich for the many years of ministry as a pediatric hospital Chaplain, especially to the Catholic patient families.
Participant cost for these three sessions is $75 for NACC members, $90 for non-members, which includes all three sessions. A special rate of $30 is available to NACC retired and student members. This series will provide 4.5 CEH’s.

The three sessions will take place on the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 19 (12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. Central Time)
• Wednesday, February 26 (12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. Central Time)
• Wednesday, March 4 (12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. Central Time)

For further details, including information on how to register for this webinar series, please click on the following link: REGISTER.

21. Register now for the 2020 NACC webinar series!
Don’t forget to register for the 2020 NACC webinar series! The series comprises 11 webinars, plus free webinars on Certification with the NACC, Renewal of Certification, and Certification of Associate Chaplains with the NACC. Details of each of the webinars and information on how to register for them are available on our website: https://www.nacc.org/education-resources/nacc-webinars-and-audio-conferences/.

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 of our regular January – December 2020 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.

22. NACC Local Event

• Last Call for the February 6 event in Tucson!
  On February 6, 2020, the NACC is hosting a gathering of area chaplains at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona. Bonnie J. McCulley, LPC, Ch.T., BCC will present on the topic of “Gravitate to the Highest Energy”. Based on the work of Dr. Brené Brown’s best-selling book, Daring Greatly, we will explore how developing shame resilience, understanding trust, and practicing vulnerability can grow the connection we have to others, to ourselves and in God. NACC Executive Director David Lichter will be in attendance and will inform participants about trends and movements in professional chaplaincy. For further information and details on how to register, please use this LINK.

23. Chaplaincy and Chaplains in the news
In case you haven’t seen these:

• On chaplains reaching out to non-religious patients: https://www.chausa.org/publications/catholic-health-world/archives/issues/january-15-2020/ministry-chaplains-reach-out-to-nonreligious-patients
• On telechaplaincy at a VA Center: https://www.moultrienews.com/news/valor/ralph-h-johnson-va-medical-center-offers-tele-chaplaincy-services/article_c10b4a38-42aa-11ea-bedb-17a9ecd8c432.html
• On value of CPE: https://newsroom.wakehealth.edu/News-Releases/2020/01/How-Hospital-Chaplains-Learn-How-To-Do-What-They-Do

24. 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: Bro. Kenney Gorman, Rev. Paul F. Merry, Monica Ho (deceased mother of member Eugenia Lai), Russ (husband of member Linda Bronersky), Marybeth Harmon, Fr. Art Schute, Nolan (4-year-old grandson of member Dale Recinella), Fr. Jim Radde SJ, Isabelita Boquiren, Susan Balling, Jim and Frances Castello.

25. 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.

FOUNDING CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATOR/FACULTY POSITION
Baton Rouge, LA – Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

STAFF CHAPLAIN
Kalamazoo and Grand Blanc, MI – Ascension

PASTORAL CARE CHAPLAIN
Adrian, Michigan – The Adrian Dominican Sisters

FULL-TIME STAFF CHAPLAIN
La Crosse, WI – Gundersen Lutheran Health System

PASTORAL CARE STAFF MEMBER
Peoria, IL – OSF HealthCare

PRIEST CHAPLAIN/SACRAMENTAL MINISTER
Nashville, TN – Ascension Saint Thomas Health

CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN
Williamstown, MA – Chaplains Office, Williams College

MANAGER SPIRITUAL CARE
Tampa Bay, FL – BayCare