Issue #344 – February 1, 2021

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

NACC

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. Here is our final, final sum for our 2020 Annual Member Campaign! We are so grateful!
3. Welcome to our new NACC members who joined us in January 2021!
4. Recent death of a former member
5. Have you visited our new NACC Membership page with new categories and new online membership applications?
6. NACC Prayers for XXIX Annual World Day of the Sick – February 11, 2021
7. Remember DEADLINE is Monday, February 15, 2021 for Initial Certification Applications!
8. In Vision: Chaplains can address politics in the workplace – very carefully
9. Our next Vision theme: Divisions and social healing.
10. NACC Networking Calls for February 2021 – All are welcome to participate!
11. Member COVID Listening Calls will continue in February.
12. Do you need a Listening Heart?
13. Healing Tree: a request for prayers

2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 1, 2021

14. Friday, October 29, to Monday, November 1, 2021, for NACC National Conference!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

15. Don’t forget to check the NACC Anti-Racism page for resources!
16. Don’t forget to check the NACC Coronavirus page for resources!
17. Vatican published Ash Wednesday Guidelines
18. Resources and Guidelines for Ash Wednesday Services
19. Register today for our NACC upcoming webinars. Learn more about our 2021 NACC Education/Formation programming approach
20. Other educational offerings
21. Recent job postings

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
In the past weeks, in the political world, so much of the news and commentary has been on the presidential transition, and the use and misuse of authority and power. I don’t want to reflect on that political quagmire, but this context had the word ‘authority’ stand out for me in yesterday’s Gospel (Mark 1: 21-28) where Jesus in the Capernaum synagogue is teaching “as one having authority.” Then after he casts out a demon, those nearby reacted, “All were amazed and asked one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.’”

When I think about authority, I find myself going back to a writing of Parker Palmer of 20 years ago (Let Your Life Speak, ©2000 by Jossey-Bass) where he wrote:

He offered a reflection on our inner identity and truth from where our “authority” resides. I had to think about Jesus’ authority rooted in His identity, out of which he taught and ministered. I am thinking about authority in our own ministry that lies not in our years of experience, our positions, our BCC, but in our own inner life and our spiritual identity – child of God, beloved one.

I am challenged again by Palmer’s reflection on the shared responsibility we have for “creating our external world” by projecting a spirit of light, a spirit of hope, and an inner confidence in wholeness and integration – or projecting the opposites.

In this 2021, I find myself ever more aware of the impact of our inner lives on our outer world, of our most seemingly insignificant daily choices on creating our world.

Thank you for your ministries and for the way your inner spirits of light, hope, and confidence shape and daily transform your worlds of service. Thank you for your living with authority!

Blessings on your 2021!

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Here is our final, final sum for our 2020 Annual Member Campaign! We are so grateful! *
In the past two weeks a few more 2020 gifts arrived, so now our final, final total donations for our 2020 Annual Member Campaign is 516 gifts for $66,055.10 which compared to 515 gifts for $64,549 in 2019 and 493 gifts for $59,877 in 2018. Thanks to all of you who were able to participate in 2020! Thank you also to all you who prayerfully supported NACC!

3. Welcome to our new NACC members who joined us in January 2021! *
Please join in welcoming our new NACC members who joined us in January! Welcome!

4. Recent death of a former member *
We just received a note that our former member Sr. Dolora Neumaier, IHM passed away on January 20 at the age of 103. She joined 1977 and was certified in 1981. May she enjoy the fullness of God’s peace.
You can read more about Sister Dolora at https://detroitcatholic.com/news/detroit-catholic/may-they-rest-in-peace-sr-dolora-neumaier-ihm

5. Have you visited our new NACC Membership page with new categories and new online membership applications? *
If you have not yet visited our new membership webpage and seen the new names for two individual member categories, please do! The category formerly called “member” is now Chaplaincy Ministry, and the category formerly called “affiliate” is now Professional Ministry. These are intended to better represent our members’ ministry versus the former generic names. The online application capability makes it easier for potential members to join. Please share our membership page web link with anyone you want to encourage to become a NACC member!

6. NACC Prayers for XXIX Annual World Day of the Sick – February 11, 2021 *
The National Association of Catholic Chaplains has developed resources to help with the planning and celebration of World Day of the Sick. The resources include suggestions and prayers that can be used by individuals as well as by dioceses, parishes, health care institutions, and other organizations.
We are pleased to alert you to the new World Day of the Sick prayer cards.

We are grateful to Sister Jane McConnell, OSF, BCC and Nicholas Stewart, M.Div., BCC for their thoughtful compositions. You will find a prayer for the sick and a prayer for the caregiver, available in English and Spanish, on the NACC website. Please download and use as you would like. Here is the link to the NACC World Day of the Sick Resource page.

Other prayers and resources can be found on our Coronavirus resources page.

7. Remember DEADLINE is Monday, February 15, 2021 for Initial Certification Applications! *
Application portfolios for initial certification need to be mailed to the office or uploaded on our website www.nacc.org/certification/certification-submission-form by Monday, February 15, 2021! If you have any questions or would like informational materials on initial 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.

8. In Vision: Chaplains can address politics in the workplace – very carefully *
What can chaplains do when coworkers argue about politics — or when, willingly or not, chaplains join the argument? In the first article of our new theme “Standing in the Breach,” Anne Windholz describes what happened at one of her former workplaces, and how the solution begins with looking inward. As she says, Jesus welcomed everybody, but Jesus also challenged everybody. To read more, click the link below.

Chaplains can address politics in the workplace – very carefully

9. Our next Vision theme: Divisions and social healing. *
The day before the attack upon the United States Capitol, the NACC’s Editorial Advisory Panel had decided that the next theme for Vision will be “Standing in the Breach: Navigating Distrust, Division, and Prejudice at Work and in the World.” But even before that, we knew that we were a house divided, and chaplains often find themselves in the middle of those divisions. Perhaps we cannot heal them — but how do we maintain a calm, loving presence? How do we stand in the middle of an angry family? How do we maintain our own moral center? What can we offer to our workplaces or communities? We are looking for articles on all of these topics, and more, about your own experience, programs that might be duplicated or other ideas for social healing. Please send a summary of your idea to Vision Editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org.

10. NACC Networking Calls for February 2021 – All are welcome to participate! *

Wednesday, February 10, 2021; 12 p.m. CT NACC Palliative/Hospice Networking Call

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

You must sign up to participate and receive the ZOOM code for the call. When you reply, we will forward ZOOM passcodes for a video connection via internet or you may still call in using your phone. 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.

Due to ZOOM security requirements, you may be place in a waiting room. Do not disconnect. Please be patient until the host joins the call and allows you access. THANK YOU!

11. Member COVID Listening Calls will continue in February. *
We continue to offer the COVID-19 listening/resource sharing sessions and invite you to participate. The listening sessions in February will be general listening sessions. Requested topics of importance include moral distress, compassion fatigue, and dealing with psychosis. We are not limited to these topics and also ask “What are you bringing that is on your heart?”

NACC Covid Listening Call
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
3pm ET, 2pm CT, 1pm MT, 12pm PT

Please register here to receive your ZOOM link.

For more resources and blog updates, be sure to take a look at our Coronavirus resources page.

12. Do you need a Listening Heart?
We recognize that these are unusual and uncertain times. You are being stretched in new ways and faced with challenging choices. We have a resource called, “Listening Hearts,” to provide you one on one support.

Listening Hearts is available for NACC members seeking a listening presence from a NACC retired chaplain colleague. You may be experiencing and feeling the cumulative impact of the present global Pandemic. For those providing support for others and navigating the new normal without the opportunity to gather with extended family/friends, visit a favorite restaurant or workout at the gym, we invite you to share the load by reaching out for a listening heart of an experienced and compassionate retired chaplain. Please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) if you would like to speak with a Listening Heart.

13. Healing Tree: a request for prayers *
We continue to pray for: the special intentions of Maritza Ramos-Pratt BCC, Sr. Mary A. DuPlain SJSM, Susan Balling, Isabelita Boquiren, Fr. Jim Radde SJ, Denice Foose, Fr. Jose Hernandez, Barbara McKee, Sr. Ellen Moore, Sr. Theresa Chiappa SSC, Rev. Richard J. O’Donnell MI, Robert Lopez, Victoria Lucas, Mary Fiegel and husband Lee Fiegel, Liam O’Neill (brother of Mary T O’Neill), Russell Butler (husband of Carole Butler), Hernando Salazar (father of Sr. Sandra Salazar) Kathy Ponce (on the death of her sister Marilyn Silkey), Sr. Emily Demuth CSC (on the death of her sister Marietta Ricke), Sr. Betty Keegan (on the death of her brother Joe Keegan), Sr. Mary Brigid and her family (on the death of her brother John Riley), Autumn Vaughn (great-niece of Linda Bronersky), Edward M. Torres (requests prayers for Walter Marston, Jorge Bermudez, Michelle Torres, Danielle Picchi), and Nolan (grandson of Br. Dale Recinella, in gratitude for healing).

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.

2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 1, 2021

14. Friday, October 29, to Monday, November 1, 2021, for NACC National Conference!
Mark your calendars for the NACC Conference in 2021! This conference will be held Friday, October 29 through Monday, November 1, 2021, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel in Buffalo, NY. It will be preceded by preconference workshops and our NACC retreat. Plan to join us!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

15. Don’t forget to check the NACC Anti-Racism page for resources!
Please continue to check our NACC Anti-Racism page for resources.

16. Don’t forget to check the NACC Coronavirus page for resources!
Please continue to check our NACC Coronavirus page for resources.

17. Vatican published Ash Wednesday Guidelines *
Here is a link to the Ash Wednesday 2021 Instructions from the Vatican published 1.12.21.

18. Resources and Guidelines for Ash Wednesday Services *
The NACC has partnered with the CHA Pastoral Care Advisory Committee, which has many NACC leaders represented on the Committee also, to prepare guidelines for Ash Wednesday.

• Here is a link to the guidelines: www.nacc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Addendum-Ash-Wednesday-FINAL.pdf
• Here is a link to a reflection prayer: www.nacc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-Ash-Wednesday-Reflection-Prayer.pdf
• Watch for more CHA resources at: www.chausa.org/prayers/lent-reflections

19. Register today for our upcoming NACC webinars. Learn more about our 2021 NACC Education/Formation programming approach *
As shared earlier with you, our 2021 Education Program is offering a thematic approach to each quarter that will include webinars, days of reflection, and an extended learning experience. The February and March webinar presenters will be:

• February 18, 12:00 pm central, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry who is also the Postulator for Cause for Fr. Augustine Tolton, the first Black priest in the United States, will address “Holiness and Prejudice: The Black Catholic Legacy.”
• March 18, 12:00 pm central, Ms. Danielle M. Brown, Esq. Associate Director, Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, will address “USCCB US Bishops, Racism, and Implications for the Pastoral Care Healing Ministry.”

Watch for more detail at www.nacc.org/education-resources/nacc-webinars-and-audio-conferences/2021-webinar-series-overview-and-registration.

20. Other educational offerings *

• APC® invites you to join Rev. Marilyn J. D. Barnes MS MA MPH BCC, Cate Michelle Desjardins MDiv MPH BCC, and Rev. Shelley Varner-Perez MDiv MPH CPH BCC as they present their upcoming five-part Webinar Journal Club 10 series, “Leveraging our Legacy, Thriving in New Challenges.” Register by February 5, 2021 for the entire series
• CPMC Free Webinar: Trauma-Informed Care, featuring Fr. Ragan Shriver, PsyD, who will discuss practical and spiritual dimensions of ministry for those affected by incarceration/detention who are often living with past and present trauma. How we can be ministers of healing. Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 12:00 pm central time. To register, go to: usfca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i9JWMN7NTsWJa0URSxhUsA

21. 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

STAFF CHAPLAIN, HOSPICE
La Crosse, WI – Gunderson Lutheran

CHAPLAIN – CATHOLIC PRIEST
Tampa, FL – BayCare/St. Joseph’s Hospital

CATHOLIC PRIEST, Part-time
Los Angeles, CA – Cedars-Sinai

SPIRITUAL CARE MANAGER – BCC
Pontiac, Michigan – St. Joseph Mercy Oakland

PRIEST CHAPLAINS
Boston, MA – The Archdiocese of Boston

CHAPLAINS
Kalamazoo and Saginaw, Michigan – Ascension Michigan

CHAPLAIN
Santa Rosa, CA – Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital