Issue #352 – May 24, 2021

Click here to return to the main NACC Now page.

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. This reflection comes with a “spoiler alert” because I found myself reflecting on the reading in light of Carolanne Hauck’s reflection on the readings that she shared in the letter you will all be receiving this week, a letter that invites you to participate in this year’s Annual Member Campaign. I appreciated very much Carolanne’s reflection.

She noted how she could not help to reflect on these Pentecost readings in light of the experience of this past year’s Pandemic. She wrote, “… maybe we had a taste of what the disciples must have felt when alone in the upper room on that first Pentecost. When I recall the first days and even months of the Pandemic, I was scared. So much uncertainty. I was vigilant with my mask, gown, gloves, and PPE but wondered after I prayed with a dying COVID patient if the small area behind my neck not covered exposed me to the deadly disease.” I think about how true that was for so many of us, or you in your ministry. In so many of our COVID listening sessions such fears and uncertainties were shared. How we needed to pray through those fears and uncertainties over those weeks!

Carolanne then noted a change in her. “Along the way, something changed, and I can say without a doubt that the presence of the Holy Spirit became very real to me and gave me the courage to stand at the bedside more confident of my call.” She then shared a big influence on that change. “I first became aware of this newfound strength when I heard the many stories of our mutual experiences through COVID-19; our fears, worries, frustrations, and the many moments of grace we experienced through our work.” These sentences took me back with gratitude to the many ZOOM encounters over the past year, whether they were in the COVID listening sessions, at the start or end of virtual meetings, or the intended outreaches to one another to learn how we were doing in the midst of what we were doing. I feel deep gratitude for all of you.

Carolanne expressed it this way: “I cannot adequately describe the feeling of oneness that I had with you, my NACC sisters and brothers in ministry. We were like the disciples gathered “in one place” and together received strength through the work of the Holy Spirit!” I was very struck by her words and made me remember how many times I heard you comment on feeling the “community of care” from one another, even though virtual. I reflect back on the experiences of being on virtual meetings with members from Africa to Hawaii, from Maine to Arizona, from Washington to Florida, and all the states in between.

Carolanne was more eloquent on this. “The power of being gathered in “one place” sometimes virtually, other times through prayer, the listening sessions, which are less frequent now but continue, the sharing one to one, the timely writings shared through Vision and our Blog, and keeping in touch through the ongoing work of the NACC, all contributed to my feeling of solidarity with you in this ministry, and this work of the Catholic Church that is ever more important at this time.”

I appreciated her capturing this experience of the mission of NACC. I appreciate so much the leadership, spirituality, and commitment to NACC that she, our NACC Board of Directors, and the many, many volunteer leaders of NACC, whether interviewers, ITE’s, commissioners, committee and panel members, network participants, writers for Vision, and the so diverse other ways that you, our members, make this a community in prayer and mission like the early disciples.

Come Holy Spirit! Fill us with your gifts! Embolden us to live with passion and gratitude!

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. NACC is inviting you this week to participate in our 2021 Member Campaign *
Our NACC members will be receiving this week a letter from our NACC Board Chair, Carolanne Hauck, BCC, inviting you to participate in this year’s Annual Member Campaign to support the mission of NACC. In recent years, you, our members, have been very generous in your response. We ask you read Carolanne’s letter. Reflect on the benefits of NACC. Please donate this year if you are able to do so.

3. Deaths of former NACC members, Father Richard O’Donnell, OC, and Rev. Thomas M. Dieter *
We recently learned of the death of our former NACC member, Father Richard O’Donnell, who joined NACC in 1980. He was a Certified CPE Educator and very involved in our CPE Educator networking calls. May God grant him the fullness of Life he provided others in his ministry. Here is a link to his obituary: www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/jsonline/name/richard-o-donnell-obituary?pid=198738255

Fr. Thomas Dieter joined the NACC, and earned board certification, in 2014.
He was a Vietnam veteran and chaplain who worked for the VA until his retirement.
Read his obituary here www.williams-kampp.com/obituaries/Father-Thomas-M-Dieter?obId=20993357

4. Please take time to review the NACC 2020 Annual Report
An important vehicle to communicate to our NACC members the NACC’s leaders’ accountability is through the Annual Report. You can access the 2020 NACC Annual Report at nacc.org/annual-report/#p=1. Please take time to review it. We are very appreciative of our many NACC volunteer leaders and staff who prepared the Board, Committees, Commissions, and Panel reports, as well as Ramune Franitza who did the layout design. Thank you!

5. If you have not yet viewed the NACC 2021-2023 Strategic Plan, please do!
The NACC Board of Directors, at its March 2021 meeting, approved the NACC 2021-2023 Strategic Plans that lays out the NACC priorities for the next three years. You can access it on the NACC website at www.nacc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-23-NACC-Strategic-Plan.2.pdf

6. Need help with your initial certification preparation? *
A webinar to help you with your initial certification is scheduled on June 3 at 12:00 p.m. CT. It’s for all chaplains interested in learning the steps to certification with NACC. Commissioners Sr. Anne Breitag and Brother Kenney Gorman will host this informative webinar to help you get started in this process. Webinar is free. Register here: Certification by the NACC ~ by NACC Certification Commissioners

7. Thank you to our many members who contributed to the Spring Virtual Certification Interviews!

The National Office and many volunteers completed Virtual Certification Interviews! There were 35 applicants interviewed by 38 interviewers, 8 ITE’s and 2 Commissioners. We are so thankful for all our volunteers’ hard work and dedication to the NACC Certification process! The Commission will review the results at their next meeting. The next Certification interviews will take place in early October. Please reach out to Lisa Sarenac at lisasarenac@nacc.org, if you are interested in volunteering for this event

8. Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification
NACC in collaboration with APC offers Advanced Certification in Palliative Care and Hospice. This level of certification is available to all full members who have been Board Certified for at least on year, have over 3 years or 520 hours per year of direct clinical palliative care and/or hospice work experience and have completed an intensive palliative care and/or hospice course equivalent to three (3) credit hours (45 hours). Deadline for this application process is July 15, 2021 for an interview on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Please contact Lisa Sarenac at lisasarenac@nacc.org for more information.

9. In Vision: Support for Catholic prison ministry moves forward *
Last week marked the first article of our new Vision theme about ministry to those affected by incarceration. Executive Director David Lichter describes the efforts of the NACC, and many other groups, in recent years to create a robust framework for Catholic prison ministry. Click below to learn more and stay tuned in future weeks.

Support for Catholic prison ministry moves forward

10. Vision seeks contributors for prison ministry theme *
Our May-June issue of Vision focused on ministry in prisons, a setting that is growing in numbers within our NACC membership. If you have experience in prison ministry and want to share best practices with colleagues, or to explain your work to chaplains in other settings, we want to hear from you. Please send a summary of your idea to Vision editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org.

11. Stories from Chaplaincy & Paths to Chaplaincy
NACC’s most recent marketing efforts are posting chaplaincy videos on Facebook. These are posted every 2 weeks beginning on April 7th and will continue into September. Please view and like and share to make others aware of the gifts and talents chaplains share and their stories of how their journey happened. https://www.facebook.com/choosechaplaincy

12. NACC Choose Chaplaincy Marketing materials are available
With church activity returning, remember that you can represent NACC and chaplaincy with materials for the narthex, Youth Groups, or other organizations within and outside of your church community. Check out our Choose Chaplaincy videos, Q& A, and materials on our website: www.nacc.org/about-nacc/choose-chaplaincy and www.nacc.org/about-nacc/choose-chaplaincy/materials

13. NACC Networking Calls for May and June 2021 – All are welcome to participate! *
Tuesday, May 25; 12 p.m. CT NACC COVID Listening Call
Monday, June 14; 1 p.m. CT NACC CPE-E Community of Practice
Tuesday, June 15; 11 a.m. CT (or) NACC State Liaison Networking Call
Wednesday, June 16; 3 p.m. CT NACC State Liaison 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. If you replied, you will receive a 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 placed in a waiting room. Please be patient until the host joins the call and allows you access. THANK YOU!

14. Member COVID Listening Calls will continue in May on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 *
We are grateful for the participation and sharing that is happening during these calls. The NACC continues to look for ways to support those who have found this space to share their thoughts and experiences. We continue to have good participation for our COVID Listening. Thank you. NACC will offer a listening session on May 25. This is a general listening session asking for you to bring what is on your heart. Our topics vary to address what is important to you in the moment.

COVID Listening Call
Tuesday: May 25, 2021
1pm ET, 12pm CT, 11am MT, 10am PT

ATTENTION: You will need to register HERE for this call. You will be sent automatically the ZOOM information to access this session. If you have trouble registering, please let us know at info@nacc.org.

Thank you to all of our Listening Hearts
NACC offered Listening Hearts throughout the COVID crisis. Many took advantage to share their story and have a chaplain listen. Though our requests have tapered, please know our retired NACC chaplains are available to support all our chaplains. Please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) if you would like to speak with a Listening Heart.

15. Healing Tree: a request for prayers: *
The NACC holds the Healing Tree as a place for members to seek the supporting prayers of their colleagues. We prayerfully support and publish the names submitted by our membership for themselves or their family members. We ask that you please include members and their families who have been affected by the COVID pandemic. in your prayers

We continue to pray for our members: Lee Carol S. Hollendonner, Sr. Leonie T. Iweh DMMM, Sr. Ellen Moore, Rev. Samuel O. Nkansah, Fr. Jim Radde SJ, Deacon Thomas J. Rea, Martiza Ramos-Pratt, and Sr. Louise F. Zaplitny SC.

For the intentions of: Donald L. Brown (for Beth Ann Scannell and her husband Bob), and Sr. Mary A. DuPlain SJSM (for brother Larry and Sr. Edwardine of her congregation who passed away).

For loved ones: Chuck Adcock (husband of Sandra Adcock), Rhonda Glennon (daughter of Anita Glennon), Fred Leas (husband of Charlotte Leas), Bill Ruiz (husband of Cathi Ruiz), Richard Valeriote (father of Catherine Valeriote), and Autumn Vaughn (great-niece of Linda Bronersky).

For the families of: Catherine Valeriote, (on the loss of her mother), Timothy Duff (on the death of his wife Theresa), Cindy Dwyer (on the death of her mother Judith Dwyer), Mary Fiegel (on the death of her husband Lee Fiegel), Linda Freeman (on the death of her husband Joseph Freeman), Kathleen Mattone (on the death of family member Nathan Burnett), Mary T. O’Neill (on the death of her brother Liam), Judi Pasino (on the death of a family member and Terry and Michael James Quatrani), and Sr. Charlene A. Schaaf CDP (on the death of her mother Eva Scalzitti Schaaf).

Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing by emailing Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org). We will leave the person’s name on the Healing Tree list for three months unless you ask us to remove the name earlier. You can always request us to leave the name on longer.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR OUR NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

16. Save a new date for our Buffalo National Conference!
Our NACC members recently received a special notice that we changed the date of our next annual National Conference from end of October 2021 to Friday, March 25, 2022 through Monday, March 28, 2022. https://www.nacc.org/conference/ While we are disappointed that we needed to change the date again, the NACC Board of Directors appreciated the recent survey of our members that gave us convincing data that a fall 2021 date would not provide the attendance needed to make a National Conference successful. So, mark your calendars for 2022! We will meet in 2022!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

17. Don’t miss our June 17 NACC Webinar, “Closing the Gap: Cultivating a Racially Equitable Mental Health Practice, and Implications for Spiritual Care,” by Amittia Parker, PhDc, LMSW, MPA! June 17, 2021 ~ 12pm – 1:30pm Central Time *
While many helping professionals are now more aware of racial disparities in mental health, the field is predominantly White and there is a gap in understanding and subsequently, action. This interactive workshop will focus on increasing awareness of racism within the continuum of mental health care, building skills for managing emotions in conversations about race/racism, and intentional action for racial equity and justice.

By the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

Describe racial disparities in mental health
Conduct a self-assessment, with particular attention to their knowledge, skills, and actions for racial equity and justice
Identify at least two intentional actions to move towards using a racially sensitive approach in their ministry and the provision of emotional and spiritual support

NACC Certification Competencies: PIC6, PPS3

Presenter: Amittia Parker, LMSW, MPA, PhDc, has worked for a decade as a mental health consultant across a variety of settings in Kansas City, including home-based services, childcare centers, school-based services, and health clinics. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare and engaged in research, teaching, and service. Her research agenda is focused on promoting minority mental health, with a particular interest in Black and Latinx families with young children. Her current research projects focus on mental health among Black mothers and social work students, natural helping spaces, and behavioral health service availability and delivery. Amittia promotes racially sensitive practice both within the courses she teaches and in guest lectures. Amittia also provides training and consultation services focused on racial equity and mental health. She serves in leadership roles in local, state, and national venues focused on infant and early childhood, the African American community, and Black social workers.

Register here

18. “The Challenges of Resiliency During a Pandemic,” Register today for our second extended learning event on Saturday, June 26, 2021 *
Our second extended learning event will be on Saturday, June 26, 2021. Join us! We had over a hundred participants in the first one. A very rich experience.

The virtual event will be held utilizing ZOOM and recorded and posted on the NACC website for registrants unable to attend the live presentation.Registration will open soon so please watch our calendar!

Pacific: 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Mountain: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Central: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Eastern: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Overview and Objectives
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented challenges around the globe that will undoubtedly be experienced for years. For those who work in health care settings, the emotional, physical, and spiritual toll has been immense. Chaplains have been challenged to minister in new and creative ways while supporting staff resiliency. A chaplain’s attention and dedication to self-care can easily be overlooked or not given priority amidst so many demands. Join us for this three-hour webinar to learn, to be reminded, and to be inspired with the importance of resiliency in spiritual care.
The featured presenter will be Adam Gonzalez who has taught, researched, and written extensively on mental health.

As a result of the virtual event, participants will be able to:

Identify how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the condition of health care workers (ITP3)
Develop tools within one’s ministry setting to support staff resiliency (PPS2, OL1, OL2.1)
List examples to support a chaplain’s self-care (PIC3, PIC3.1, PIC3.2, PIC3.3)

REGISTRATION OPENS SOON — WATCH OUR CALENDAR!

19. Have you read the recent document on accompanying people in psychological distress from the Vatican, “Members of One Body, Loved by One Love: Accompanying people in psychological distress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.” *
The introduction to this document states: “More radically, we may say that the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has enabled us to touch the core of our human condition and Christian faith: the transition towards death and the relationship between death and life, and fear and hope.” This document is worth the read. www.humandevelopment.va/en/risorse/documenti/accompagnare-le-persone-in-sofferenza-psicologica-nel-contesto-d.html

20. Don’t forget to check the NACC Anti-Racism page for resources!
Please continue to check our NACC Anti-Racism page for resources.
www.nacc.org/resources/antiracism-resources/

21. Don’t forget to check the NACC Coronavirus page for resources!
Please continue to check our NACC Coronavirus page for resources.
www.nacc.org/resources/coronavirus-resources/

22. 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

BOARD CERTIFIED PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Orange, CA – Providence St. Joseph Hospital

DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Watchung, NJ – McAuley Hall Health Care Center

MISSION CONSULTANT
Zanesville, OH – Genesis HealthCare System

CHAPLAIN
Zanesville, OH – Genesis HealthCare System

PRIEST/CHAPLAIN – FT
Camden, NJ – Virtua Health

CHAPLAIN
West Michigan – Mercy Health

SPIRITUAL CARE ASSOCIATE/CHAPLAIN
Norfolk, NE – Faith Regional Health Services

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
National Association of Catholic Chaplains

Issue #352 – May 24, 2021

NACC

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR OUR NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR OUR NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

Issue #352 – May 24, 2021

NACC

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR OUR NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR OUR NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

Job Listings

Free Publications

Donate Now

Connect with us