Issue #354 – June 21, 2021

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

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
Yesterday’s first reading from Job (38:1, 8-11) and the reading from Mark (34:38-41) both emphasize God’s power over the earth and its elements. In Job, God chides Job in the storm, reminding him, “Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands?” In the Gospel, Jesus calms the storm and chides the apostles for their weak faith. The second reading (2 Cor. 5:14-17) reminds us “The love of Christ impels us…”

These readings had me reflecting on our earth, destructive storms, the rising historic temperatures, and the climate crises. How do we as chaplains relate to these issues? How does the love of Christ compel us to relate to our environment?

I was fascinated by an article by Rabbi Katti Allen, BCC, who is calling for a new kind of chaplain, “nature chaplaincy, eco-chaplaincy, Creation chaplaincy, Earth chaplaincy…” www.ecofaithrecovery.org/2015/03/19/a-call-for-a-new-kind-of-chaplain-by-rabbi-katy-allen

It reminded me of the definition of spirituality developed at the 2009 Consensus Conference, “The aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals: Seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to: the moment, self, others, nature, the significant or sacred.” (Improving the Quality of Spiritual Care as a Dimension of Palliative Care: The Report of the Consensus Conference, JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, Volume 12, Number 10, 2009, ªMary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089=jpm.2009.0142)

Connectedness to nature struck me when I first read the definition. I soon began to reflect on all the times the beauty of nature connected me to Life’s wonder, to God. However, how are the current crises of nature also part of my spirituality, part of cry of lament, part of my stance toward a hopeful future for our planet, part of my choices daily to live in a way that there is a planet for our grandchildren and their grandchildren? How am I prepared, in chaplaincy, to tend to people who have deep concerns about Mother Earth and what we are experiencing today? What about those whose illnesses are linked to a polluted environment?

Rabbi Allen noted some roles for an earth chaplain. They might not fit all of us, but we might find some of these align with our experience:

Nature chaplains facilitate healing connections between people and the natural world.
Earth chaplains hold the pain and suffering of an individual or a group in the context of the natural world.
Eco-chaplains honor the pain and suffering of the Earth.
Creation chaplains help to awaken people’s senses to seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling greater depths of connection to the sacred universe.
Earth chaplains facilitate the opening of hearts and minds to the vastness and the minuteness of the universe.
Eco-chaplains honor people’s discomfort or unfamiliarity with the natural world.
Nature chaplains remind people of the sacredness of the created world as they stand in its midst.
Earth chaplains create the openings needed for people to journey from despair to hope and action.

I returned to the questions: How do we as chaplains relate to these issues? How does the love of Christ compel us to relate to our environment? If my spirituality includes connectedness to nature, then somehow nature’s rage as well as nature’s beauty needs to be part of my spirituality. Our environment’s extremes that bring tragedy, death and loss are now part of our chaplaincy ministry as we tend to the human victims of these disasters. My fear, like the apostles’ fear, calls me to a faith and response that is compelled by Christ’s love for not only the people of the earth, but the earth itself. How does my lifestyle reflect that love?

Blessings,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Thank you to those of you who have already given to our 2021 Annual Member Campaign! Please join them! *
Our 2021 Annual Campaign has begun! We are deeply grateful to all those who have been able to give so far! To date, we have received 167 gifts totaling $17,080. If you have not yet been able to donate, please consider doing so today or this week! Thank you!

Please note: You can also make your donation online RIGHT NOW by going to the Annual Campaign webpage (www.nacc.org/donate) or just click here to donate.

Please give as you can! Blessings!

3. Continue to encourage vaccinations! NACC also part of the Catholic Cares Coalition *
Chaplains have experienced firsthand the terrible destruction COVID-19 has brought to families and communities. NACC has joined several Catholic organizations in forming the Catholic Cares Coalition to advocate and encourage equitable and universal vaccinations.
Please watch and share the Catholic Cares Coalition’s video through your social media channels and emails. We need your help to promote the acceptance of the vaccine as an act of charity and solidarity with others that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and build immunity against COVID-19.

As Pope Francis recently expressed “Solidarity finds concrete expression in service, which can take a variety of forms in an effort to care for others. And service in great part means caring for vulnerability, for the vulnerable members of our families, our society, our people.”
#CatholicCares | #LoveThyNeighbor | #ChooseChaplaincy

4. July 15, 2021 Application Deadline for 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 one year, have over 3 years with at least 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.

5. In Vision: Ministry to released prisoners means facing their private hell *
Journeying with newly released prisoners is hard, but not necessarily for the reasons you might think. In our newest Vision article, Fr. Dustin Feddon recalls a probation visit that forced him to realize his own role in a system of oppression. To read more, click below.
Ministry to released prisoners means facing their private hell

6. In Vision: Parish-based jail ministry is rooted in local community *
Upon joining a new parish in 2018, Jennifer Rogers saw a need for a ministry to church members serving time in the local jail. In Vision, she describes how, after a lot of questions and a lot of listening, her church got their program off the ground.
Parish-based jail ministry is rooted in local community

7. 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.

8. NACC Networking Calls for July 2021 – All are welcome to participate! *

Thursday, July 8; 3 p.m. CT NACC Nurse Chaplain Networking Call
Friday, July 9; 11 a.m. CT NACC Directors of Spiritual Care Networking Call
Tuesday, July 13; 3 p.m. CT NACC Member Listening Call
Wednesday, July 14; 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. If you replied, you will receive a ZOOM passcode 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!

9. The next Member Listening Call will be Tuesday, July 13, 4pm ET, 3pm CT, 2pm MT, 1pm PT *
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 Member Listening. Thank you. NACC will offer a listening session on Tuesday, July 13, 4pm ET, 3pm CT, 2pm MT, 1pm PT.*
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.

Member Listening Call
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
4pm ET, 3pm CT, 2pm MT, 1pm 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.

10. 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 also include members and their families who have been affected by the COVID pandemic in your prayers

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

For the intentions of: Sr. Maira Mary Barry OP (for Sr. Loyola Miller and Diana), Donald L. Brown (for Beth Ann Scannell and her husband Bob), and Sr. Mary A. DuPlain SJSM (for brother Larry).

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), Autumn Vaughn (great-niece of Linda Bronersky), and Michael (brother of Cathy Zylstra).

For the families of: 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), Sr. Charlene A. Schaaf CDP (on the death of her mother Eva Scalzitti Schaaf) and Catherine Valeriote (on the death of her mother).

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!

11. 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. 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

12. Don’t miss this Saturday’s, June 26, 2021 extended virtual learning event, “The Challenges of Resiliency During a Pandemic!” *
This coming Saturday, June 26, 2021, will be our second extended virtual learning event. Join us! We had over a hundred participants in the first one. This will be a very rich experience. For full details, go to: www.nacc.org/education-resources/june-virtualevent.
The virtual event will be held utilizing ZOOM and recorded and posted on the NACC website for registrants unable to attend the live presentation.
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)

REGISTER HERE

13. Register today for our July NACC webinar: COVID Vaccinations: A Scientific and Theological Discussion Presented by Ruth Mullowney-Agra MD and Brian M. Kane PhD *
July 15, 2021 ~ 12pm – 1:30pm Central Time
https://www.nacc.org/education-resources/nacc-webinars-and-audio-conferences/2021-webinar-series-overview-and-registration/2021-webinar-program-information-7/

Overview and Objectives
There’s been a tsunami of information relative to COVID-19 and vaccinations. Unfortunately, not all of the information is based on science. What does Catholic Social Teaching tell us about the duty to uphold the Common Good relative to public health? Does individual formation of conscience play a role in the decision to get vaccinated? This webinar explores both the science and the theology surrounding COVID-19 and vaccinations. The presentation will include pastoral guidelines for chaplains when dealing with people who are hesitant to get vaccinated.

As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to

Explain contemporary science related to the SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, as well as the efficacy of available US vaccines (ITP2, OL1).
Articulate Catholic theological and moral teachings supporting the importance of vaccinations (ITP2.1, ITP4.1).
Address ethical concerns related to vaccinations (OL4).
Demonstrate how chaplains can pastorally engage with people who are hesitant to get vaccinated (OL4.1).

NACC Certification Competencies Addressed in this Webinar
ITP2, ITP2.1, ITP4.1, OL1, OL4, OL4.1

14. Register today for the 2021 North Central Prairie Chaplains’ Conference: The Women of John’s Gospel as Models for Ministry in Our Time, September 16 @ 8:00 am – September 17 @ 5:00 pm *
Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 South First Avenue, Buffalo, MN 55313 United States
September 16-17 Christ the King Retreat Center Buffalo, MN Or participate online through Zoom Dr. Catherine Cory is an associate professor of New Testament at the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She received her M.A. from the St. John’s University in Collegeville and her Ph.D. in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity from the University of Notre Dame. Her areas of specialization are the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. (Find out more)

15. Another Educational Offering *

Understanding the Nature of Prejudice, June 24 @ 10:00 am – 1:15 pm
Speaker: Sr. Annelle Fitzpatrick, CSJ, PhD Thursday, June 24, 2021 @ 11:00 AM – 2:15 PM ET (10:00 AM – 1:15 PM Central)
This program is a repeat live presentation of the session first presented on March 8, 2021 during the Leadership for Mission Conference. Participants may be eligible to earn up to 3.0 continuing education hours based on attendance. Credits available for administrators, nurses, chaplains, dietitians, and NYS social workers. SPACE IS LIMITED Few would deny that the challenge…(Find out more)

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
National Association of Catholic Chaplains

CHAPLAIN
West Michigan – Mercy Health

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

DIRECTOR SPIRITUAL CARE – EAST
Trinity Health

CHAPLAIN
Camp Hill, PA – Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center

CLINICAL CHAPLAIN
Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS
Archdiocese of New York

CPE RESIDENCY
Corpus Christi, TX – CHRISTUS SPOHN Health System

BOARD CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN – Spiritual Care (Full-time days, evenings, and weekends)
Mission Viejo, CA – Mission Hospital

DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL CARE
Dallas, PA – Mercy Center

CHAPLAIN II
Washington, MO and Oklahoma City, OK – Mercy

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

Issue #354 – June 21, 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 #354 – June 21, 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

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