Issue #363 – October 25, 2021

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

NACC

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. Remembering a NACC member who recently died.
3. Thank you to those of you who have already given to our 2021 Annual Member Campaign! Please join them!
4. Requesting All Board-Certified Chaplains interested in serving as a Certification Interviewer
5. In Vision: Chaplains give valuable input on religious exemption requests
6. In Vision: Chaplains create ritual to help nursing staff cope with COVID losses
7. Vision seeks articles on friendship!
8. NACC Networking Calls for November 2021 – All are welcome to participate!
9. The Member Listening Call for November will be Tuesday, November 9, 2021!
10. Listening Hearts are available
11. Healing Tree: a request for prayers

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR OUR NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

12. Save this date for our Buffalo National Conference! Friday, March 25 through Monday, March 28, 2022!
13. 2022 Conference Theme and Objectives

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

14. Register today for our final October event presented in lieu of a National Conference!
15. Sign up today for our NACC November Webinar! Cowboys to Pit Crews: Spiritual Care in the Pandemic, November 11, 2021 ~ 12pm – 1:30pm Central Time. If you have not registered for the entire year, register today for this webinar!
16. Blessings on all of you during this Pastoral Care Week celebration, October 24-30, 2021
17. The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab requests our members’ participation in a survey.
18. Other educational resources
19. Recent job postings

1. Executive Director’s Reflection
Don’t you love the Bartimaeus story? I once was blind and now I see? Wow, it took a lot of pleading to get there, didn’t it? “But he kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So, they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.’ He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’

What struck me most this time was Bartimaeus’ pleading at first was for pity, not for sight. It had me thinking about how often I pray for pity. Not so much. I used to pray frequently the Hesychast’s/Russian pilgrim’s prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” However, I did not use the word pity. So, I had to do a little exploring.

As suspected, “have pity” seems to be the lowest request level. It’s as if I am asking God to see me with tenderness and mercy in my almost helpless misery, as if I can do nothing about changing my condition. As if I were praying, “God, I don’t expect compassion where you are moved to be one with my suffering. I just ask you to look upon me tenderly in my suffering, in my terrible condition.”

Yet, here Jesus responds by asking Bartimaeus to be more specific, “What do you want me to do for you?” Curiously, Bartimaeus did not ask Jesus to cure his eyesight, he just responded, “Master, I want to see.” He expresses his immediate desire.

This has me rethinking my prayer. Maybe I need to pray more often “have pity on me” and express my deepest desire. Maybe I need to return to the Hesychast’s prayer, but earnestly name specifically what is my deepest desire, laying it at the feet of the Lord.

It was about five years ago, that Pope Francis shared his reflection on this Hesychastic prayer during one of his audience presentations on the theme of hope. He noted when “our energy seems weak and the battle against anxiety is particularly difficult”

I appreciated most the phase, “make me see the horizon, the horizon of hope.” Maybe that’s the specificity of my desire, to see the horizon of hope. Maybe that’s my Bartimaeus answer to Jesus’ request, “What do you want me to do for you?” My response can be, “Master, I want to see the horizon of hope.”

It also made me think about how often in your chaplaincy ministry you might ask the Jesus question in different ways, “What can I do for you today?” “How can I be with you?” “What would be most helpful to you right now?” And, how wonderfully and tenderly you invite them to express the simplest of need. Just sit with me. Just pray with me. Just console my family. How remarkable is your ministry as you offer the horizon of hope. Thank you!

Today, as you cry out to God, how specific is your response to Jesus’ question to you today, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Blessings on you and your healing ministries,

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Remembering a NACC member who recently died.
We recently learned of the death of our NACC member, Sr. Brenda Rowe, who died on September 6, 2021. Sr. Brenda joined NACC in 2005 and was certified in 2006. She was an interviewer for NACC in 2012. Some of her assignments included: Pastoral Associate at St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, NJ, Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Township of Washington, NJ, Staff Chaplain of St. Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull, CT, and Life Coordinator for the Sisters of Mercy residing at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, NJ.
Learn more about her at her obituary: In Memory of Sr. Brenda E. Rowe.
May she enjoy the fullness of God.

3. 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 402 gifts totaling $49,285. 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.

4. Requesting All Board-Certified Chaplains interested in serving as a Certification Interviewer
Whether you have served before, haven’t served in a while, or want to serve for the first time, please consider this valuable service to fellow chaplains. Please contact Lisa Sarenac at lisasarenac@nacc.org to be placed on a future list of Interviewers. Thank you for your consideration.

5. In Vision: Chaplains give valuable input on religious exemption requests
If an employee seeks a religious exemption to a COVID vaccination mandate (or any other requirement), chaplains may be called upon to help make the decision. In our newest Vision article, Zac Willette offers advice on how to approach such cases, as well as links for further understanding. To read more, click below.
Chaplains give valuable input on religious exemption requests

6. In Vision: Chaplains create ritual to help nursing staff cope with COVID losses
When COVID deaths were piling up last year on a med/surg unit, the manager called in Katherine Lesch and the rest of the spiritual care team. The ritual of remembrance that they created helped keep the unit going through the tough months ahead. To read more in this recent Vision article, click below.
Chaplains create ritual to help nursing staff cope with COVID losses

7. Vision seeks articles on friendship!
The November-December issue of Vision will cover the theme of “Friendship: Social ties and spiritual well-being.” You probably already ask patients about any friends and family who can be a resource for them, but we want to take a deeper dive. How can we help patients build relationships, and how can we nurture our own relationships? We are looking for contributions on friendship in times of trauma; mentorship; challenges of friendship; limits of friendship; new forms of intimacy via technology; and other thoughts that our members may have. Please send a summary of your idea to Vision editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org.

8. NACC Networking Calls for November 2021 – 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 sign up to participate and receive the ZOOM code for the call. If you replied, you will receive a ZOOM passcode to connect connection via internet or smartphone. 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 Member Listening Call for November will be Tuesday, November 9, 2021!
With the rise of COVID cases and the refilling of hospitals, it’s again a strenuous time on health care staff and you as chaplains. Weariness, fatigue, and uncertainties return. We continue to offer our listening sessions and remain grateful for the participation and sharing that is happening during these virtual communities. The NACC strives to support those who have found it helpful and healing to share their thoughts and experiences in these gatherings, as well to be there for one another.

We continue to have good participation for our Member Listening. Thank you. NACC will offer a listening session on November 9. 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.

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. Listening Hearts are available
Listening Hearts are available for NACC members who may be experiencing and feeling the cumulative impact of frustration, grief, and anger. We recognize that these are unusual and uncertain times. You are continually stretched in new ways and faced with challenging choices. Allowing an experienced retired chaplain to provide the support you provide for others may help in navigating the new normal. We invite you to share your burden by reaching out for the 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. (Spanish speaking chaplain available)

11. 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 also 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: Bonnie Burnett, Sr. Andre Dembowski RSM, Mary Espitia, Denice Foose, M. Elizabeth Heffernan, Sr. Ellen Moore, Fr. Jim Radde SJ, Martiza Ramos-Pratt, Sr. Paula M. Tinlin SND, and Sr. Louise F. Zaplitny SC.

For the intentions of: Robert Legato (for wife Claudia Legato), Nicholas Perkins (for mother Pearl Marie Perkins), Pamela Proietti (for mother Carole Werrbach, sister Diane Brooks, brother Mark Werrbach and friend Vicki), and Sue Walker (for cousin Natalie).

For loved ones: Autumn Vaughn (great-niece of Linda Bronersky), Larry DuPlain (brother of Sr. Mary A. DuPlain SJSM), Brian Grasmick (husband of Victoria Grasmick), Fred Leas (husband of Charlotte Leas), and Eleanor Morgan (mother of M. Kelly Catone).

For the families of: Rev Marc Angelo (on the death of his mother Felita Malave), Nancy Cook (on the death of her husband Randy Heydenberg), Sr. Emily Demuth CSC (on the death of her sister Bernice Wagner), Peggy (Margaret) Nixdorf (on the loss of her husband Richard), Sr. Margaret Oettinger (on the death of her godson John Consigli), and Michael Onuoha (on the death of his aunt Kuma Okonkwo).

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!

12. Save this date for our Buffalo National Conference! Friday, March 25 through Monday, March 28, 2022!
Some time ago our NACC members 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 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!

13. 2022 Conference Theme and Objectives
The NACC is pleased to announce the theme and objectives for the 2022 National Conference is “Stretched by Life, Lifted by Faith.”

Our National Conference will be taking place two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent violence born of racism and other biases. Multiple forms of polarization and discord have further divided our country, family, friends and even our Church. Trauma in many manifestations has needed to be identified and addressed. We are being stretched by life. Yet, as NACC members, we are ones who continue the healing ministry of Jesus in the name of the Church. The Paschal Mystery marks our lives and our profession. We know and experience that we are lifted by our faith. This Conference is devoted to gathering with one another to be a safe and sacred space to support one another in courageous and honest dialogue on those areas that challenge and stretch us to own our common humanity and destiny, as well as to identify and celebrate what makes and sustains us as healing ministers.

Chaplains will be able to:

• Initiate, renew and deepen relationships with colleagues (OL2, OL2.1).
• Attend to their own physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being through personal reflection, professional sharing, and communal ritual (PIC3).
• Ascertain and incorporate new pastoral care strategies and creative spiritual care practices developed in a pandemic and post-pandemic environment (PPS2, PPS5, PPS6, PPS9, OL1).
• Identify unconscious bias and racism in self, community, and culture, implementing tools to facilitate and foster greater awareness, effective spiritual support, and collaborative professional relationships (PIC1, PIC2, PPS3, OL2.1, OL4.1).
• Distinguish and articulate elements from the Catholic tradition which ground their personal spirituality and professional ministry as well as develop responsible strategies to deal with elements of the Catholic tradition causing personal and professional challenges (ITP2.1, ITP2.2, PIC3, PIC3.1, PIC5.1).
• Further articulate their identity as Catholic chaplains and ministers of the church (ITP2.1, ITP2.2, PIC5.1).

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

14. Register today for our final October event presented in lieu of a National Conference!
Given the 2021 NACC Conference has been postponed to 2022, the NACC offered a special October series of education/formation programs. We hope you were able to take advantage of one, two, or all these webinars. We still have the virtual retreat! This one is not part of the 2021 NACC Webinar package.

15. Sign up today for our NACC November Webinar! Cowboys to Pit Crews: Spiritual Care in the Pandemic, November 11, 2021 ~ 12pm – 1:30pm Central Time. If you have not registered for the entire year, register today for this webinar!

November’s NACC webinar, Thursday, November 11, 2021, 12:00-1:30 pm central time, will be on “Cowboys to Pit Crews: Spiritual Care in the Pandemic,” presented by Denise Hess, Sedona Montelongo, Gary Weisbrich. To learn more about the speakers and program, and to register, click here.

Overview and Objectives
The pandemic has brought to the fore the essentiality of interdisciplinary health care teams. While the hospice and palliative care movements have done much to advance the integration of spiritual care in interdisciplinary team care, the pandemic has opened new frontiers for team collaboration and team resilience with great opportunities for expanded chaplain leadership roles. This webinar, presented by three palliative care chaplain leaders, will explore the challenges and leadership possibilities for chaplains on interdisciplinary health care teams.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Describe how the hospice and palliative care movement has influenced the evolution of health care.
2. Explore the current challenges to interprofessional health care teams navigating the pandemic.
3. Share best practices for chaplain-led health care team well-being practices.

Register for NACC 2021 Webinars here.

16. Blessings on all of you during this Pastoral Care Week celebration, October 24-30, 2021
The week of October 24-30, 2021 represents 36 years of celebrating Pastoral Care Week / Spiritual Care Week. As noted on the website: Meaning and purpose are used often as spiritual definitions for chaplains and spiritual care providers. Chaplains and spiritual care providers have often defined their roles as a ministry of presence. Today chaplains and spiritual care providers exist in a data-driven and evidence-based world, particularly for those who work in health settings. Thus, the need to provide empirical evidence related to the care provided by chaplains and spiritual care providers. The needed evidence may be gained through qualitative and quantitative research methods…(Read more)

17. The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab requests our members’ participation in a survey.
The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab is conducting a survey to learn more about the investment of time, energy, and other resources in becoming a chaplain, as well as the professional landscape after starting work as a chaplain. They want to hear from as many chaplains as possible! Anyone who is currently doing work as a chaplain or spiritual care provider in any setting in the United States can participate. They do not have to be a paid or full-time chaplain.
https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/2021/09/invitation-to-participate-survey-on-becoming-a-chaplain

Once they’ve analyzed the data and drafted a report, they’ll post the results of the survey at ChaplaincyInnovation.org. Thank you in advance for participating if you can.

18. Other educational resources

• Spiritual Care Week Special Free Webinar Offerings from Transforming Chaplaincy
  The theme of this year’s Spiritual Care Week is Advancing Spiritual Care Through Research, running October 24th -30th. Transforming Chaplaincy is thrilled to be able to offer a series of free webinars throughout the week, showcasing the vibrancy of chaplaincy research. Please see the attached flyer and share with your colleagues and friends! Click here for the programs.
• Friday, October 29, 9:00 – 11:30 am Eastern Time: THE 9TH ANNUAL Richard H. Fitzgerald Lecture in Pastoral Education, at Roper St. Francis, “Healthcare Equity & Spirituality,” with Dr. Michael Moxley and a panel of faith leaders to learn about and discuss the history of healthcare disparities locally and nationally. During this interactive virtual conference, Dr. Moxley and the panelists will examine the dynamics that continue to contribute to disparities and strategies for faith and medical communities to reverse those trends. You can register free for this virtual event by going to https://rsfh.com/fitzgerald-lectures (preferred method) or call (843) 402-CARE. A link for the virtual conference will be emailed to you.
  (Click here for the event flyer)

19. 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

SPIRITUAL CARE DIRECTOR
Seattle, WA – Providence

HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN
Zanesville, OH – Genesis HealthCare System

STAFF CHAPLAIN
Milwaukee, WI – Ascension

HIRING CHAPLAINS IN COLORADO AND KANSAS
Centura Health

VIRTUAL CHAPLAIN
Ascension Health – Remote US location

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
Indianapolis, IN – Franciscan Health-Indianapolis

CHAPLAIN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, Pastoral Care, Full-Time
Miami, FL – Baptist Health South Florida

PASTORAL CARE MINISTER
Greenfield, WI – Our Lady of the Angels, Inc.

CHAPLAIN RESIDENT
Tarzana, CA – Providence Southern California Center for CPE

SYSTEM DIRECTOR of CHAPLAINS
Murphysboro, IL – Southern Illinois Health Care

CHAPLAIN
Oakland, CA – Mercy Retirement and Care Center and Elder Care Alliance

CHAPLAIN II – Pastoral Care
Longview, TX – CHRISTUS Good Shepherd

PRIEST CHAPLAINS NEEDED
Central Iowa – MercyOne Central Iowa

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MISSION INTEGRATION
Rockville Centre, NY – Catholic Health