Issue #370 – February 7, 2022
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(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)
CANCELLED – NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE! – CANCELLED
Dear brothers and sisters, to the intercession of Mary, Health of the Infirm, I entrust all the sick and their families. United with Christ, who bears the pain of the world, may they find meaning, consolation and trust. I pray for healthcare workers everywhere, that, rich in mercy, they may offer patients, together with suitable care, their fraternal closeness.
To all I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing.
Francis
The theme for Black History Monday 2022 is “Black Health and Wellness” with special emphasis on healthcare access and improving wellness.
NACC
1. A reflection from Fr. Joe Driscoll, former NACC Executive Director first published in Vision February 2003: “Chipping Away at Stone-hard Prejudice”
2. Thoughts from our Executive Director
3. Invitation to share reflections of your ministry
4. 2022 World Day Letter to the Bishops and Prayer cards for the Sick and Caregiver for 2022 are now available.
5. Welcome to our new NACC members who joined us in January 2022!
6. NACC member Sr. Francis Smalkowski CSFN honored
7. Consider 2022 volunteer leadership with NACC’s Board, Commissions, Committees, and Panels!
8. Remember DEADLINE is Tuesday, February 15, 2022 for Initial Certification Applications!
9. In Vision: Vision wants to hear about your first career
10. NACC Networking Calls for February 2022 – All are welcome to participate!
11. The Member Listening Call for February will be Wednesday, February 16, 2022!
12. Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers; connecting with chaplains who serve in parish based Mental Health Ministries
13. Listening Hearts are available for chaplain support
14. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
15. Follow us on Social Media! Please look at, like, and follow our NACC Social Media meme graphics and Instagram!
CANCELLED – NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE! – CANCELLED
16. For the Health and Safety of our members and more information!
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
17. 2022 Webinar Series
18. CHA Ethics Webinar: “Complex Discharges: Ethical and Legal Concerns”
19. Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care in the Twenty-First Century offers both an overview of contemporary chaplaincy as well as a framework for what chaplains in training need to know in order to serve others.
20. Live streamed Mass for Healthcare Professionals and Caregivers; February 19; 5:30pm PT (7:30pm CT) St. James Cathedral (Seattle, WA)
21. Called Into Healing ~ A Retreat for Ministers, March 4-6, 2022
22. Special CPMC Educational Packet to explore the issue of mass incarceration for Lenten programs for parishes and faith communities!
23. Other Resources from Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (CPMC)
24. Recent job postings
1. A reflection from Fr. Joe Driscoll, former NACC Executive Director first published in Vision February 2003: “Chipping Away at Stone-hard Prejudice”
Walking up the wide, two-lane frozen food aisle, I am just about parallel with the oncoming cart across the middle display cases. The man pushing the cart is a tall, older black man who suddenly whips his head around and yells in a deep, angry voice, “If you are following me, I will sue you for discrimination!” My heart jumps. I follow the man’s eyes and spot the uniformed security guard who says something in a low voice that I cannot hear. But I hear the boom of the black gentleman’s voice again coming back
at him, “You certainly were following me! Every aisle I go up and down, you are right behind me!”
I am turning into the aisle at the back of the store, heart pounding, agitated by the outburst, sneaking a glance back, unsure of what, if anything I should do…(continued)
2. Thoughts from our Executive Director
The Board has made the difficult decision to cancel the NACC Conference scheduled for March in Buffalo, NY. Thank you for your patience, your prayers and support as we work out how best to move forward now that the in-person conference has been cancelled for March. More information related to the cancellation will be disseminated in the coming weeks.
Erica Cohen Moore
Executive Director
3. Invitation to share reflections of your ministry
NACC would like to offer the opportunity for our members to share thoughtful reflections of their ministry throughout the year. Please offer your thoughts that would inspire your colleagues by sending your reflection to Ramune Franitza rfranitza@nacc.org. We may also post previous reflections from our former Executive Directors.
4. 2022 World Day Letter to the Bishops and Prayer cards for the Sick and Caregiver for 2022 are now available.
2022 World Day of the Sick letter to all USCCB Bishops can be accessed here. The 2022 prayer cards for the sick and the caregiver are available for download in English and in Spanish. The link also leads to other resources for this day including all the prayers submitted by our members to mark our ministry. Thank you for all those that shared their ministry in prayer as we move into 2022 with renewed hope for those who we touch.
Pope Francis message for the 30th World Day of the Sick, 2022 can be read here. This day is being remembered on February 11th.
5. Welcome to our new NACC members who joined us in January 2022!
Chaplaincy Ministry
Fr. Jackson Kuriaparambil Cleetus (Thibodaux, LA)
Chaplain Mary J. Horstmann (Mankato, MN)
Mr. Jaymanel Hurtado (Cincinnati, OH)
Professional Ministry
Peter Czerwinski (Readfield, ME)
Deacon Christopher May (Wyomissing, PA)
Student
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Agboifo (Gaithersburg, MD)
Ms. Lisa M. Gramlich (Peoria, IL)
Mrs. Christy M. Hicks Aydt (St. Louis, MO)
Mr. Mark H. Telinski (Park Ridge, IL)
6. NACC member Sr. Francis Smalkowski CSFN honored
As a sign of his personal gratitude, Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, CT is honoring Sr. Frances Smalkowski CSFN, and all the clergy and religious serving in hospitals and nursing homes in the Diocese with a special Saint Augustine Medal of Service. The Medals will be bestowed during the celebration of Mass on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Augustine Cathedral Bridgeport, CT. Click here to read more.
7. Consider 2022 volunteer leadership with NACC’s Board, Commissions, Committees, and Panels!
NACC is grateful for all those called to leadership in our Association. Prayerfully consider offering your gifts and talents in your areas of interest and expertise. If you feel called to join our leadership team, please take a look at opportunities available here or contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) to speak with someone from the NACC Nominations Panel. NACC will hold elections this summer for 2 Board vacancies.
8. Remember DEADLINE is Tuesday, February 15, 2022 for Initial Certification Applications!
Application portfolios for initial certification need to be mailed to the office or uploaded on our website at www.nacc.org/certification/certification-submission-form by Tuesday, February 15, 2022! 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.
9. In Vision: Vision wants to hear about your first career
The majority of NACC members came to chaplaincy after spending years or decades in some other field. For the new issue of Vision, we are seeking your stories about what you did before chaplaincy, and how those experiences influence your ministry today. Please send a summary of your idea to Vision editor David Lewellen, dlewellen@nacc.org.
In Vision: From music to academia to chaplaincy, nothing is wasted
On the path to chaplaincy, nothing in our previous experience is wasted. In the first Vision article on our new theme, Anne Windholz describes how her experience as an English professor taught her to listen for the stories in patients’ lives.
To read more, click below.
From music to academia to chaplaincy, nothing is wasted
10. NACC Networking Calls for February 2022 – All are welcome to participate!
Thursday, February 10; 12 p.m. CT – NACC Palliative/Hospice Networking Call
https://web.nacc.org/events/NACC-Palliative-Hospice-Networking-Call-2-10-1292/details
Wednesday, February 16; 3 p.m. CT – NACC Member Listening Call
https://web.nacc.org/events/NACC-Member-Listening-Session-2-16–1286/details
To sign up use the links above or for more information, questions, comments, concerns or to receive notes contact Ramune Franitza at rfranitza@nacc.org.
You will receive a ZOOM link in your Registration Confirmation. You must register to participate and receive the ZOOM link for the call. Even if you are unable to participate, please register so that notes can be forwarded.
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!
11. The Member Listening Call for February will be Wednesday, February 16, 2022!
Spiritual Care continues to support patients and staff during the Omicron surge. Often, it is helpful to spend an hour with those who understand, our colleagues. We continue to offer our listening sessions and remain grateful for the participation and sharing that is happening during these virtual communities. Sharing is confidential to the group.
NACC will offer one listening session on Wednesday, February 16; 4pm ET, 3pm CT, 2pm MT, 1pm PT (11am HI).
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 the ZOOM information automatically to access this session. If you have trouble registering please let us know at info@nacc.org.
Notes from previous sessions can be found here. Sharing is confidential to the group. Notes do not reflect the names of the speakers.
For more resources and blog updates, be sure to read the latest updates on our Coronavirus resources page.
12. Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers; connecting with chaplains who serve in parish based Mental Health Ministries
Barbara Zahner, a retired NACC board-certified chaplain serves as a parish-based Mental Health Minister in the Diocese of San Jose. As part of this ministry, she designed and facilitates an 8-hour training based on chaplaincy and spiritual director skills. These include non-anxious presence, listening with the ears of the heart, and self-care. As parish-based Mental Health Ministers, our goal is to accompany those affected by emotional, mental, and spiritual distress. Barbara is on the founding board of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. She is interested in connecting with other chaplains who serve in parish-based Mental Health Ministries. Please send your email of interest to Ramune Franitza: rfranitza@nacc.org who will forward your name to Barbara Zahner.
13. Listening Hearts are available for chaplain support
A Listening Heart is always available for one-on-one conversation (Spanish speaker available).
This ministry is provided by NACC retired chaplains. Please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) if you would like to speak with a Listening Heart or have questions.
14. 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: Rev. William Blum CSC, Sr. Madeline Cipriano, Susan DeLongis, Sr. Andre Dembowski RSM, Denice Foose, Fr. George Henninger LMHC, Sr. Ellen Moore, Fr. Jim Radde SJ, Martiza Ramos-Pratt, Sr. Paula M. Tinlin SND, Wanda Walker, Rev. Henry M. Williams, and Sr. Louise F. Zaplitny SC.
For loved ones: Autumn Vaughn (great-niece of Linda Bronersky), Ed Drake (husband of Hilda Lethe-Drake), Claudia Legato (wife of Robert Legato), Kathi Peot and family (sister-in-law of Mary Heintzkill), Nicholas Perkins (for mother Pearl Marie Perkins)and Natalie (cousin of Sue Walker).
For the families of: Bev Beltramo (on the death of her niece Jessica Grassmick, [her parents Carol & Jim Grassmick and her three young children]), Deborah Bradley (on the death of her father-in-law Jack Bradley), Bonnie Burnett (on the death of her brother Terence Burnett), the family of Tamara Durand on her death, Rev. John O. Ekeocha (on the death of his mother Catherine Ekeocha), and Marga A. Halala on her death.
There are members for whom their needs are personal, so please remember our members whose journey needs the support of your prayer.
If you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing, email 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.
15. Follow us on Social Media! Please look at, like, and follow our NACC Social Media meme graphics and Instagram!
We continue our new series of popular social media meme graphics. The themes for this campaign are Chaplain Wisdom and Join NACC. They will post each Tuesday morning, and we would love for you to share them on your own personal social media channels, as you feel moved. Please make sure to like and follow us on Facebook (@choosechaplaincy), LinkedIn (@National Association of Catholic Chaplains) and on our new Instagram (@NACC_Chaplains). If you would like to be a part of NACC’s Instagram story, please contact Ramune Franitza (rfranitza@nacc.org) to speak with someone from the NACC Marketing Panel.
CANCELLED – NACC 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE! – CANCELLED
16. For the Health and Safety of our members and more information!
The NACC Executive Committee met recently and given the current climate with COVID; the NACC conference scheduled for March is being cancelled.
We are currently working out what this means for the scheduled conference content and will communicate with membership as soon more information is available.
Thank you for your patience as we work out how best to move forward now that the in person conference has been cancelled.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
17. 2022 Webinar Series
The NACC will be offering professional development Webinars in 2022. Unlike prior years, our programming will not begin until the second quarter of the year. First quarter will be spent planning our program to ensure we are able to provide quality education to our members and those serving in spiritual care. Our goal is to still provide the same number of webinars in 2022, however given the later start, there may be some months that we host more than one webinar. As information is available it will be disseminated to our members through NACC Now, our website, and direct email campaigns. If you have any questions, please contact NACC directly (education@nacc.org).
18. CHA Ethics Webinar: “Complex Discharges: Ethical and Legal Concerns”
Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 1–1:45 p.m. ET. The event is the eighth session of CHA’s complimentary ethics series, “Emerging Topics in Catholic Health Care Ethics.” Featured presenter is Kayan Parsi, JD, Ph.D., HEC-C, Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Bioethics, Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
To register: www.chausa.org/store/meeting?ID=4893
19. Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care in the Twenty-First Century offers both an overview of contemporary chaplaincy as well as a framework for what chaplains in training need to know in order to serve others.
As part of the Lab’s project Educating Effective Chaplains, Wendy Cadge (NACC 2021 Distinguished Colleague Award recipient) and Shelly Rambo have convened national leaders in spiritual care practice and education to present a landmark textbook for chaplaincy educators.
“The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab is giving away copies of the forthcoming textbook Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care in the Twenty-First Century. Enter here for a chance to win; copies will be shipped as soon as they are available from the publisher.”
To preorder: chaplaincyinnovation.org/resources/chaplaincy-spiritual-care-twenty-first-century
20. Live streamed Mass for Healthcare Professionals and Caregivers; February 19; 5:30pm PT (7:30pm CT) St. James Cathedral (Seattle, WA)
Archbishop Etienne invites you to this Mass celebrating members of the healthcare community including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, nursing aids, caregivers, first responders, chaplains and all other members of the healthcare profession. This Mass is held in February to coincide with the World Day of Prayer for the Sick, instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992 as “a special time of prayer and sharing,..and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ”.
Join us in person or livestream @ArchdioceseofSeattle
21. Called Into Healing ~ A Retreat for Ministers, March 4-6, 2022
You are invited to gift yourself a weekend immersion into YOU at the beautiful spiritual retreat center at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ. This experiential retreat will provide a safe place to heal and transform the mind, body and spirit. This retreat will be facilitated by NACC Member, Bonnie McCulley. For more program and registration information, visit: https://www.nacc.org/event/36418/
22. Special CPMC Educational Packet to explore the issue of mass incarceration for Lenten programs for parishes and faith communities!
Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition would like to provide your faith community with Who Do You Say That I Am?, (www.catholicprisonministries.org/lenten-series), a Lenten educational packet that can be used to explore the issue of mass incarceration in America through the lens of our Catholic faith.
We are delighted to provide you with the convenience of a downloadable packet and facilitator’s PowerPoint, which includes an outline for facilitating three group sessions and other related materials. CPMC is available to help you implement these important reflections. You may view our recent webinar which was devoted to walking facilitators through the implementation of this series.
Please share this resource with colleagues and community members and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or needs at info@catholicprisonministries.org.
23. Other Resources from Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (CPMC)
- Holding Still, Centering Prayer and the Spiritual Journey, is a riveting, candid and insightful documentary film about practicing centering prayer while incarcerated in Folsom Prison. You can view the film and download a reflection guide at www.catholicprisonministries.org/holding-still-2
- The PBS series, Searching for Justice explores criminal justice reform unfolding across the country, as leaders from both sides of the political aisle attempt to end mass incarceration by rethinking laws that some say have become barriers to work, housing, and economic stability. www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/searching-for-justice
- CPMC continues to host town halls and offer webinars monthly on topics vital to prison ministry, but many pertain to all chaplaincy ministry. These are all available without cost. Browse the titles at: www.catholicprisonministries.org/webinars
24. 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
Jacksonville, FL – Mayo Clinic
CHAPLAIN
Quincy, IL – Blessing Health System
DIRECTOR – PASTORAL CARE
Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati Children’s
HOSPITAL STAFF CHAPLAIN
Rochester, MN – Mayo Clinic
CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN II – Full-Time
Texarkana, TX – CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN – Full-time, salaried position
Lima, Ohio – Mercy Health
CHAPLAIN INTERN – Paid Intern Position
Lima, Ohio – Mercy Health
FULL-TIME MANAGER, SPIRITUAL CARE
Bellingham, WA – PeaceHealth
DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Edgewood, KY – St. Elizabeth Healthcare
CHAPLAIN
Stevens County, WA – Providence Inland Northwest Washington Stevens County Ministries
MANAGER of SPIRITUAL CARE
Springfield, MA – Trinity Health, Mercy Medical Center
ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
Indianapolis, IN – Franciscan Health-Indianapolis
ACPE CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
Corpus Christi, TX – CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline
MANAGER – PASTORAL SERVICES
St. Louis, MO – Mercy
DIRECTOR of SPIRITUAL CARE
Birmingham, AL -Ascension St. Vincent’s
