Issue #208 – October 12, 2015
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(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)
NACC
1. Executive Director’s Reflection*
2. Welcome to our members who joined the NACC in September!*
3. We are grateful to all who contributed to the October 3-4, 2015, Certification Interviews!*
4. Death of our member, Roberta Markiewicz BCC*
5. NACC Board of Directors meets this week in Milwaukee, October 13-15.*
6. Upcoming NACC networking calls in October/November*
NACC – 50 YEARS OF CONTINUING THE HEALING MINISTRY
7. A Moment in NACC History: NACC Member Feedback to 2012 Member Value Survey*
8. Reflecting on the ministry: Seeds of ministry will bloom at surprising times, by Judith LoGerfo*
2016 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 22-25, 2016
9. Mark your calendar for April 22-25, 2016, for the NACC 2016 National Conference!
10. What do you know about NACC 2016 Conference plenary speaker Brother Loughlan Sofield, ST, BA, MA, who is speaking on Saturday, April 23, 2016?*
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
11. Did you see the recent article in Catholic Health World on “Team Well-Being”?*
12. Did you see this article in Huffington Post on Palliative Care as a Human Right?*
13. Next NACC Webinar: The Journey of Mental Illness for Chaplains, Family Members, & Caretakers*
14. Plan on the November NACC Webinar by Kathleen A. Cahalan, MA, PhD, on Practical Theology and Implications for Professional Ministry*
15. NACC 2015 Webinars
16. NACC Local Gatherings
17. Not many days left before Pastoral Care Week, October 25-31!
18. Healing Tree: a request for prayers*
19. Recent job postings*
Executive Director’s Reflection
So what is the question I really want to ask Jesus? In yesterday’s gospel it was the man who “had many possessions” who asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” After Jesus provided him the commandments, the man replies, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” (Mark 10:21) Then the oft-quoted phrase, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” Sometimes that line frightens me a bit. What did Jesus see? Was it a deeper desire? Then the offer by Jesus, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”(Mark 10:22) Then, the heart rending result, “At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” (Mark 10:23)
So what is the question I want to ask Jesus? How do I choose a “safe” one that will not lead me to having to make a choice between my longing to serve God and possession?
I am sure I have shared this prayer with you sometime over the past eight plus years; however, this passage linked me to one of my daily prayers, Charles De Foucauld’s Prayer of Abandonment. It has always been a tough one to pray, because it seems to express my deepest longing, in the phrase, “do with me what you will.” However, the phrase “I am ready for all, I accept all,” reminds me of the one “with many possessions” who, when invited, was not ready, and left sad. Then, again, the second part of the prayer does stir again one’s deepest desire, “for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve (there is that possession thing again – no reserves), and with boundless confidence…”
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
How do we live with and express our deepest longings and love for the Lord, yet live with the fact that at any moment the choice between the longing and the invitation to let go of the “reserve” will be given us in life? Would the moments of sadness that come over me be a sign that somehow I am leaning toward choosing a possession over choosing the love offer of that moment whatever it may be? I wonder… What do you think of it?
David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director
Welcome to our members who joined the NACC in September!
Please join in welcoming all of our new members who joined us in September!
Members
Robert Barry
Domenic Cieri
Amy Golm
Arlen Harris
Joselito Hitosis
Elaine MacMillan
Eileen McMahon
Francisco Risso
Alfredo Villa
Students
Gregory Harmon
Bernardino Perez
We are grateful to all who contributed to the October 3-4, 2015, Certification Interviews!
The National Office and many volunteers were involved in the success of the October 3-4, 2015, certification interviews. The interviews were held in four locations: Milwaukee, WI; Middletown, CT; Irving, TX; and Orange County, CA. There were at least 88 people involved in the interview weekend: 30 applicants, 39 interviewers, 10 Interview Team Educators, 4 Site Coordinators, 1 Certification Commissioner-on-Call, and 4 Pastoral Presence Volunteers as well as Other Volunteers. We are very grateful to all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the NACC Certification process! We are also deeply grateful to the organization and oversight of Ramona Zeb, NACC’s Administrative Specialist for Certification. Thanks to all of you!
Death of our member, Roberta Markiewicz BCC
We recently learned of the death of our member Roberta Markiewicz BCC. Her obituary makes mention of her ministry:
Bobbie’s real passion was that of being a helper through her chaplaincy. She loved the interactions with the patients from Kaleida Health – Buffalo General, but she maintained a special bond with the staff at the hospital. Her love was deep, and she often spoke of many special friends who touched her soul and made her spirit come alive.
(www.legacy.com/obituaries/buffalonews/obituary?pid=175824184)
May she enjoy the fullness of God’s peace!
NACC Board of Directors meets this week in Milwaukee, October 13-15
The NACC Board of Directors will be meeting in Milwaukee this Tuesday evening, October 13, until noon of Thursday, October 15. Please keep their deliberations in your prayer as they continue to examine the progress and challenges of implementing the 2012-2017 NACC Strategic Plan.
Upcoming NACC networking calls in October/November
In the coming weeks, the NACC will be hosting several networking calls.
If you would like to participate, please contact Tim Charek (tcharek@nacc.org).
- Tuesday, October 27, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time – African Members
- Tuesday, October 27, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time – Hispanic/Latino Members
- Tuesday, October 27, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time – New Members
- Wednesday, October 28, 10:00 a.m. Central Time – New Members
- Thursday, October 29, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time — Palliative Care/Hospice Group
- Tuesday, November 3, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time – Directors of Departments/Pastoral Care
We are in the process of scheduling a call for: Outpatient/Discharge/ACO.
If you wish to participate and currently do not receive notice of this call, please contact Tim.
NACC – 50 YEARS OF CONTINUING THE HEALING MINISTRY
A Moment in NACC History: NACC Member Feedback to 2012 Member Value Survey
Seems like a newer item, less historic item? Well, it was an important one, as it had not been done before. The NACC conducted a member value survey and 779 responses were given (approximately one-third of NACC membership). Much valuable feedback was provided. Here is a link to its summary, and links to the final three items: 1. What I most appreciate about NACC, 2. What would make NACC membership more valuable to you and 3. I remain a member of NACC because. Good responses to read during this 50th Anniversary!
Reflecting on the ministry: Seeds of ministry will bloom at surprising times, by Judith LoGerfo
How does God plant a desire in someone to be present to others in times of illness or loss? Well … when I was five, my first experience of sickness was sitting in a corridor of a cancer unit in a Catholic hospital. My aunt was dying of breast cancer, and since I was too young to go into a hospital room, I waited outside. In those days people were not as in tune with the impact of family illness on children, perhaps in a well-intentioned but misguided effort to “protect” them. But I was very aware of the great sadness hanging over our family. The sisters who ran the hospital were the Labouré community, known for their amazing habits that resembled angels’ wings! A sister approached me quietly and kindly, and in my hand she placed a small sweet. I can still feel and taste the smooth and creamy peppermint, and more importantly, recall the feeling of comfort and safety that this small pastoral gesture evoked. In the midst of an impending loss was a glimmer of grace, care and compassion. A seed had been planted.
Many years later, as I pursued nursing education and then turned to theology and pastoral care to become a board-certified chaplain, that small memory influenced my ministry. As I served primarily in acute care community hospitals, many of my patient and family interactions were one-time events. But I was always on the lookout for the family member on the sidelines in a crisis – a child, an elderly relative, a faithful friend. How would they remember a life-changing event or loss – as a time of isolation and fear, or as a time when despite their loss, they felt safe and cared for?
One day I was called to the ER to be with a family facing an unexpected and sudden death. In the waiting room were relatives, including a little boy. As a team of chaplain, nurses, physicians and desk staff, we were focused and aware of tending to everyone’s needs, but even as trained professionals we were not immune to feeling helpless. It seemed like such a small gesture for me to bring the boy some juice and crackers as we waited for news. As a mother myself, I went home wondering how he would recall this day, this place, our attempts to save, care and comfort.
Many times when we minister to others in acute situations, we prayerfully hope our efforts were a source of grace. Our patients and families in crisis would most likely not even remember our names. Like the healing Jesus, we are called to the next village and leave them to go on their way.
But this time, affirmation came quickly. A day or so later, this same child had a minor health issue, and once again the family came through our door, sat in the waiting room and put their trust in us. As a team still reeling from the impact of that lost life in our ER, we were consoled by the knowledge that we had indeed provided a safe atmosphere, a caring presence and a place that this family and this child could count on.
No pastoral effort, prayer or kindness is ever wasted. For me so many years ago, that nameless sister with the “angel wings” planted a seed. How many other seeds might we have quietly planted in others as we anonymously passed their way in the midst of illness or loss? What a source of humble gratitude!
Judith LoGerfo served in the Archdiocese of Boston in healthcare, campus and parish ministry for over 20 years. She now works in spiritual direction and retreat ministry.
In each NACC Now, during this 50th jubilee year, we are featuring a reflection by one of our NACC chaplains on his or her ministry and an experience of a gift of that ministry. Please allow Judith’s reflection to inspire you in writing this year one of your “gifts” of ministry. Your own reflection is welcomed! If you want to share a reflection, please contact David Lewellen (dlewellen@nacc.org).
2016 NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 22-25, 2016
Mark your calendar for April 22-25, 2016, for the NACC 2016 National Conference!
Please mark your calendars for our 2016 NACC National Conference to be held Friday, April 22, to Monday, April 25, 2016, at the Chicago Marriott near Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
What do you know about NACC 2016 Conference plenary speaker Brother Loughlan Sofield, ST, BA, MA, who is speaking on Saturday, April 23, 2016?
Brother Loughlan Sofield, ST, BA, MA, is a Missionary Servant of the Most Holy Trinity, and is currently the Director of the community’s Senior Ministry house. He has served as Director of the Missionary Servant Center for Collaborative Ministry; Director of the Washington Archdiocesan Consultation and Counseling Center; and Assistant Director of the Center for Religion and Psychiatry, Washington, D.C. Brother Loughlan was also Senior Editor of Human Development magazine for over thirty years. He is co-author of a number of books. His most recent are: Principled Ministry; Facing Forgiveness; Collaboration: Uniting Our Gifts in Ministry (Winner of the Catholic Press Association (CPA) Second Place Book Awards 2001); Building Community: Christian, Caring, Vital (Winner of CPA First Place Book Award 1999); and Design for Wholeness. Recent awards are: Lumen Gentium conferred by the Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development, and the National Association of Lay Ministry’s Gaudium et Spes Award presented to someone who has evidence to the vision of the church articulated in the documents of the Second Vatican Council.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
Did you see the recent article in Catholic Health World on “Team Well-Being”?
Our NACC member, Nancy Cook, was featured in an article about her work on Team Well-Being”.
www.chausa.org/publications/catholic-health-world/archives/issues/october-1-2015-chw/christus-chaplain-improves-employee-satisfaction-through-‘team-well-being’
Did you see this article in Huffington Post on Palliative Care as a Human Right?
Recently Huffington Post published this article on “Palliative Care as Human Right.” It has many useful links also.
www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-leeat-granek/palliative-care-is-a-human-right_b_8239460.html
Next NACC Webinar: The Journey of Mental Illness for Chaplains, Family Members, & Caretakers
The NACC Webinars of October 15 & 22 will be on The Journey of Mental Illness for Chaplains, Family Members, & Caretakers, presented by Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ, BCC. Mental illness is such an important area of pastoral concern. Please join us for this webinar series!
Plan on the November NACC Webinar by Kathleen A. Cahalan, MA, PhD, on Practical Theology and Implications for Professional Ministry
Do you know about practical theology? How does that relate to the pastoral theory and practice we learned? What difference does it make for ministry and professional chaplaincy? You will be surprised! Intrigued enough? Dr. Cahalan is one of the foremost scholars in the field, but also one who works with all in daily professional ministries, like chaplaincy. Great session for CPE groups also! Please plan to join us. For more about Dr. Cahalan go to www.csbsju.edu/sot/about-us/sot_facultystaff/sot_faculty/cahalan_k
NACC 2015 Webinars
We have just three more NACC webinars for 2015. They address often-requested topics by our members. They take place on Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Central Time. For these webinars we offer the option of registering (and paying by credit card) online: ONLINE REGISTRATION. The paper registration form may be accessed by clicking on this link: REGISTRATION. Mark your calendars now!
October 15 & 22
The Journey of Mental Illness for Chaplains, Family Members, & Caretakers
Presented by Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ, BCC
November 5 & 12
Practical Theology and Implications for Professional Ministry
Presented by Kathleen A. Cahalan, MA, PhD
December 17
90 minutes
“Honoring the Gift: NACC and Chaplaincy Going Forward”
Presented by David A. Lichter, DMin, and Mary Lou O’Gorman, BCC
NACC Local Gatherings*
Please see the local gatherings scheduled for 2015. If you would like to consider hosting and helping plan an NACC local event to mark our 50th Anniversary, please contact Andris Kursietis (akursietis@nacc.org)
- October 17, 2015, Chicago, IL
- October 29, 2015, Pontiac, MI
- October 30, 2015, Denver, CO
- November 5, 2015, Cincinnati, OH
- November 6, 2015, Buffalo, NY
- November 17, 2015, Washington, DC area
Not many days left before Pastoral Care Week, October 25-31!
The theme of this year’s Pastoral Care Week, October 25-31, 2015, is “Spiritual Care Together.”
For more information and resources, please go to: www.pastoralcareweek.org
Healing Tree: a request for prayers*
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. Also please let us know when you want us to remove your name from our Healing Tree.
We continue to pray for: Maritza Ramos-Pratt, Jane Chiamaka Onuoha (very young baby of our NACC member Michael Onuoha), Kathleen (Kate) Sullivan, Sandy Tiefenbrun (spouse of Anita Barni), Marie Coglianese, Nancy and Sheila Amrich (nieces-in-law of NACC member Sr. Paracleta Amrich), Isabelita Boquiren, Diana Annunziato (Mother-in-law of NACC staffer Jeanine Annunziato), Sister Patricia Watkins, GNSH, Rev. Gerald U. Onuoha, David Markiewicz (grandson of NACC member Roberta Markiewicz), Sister Stephanie Morales, FMI, Marybeth Harmon, Renato Fallico, Susan Balling, Maria Meneses, Chaplain Julia Mary Sweeney (mourning the death of her sister, Margaret Maureen Lewis, BA Honors), Sr. Sheila Prendeville, CPPS, Sister M. Dianna Hell, Sister Maria Theresa Hronec, Betty and Louis Skonieczny, Jim Castello, Jeff Michel (brother-in-law of David Lichter), Thomas from Chicago (12 years old), Thomas Smiley (brother of member Diane Smiley), Marga Halala, Donn Renfro (son-in-law of Karen Pugliese), Amy in Atlanta (friend of NACC member Theresa Sullivan), Thomas (grandson of NACC member Ginny Grimes Allen), Beth from Boston (friend of NACC member Dana Sandlin), Sr. Janet Bielmann, Mary Potts (twin sister of Deacon Francis Potts), Elizabeth A. Walsh, Francesco Marshall, Glenn and Pat Teske, Susan Murphy, Fr. Jim Radde, SJ, Sr. Mary Clare Boland, SP, Sr. Phyllis Ann DiRenzo, Kathy Brier (daughter of NACC member Theresa Brier), Gloria Troxler, Fr. Kevin Ikpah, and Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).
Recent job postings*
The following positions have been posted recently on our Positions Available page. Please go to www.nacc.org/resources/positions/ for more information.
CHAPLAIN
Waterloo, Iowa – Covenant Medical Center
FULL TIME PRIEST-CHAPLAIN
St. Louis, MO – Barnes-Jewish Hospital
CPE RESIDENCY
La Crosse, WI – Gundersen Health System
SPIRITUAL CARE MINISTERS/HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS (Full-Time)
Green Bay, WI – Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS)
CPE SUPERVISOR
Melville, NY – Catholic Health Services (CHS) of Long Island
PRIEST CHAPLAIN (Full-time)
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV – Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Hospitals
CHAPLAINS
Central Ohio – Mount Carmel Health System
SPIRITUAL CARE OPPORTUNITIES
Pennsylvania – Geisinger Health System
MAYO CLINIC CPE
Rochester, Minnesota – Mayo Clinic
DIRECTOR of PASTORAL CARE
Cleveland, Ohio – St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Baton Rouge, LA – Our Lady of the Lake
FULL-TIME CHAPLAIN OPPORTUNITY
Redding, CA – Mercy Medical Center Redding
