By David Lewellen
Vision editor
Forty-two chaplains felt the love in the room when they received their certifications in person at the Sunday Mass during conference weekend.
“It’s beautiful to be in the midst of so many wonderful people,” said Michael Onuoha of Corpus Christi, TX, holding his newly issued certificate. “I’m so touched. I don’t think I’ll ever miss a conference again.”
“When all those hands were stretched out and we were blessed, it moved me to tears,” said Terri Tremper of Missoula, MT. In the midst of colleagues, “it felt like we were a community, to know everyone was supporting our hard work to get to this point,” said Colleen Flachbert of Hoffman Estates, IL. “It’s great to see familiar faces and to hear the stories of other chaplains.”
“When everyone applauded, I wanted to start to cry,” said Mary Kunze of Wauwatosa, WI. “It touched me to have all my cronies, my companions, applaud.”
“It’s very exciting,” said Don Waters of Oregon, OH, attending his first conference to receive certification. Coming from a small pastoral care department, he was struck by the camaraderie. “It’s intense to be a chaplain,” he said. “The sense of companionship is a wonderful thing.”
Monday morning’s healing service, offering the rite of anointing, was led by Bishop Edward Rice, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. “We Christians are not exempt from sickness and illness and suffering,” he said. Of the instruction to grasp the meaning of suffering more deeply, he said, “Nice thought. The reality is that when we’re sick, we don’t feel like praying.” But, he continued, “Sickness does have meaning and value. … It can be joined to Christ in a mystical way.”
In a hospital, he said, “people come and go, and you don’t know the end of the story. And in a sense, you don’t need to.”
“There’s always an energy in the room, and it was very powerful this morning,” said Sr. Elaine Abels of Brighton, MO, after receiving the sacrament. Anointing offers “a sense of tenderness … It’s an opportunity to offer myself for further integration.”
“It’s like a cleansing,” said Gary Weisbrich of Missoula, MT. “How can I be a loving father if my heart is a little hardened? I feel the sacrament helps soften that. … It unites me to the suffering of the patients I visit.” And, he said, “It feels very special to get it with this group.”
