The National Association of Catholic Chaplains

Menu
  • Membership
      • Apply for Membership
      • Frequently-Asked Questions about Membership
      • Request Retired Membership
      • State Liaisons
      • Newest Members
      • Membership Directory
      • Member map
      • Celebrating Our Members’ 25-year Membership and Certification
      • In Memoriam: deceased NACC members
    • Close
  • Certification
    • Initial Board Certification
      • Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)
      • Certified Associate Chaplain (CAC)
      • Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification (PCHAC)
      • VA Initial Board Certification
      • Recognition of Strategic Partners Board Certification
      • Newly Certified Chaplains
      • Close
    • Renewal of Certification
    • Certification Competencies & Procedures
      • Certification Competencies & Procedures
      • Important Background on NACC Certification Competencies
      • Professional Code of Ethics for Spiritual Care Professionals
      • Certification Commission
      • Certification Appeals Panel
      • Ethics Appeals Panel
      • Close
    • Mentors
    • Recognition of Strategic Partners Board Certification
    • Verifying Certification
    • Maintaining Certification in Retirement
    • Graduate Theological Programs
    • Close
  • Education Resources
      • 2023 National Conference
      • 2023 Webinar Series
      • Recorded webinars (2009-2022)
      • Calendar of Events
      • Graduate Theological Programs
      • CPE Programs
      • NACC Professional Networking Calls
      • Continuing Education Hour Requests – Guidelines and Forms
      • Ongoing Educational Opportunities
      • Local/Regional Gatherings & Events
      • Past Conferences (2004 – 2022)
      • Vision
    • Close
  • Resources
    • Antiracism Resources
    • Administrator Resources
    • Awareness Resources
    • Chaplaincy Care Resources
    • Coronavirus Resources & Updates
    • Job Listings
    • The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling
    • Partners in Pastoral Care
    • Research
    • Specialty Care Resources
    • Spirituality and Prayer Resources
    • Spiritual Care Department Resources
    • Vision
    • Close
  • About NACC
    • About the NACC
      • Mission/Vision/Values
      • Constitution and ByLaws
      • Strategic Plan
      • History
      • Close
    • Annual Awards
    • Association Leadership
      • NACC Board of Directors
      • Committees, Commissions, and Panels
      • National Office Staff
      • Episcopal Advisory Council
      • Close
    • Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (CPMC)
    • Choose Chaplaincy
    • Health Care Collaborators
    • NACC Merchandise
    • NACC Publications and Documents
      • Vision
      • NACC Now
      • Annual Reports & Financial Reviews
      • Documents and publications
      • NACC Blog
      • Close
    • Partners in Pastoral Care
    • Partners for Professional Excellence in Spiritual Care
    • Vision
    • Close
  • Choose Chaplaincy
  • Contact Us
      • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    • Close
  • Donate Now
  • Member Login
Home » Vision » Vision, January/February 2022 » From canon law to chaplaincy, the connection is compassion

From canon law to chaplaincy, the connection is compassion

By Rev. Chidiebere Ogbuagu

The spring of 2009 went a long way toward shaping my spiritual journey from canon law to pastoral care and mission leadership. Quite a tough year! But God enlightened me and steered my decision compass in the way God knew and loved best.

At that time, I was simultaneously serving as a canon lawyer and as an on-call priest chaplain at a nearby hospital and healthcare center. Serving as a “defender of the sacrament of matrimony” in annulment processes in a U.S. diocesan catholic tribunal, I wondered about the connection between my ministries as a canon lawyer and as a chaplain. Earlier, I had served as a judge of both first and second instances in both diocesan, inter-diocesan, and regional tribunals for marriage annulment.

Canon law (a codified body of law governing church’s activities and administration) applies ecclesiastically endorsed legal principles to Christian life and ministries. However, salvation of the human person is its ultimate goal. Salvation in this sense is understood as ensuring that justice prevails in the relationship between the people of God, and that such justice is applied with equity and mercy.

As I walked through the corridors of the hospital where I served as a chaplain, I began to connect the dots and ask more questions about my dual roles. It appeared that as a priest chaplain and a canon lawyer, I was offering similar services but in diverse ways.

As a priest chaplain, I was engaging my patients and families in their pains, sufferings, and life stories. As I actively listened to their stories, remaining non-judgmental, I empathetically connected with them and provided emotional and spiritual support.  As a canon lawyer, I listened to the stories of my clients going through emotional, spiritual, and psychological pains –sometimes attributable to marital crisis, religious-clerical crisis, administration crisis, etc. One couple might be asking for separation while the bond of marriage continued; another might be asking the judge to declare the nullity of their marriage.

In both chaplaincy and canonical cases, I found compassion as the substantive link that connects and defines both ministries. But how is compassion related to canon law? What connection exists between law and mercy? Do they not oppose each other? If they don’t, do they complement or supplement each other?

Those questions kept bugging me, as I deepened my reflection. Eureka! Finally, I found my answer in the last canon of the 1983 Code of Canon Law: “Salvation of the soul is the supreme law.”

My final decision to pursue the chaplaincy ministry and healthcare mission leadership came after my Clinical Pastoral Education classes. As the journey into my inner self gradually deepened through the CPE programs, I found more solace and strength to connect to the stories and lives of others, especially of patients and families I serve at healthcare facilities. I am joyfully and gratefully serving as a chaplain and mission leader. I hope that my ministries continue to bring to all, healing and consolation in diverse situations of life, reflective of the healing ministry of Jesus.

Rev. Chidiebere Ogbuagu, BCC, is vice president of mission and pastoral care at HCA Florida Mercy Hospital in Miami.

Vision-logo
Vol. 32, No. 1
January/February 2022
Click here for printable (PDF) version

Journeys to Chaplaincy: Our past and our present


From music to academia to chaplaincy, nothing is wasted – by Anne Windholz

Careers as neurobiologist and chaplain parallel each other – by Ann Christensen

The meaning of life: Rock and roll and chaplaincy – by Marty Folan

Acting and singing career transfers easily to chaplaincy – by Maggie Finley

Career in hospital administration finally led to chaplaincy – by Tim Crowley

After psychiatric nursing, pastoral care required new mindset – by Sr. Frances Smalkowski, CSFN

Moving from nursing to chaplaincy was a response to God’s whisper – by Kathleen Mattone

From managing wildlife to caring for people, it all makes sense – by Gary Weisbrich

Ex-technical writer uses her existing skills on the hospital floor – by Christina M. Mayer

Musician, teacher, dietician – all roads led to chaplaincy – by Sr. Bernadette Selinsky, Sr. Janet K. Furman, and Maritza Ramos Pratt

From canon law to chaplaincy, the connection is compassion – by Rev. Chidiebere Ogbuagu

National Association of Catholic Chaplains
4915 S. Howell Avenue, Suite 501
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Get Directions

Phone: (414) 483-4898
Fax: (414) 483-6712
Email: info@nacc.org

Our office hours
Mon-Thur 8:00am – 5:00pm Central Time
Friday 8:00am – 12 Noon
Sat-Sun closed

Job Listings

Current job opportunities for chaplains, priests, CPE residents, supervisors, directors of pastoral care, managers, mission directors, and more.

Job Listings

Free Publications

Don’t miss the latest news, subscribe to our newsletter today! You don’t have to be a member to subscribe.

Donate Now

Learn more about making a tax-deductible donation to NACC.

Donate Now

Connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
© 1997 - 2023 National Association of Catholic Chaplains - Sitemap

Built by Westwords