NACC Now
The National Association of Catholic Chaplains
Monday, August 31, 2009
Read this issue online: www.nacc.org/resources/e-news/nn_issue_52.asp.
1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. NACC Nomination Panel established to assist with NACC leadership need
3. Certification Applications for Spring 2010 Interviews
4. Results of SCC Survey of Cognate Members now available to NACC members
5. HealthCare Chaplaincy launches new site; featured on PBS’ “Faith and Brain”
6. Common Standards of Practice in Acute Care Settings available on SCC Site
7. The Vigil Project Soon Gets Underway
8. Resources from NACC Hospice and Palliative Care Conference Calls available
9. NACC chaplain shares his experience of promoting the chaplaincy vocation
10. Today is last day to nominate individuals for our NACC awards!
11. A new video resource promotes the chaplaincy profession
12. NACC Fall Audio Conferences Schedule to be announced later this week!
13. Local/regional event dates
14. Other educational events
15. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
16. Recent Job Postings
17. Positions wanted
1. Executive Director’s Reflection
I have had several communications from members regarding the healthcare reform process, asking whether NACC is taking stances regarding any legislation. I respond by emphasizing that NACC aligns with Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHAUSA) and its vision (www.catholichealthcare.us/OurVision/principles/overview.htm) for healthcare reform, and its advocacy efforts. For CHAUSA’s August 28, 2009 update: www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2009/r090828a.htm. Concerns have been expressed that our voices join the voice of bishops who are speaking against the inclusion of abortion services in the health reform bill, and want to see the health reform bill scrapped. I believe we need to be…(continue reading on our website)
2. NACC Nomination Panel established to assist with NACC leadership needs
The NACC Board of Directors has established a Nomination Panel to assist with identifying/recommending candidates for the NACC Board, Commissions, and Panels. The Panel will seek candidates, communicate with the diverse leadership bodies regarding their leadership needs, and report to the Governance Committee. We are grateful to our members who have accepted to launch/lead this Nomination Panel. For the Panel’s roles, responsibilities, criteria, and members, go to www.nacc.org/aboutnacc/nominationpanel.asp.
3. Certification Applications for Spring 2010 Interviews
September 15, 2009 is the postmark deadline for supportive materials for the May 1-2, 2010, certification interviews. (“Postmark” means the actual day the postal service date stamps your parcel.) To best prepare for the certification process, please familiarize yourself with the current Standards and Procedures, located at www.nacc.org/certification/standards-and-procedures.asp. Please print out these 3 documents that pertain to you:
- Standards: You will write your Narrative Statement citing each of the Standards listed in Section 300-Standards for Certification of Chaplains (Standards 302 through 305.6).
- Certification Procedures Manual: Chaplain Certification Procedures CP11 through CP133.5j pertains to you.
- Ethics Procedures Manual: See Ethics Accountability Statement Procedures. Read thoroughly and sign Page-7 Ethics Accountability Statement for Initial Certification. If you wish to remain a member of the NACC, but are unable to sign the Ethics Accountability Statement (Page-7) because of a recent or a pending complaint, then you would refer to EP14 for the required written process.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the certification process, please contact Rose Mary Blanco-Alvarado, Certification Specialist, at the NACC National Office, (414) 483-4898 Ext. 308.
4. Results of SCC Survey of Cognate Members now available to NACC members
In December 2008, members of the SCC cognate groups (AAPC, ACPE, NACC, APC, NAJC, CAPPE) were invited to participate in a survey designed to gather important information for the cognate groups and for the SCC leadership as it sets strategic direction for its future. The results of the survey have been summarized, and will assist SCC and each cognate group in identifying the most effective ways to advocate for the profession and attend to the needs of its members. NACC members, with their membership code, can access this summary on the NACC website: www.nacc.org/resources/fm/SCC-Executivesummary.asp.
5. HealthCare Chaplaincy launches new site; featured on PBS’ “Faith and Brain”
HealthCare Chaplaincy launched its new website, www.healthcarechaplaincy.org.
It was also featured on PBS’ series on “Faith and Brain” with George Handzo being interviewed. Link: www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/july-17-2009/faith-and-the-brain/3597/. Congratulations to Walter Smith, S.J., and all the HCC staff! We value HealthCare Chaplaincy’s leadership and partnership!
6. Common Standards of Practice in Acute Care Settings available on SCC Site
The Spiritual Care Collaborative Steering Committee recently affirmed the Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains in Acute Care Settings that were developed by the APC Commission on Quality in Pastoral Services. We applaud their work on behalf of our profession. www.spiritualcarecollaborative.org/standards_of_practice.asp
7. The Vigil Project Soon Gets Underway
As chaplains we often have the opportunity to witness end-of-life bedside vigils. You will soon be invited to share your stories of these vigils. Stories from across the U.S. and Canada are being collected. These stories will become The Vigil Project, a theatrical presentation designed to educate other healthcare providers and the public about the power and richness of these vigil times. Questions? Contact Chaplain Mary E. Johnson at and stay tuned!
8. Resources from NACC Hospice/Palliative Care Conference Calls available soon
Over the past months, we have hosted conference calls with members ministering in hospice and palliative care settings. They have been providing resources for one another as needs are identified on the calls. These resources will be able to be accessed by our members by the next NACC Now through your membership code on the resources pages. We are grateful to those who have shared, and invite others to share their wealth and wisdom as well!
9. NACC chaplain shares his experience of promoting the chaplaincy vocation
In the last NACC Now, we alerted members to Blair Holtey’s article on his strategy, approach, and content for giving a parish presentation on chaplaincy as a vocation. Some were not able to access it. So here is the link again. Please read his story, and consider promoting the ministry. Go to www.nacc.org/resources/e-news/holtey_recruit_talk.asp. You can contact Blair at .
10. Today is the last day to nominate individuals for our NACC awards!
Wouldn’t it be good to recognize an NACC member or professional colleague for what they are doing for the spiritual care profession? The NACC Awards Task Force is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Service Award and the Outstanding Colleague Award only until September 1, 2009. Recipients of these awards will be honored at the NACC 2010 Conference. Please go to www.nacc.org/aboutnacc/awards.asp for more details about the awards, their criteria, and the process of submission.
11. A new video resource promotes the chaplaincy profession
With the sponsorship of Ascension Health, the expertise of St. Thomas Health Services Media Operations (Nashville, TN), the able guidance of Jim Castello, BCC, and other NACC members, we are pleased to make available to you a twelve-minute video on the chaplaincy ministry. We have both a recruitment version (that begins and ends with “Is God Calling You?”) and a version without this question. Those who have viewed it (NACC and APC chaplains, and some healthcare leaders) were very positive about it. It will be available in DVD format. We will charge just $6.00, the cost of production and shipping. You may preview the video at this link. To order copies please email Cindy Bridges for instructions.
12. NACC Fall Audio Conferences Schedule to be announced later this week!
We are finalizing details for this fall’s NACC audio conferences. We will send a special e-mail later this week announcing the schedule and providing the details. We are excited about the topics and presenters. Watch for the announcement in your e-mail!
13. Local/regional event dates
More local gatherings are being set. Please review the list below, and mark your calendars. More details of events will be in future NACC Now's.
· Wednesday, September 16, 2009, Phoenix, AZ. See details.
· Friday, September 18, 2009, Spokane, WA, See details.
· Thursday-Friday, September 24-25, 2009, Alexandria, MN, North Central Prairie, See details.
· Friday, October 9, Buffalo, NY, See details.
· Saturday, October 10, Nazareth, KY, See details.
· Saturday, October 17, 2009, Boston, MA, See details.
· Sunday-Tuesday, October 18-20, Green Lake, WI, See details.
· Thursday, October 22, 2009, Sacramento, CA. See details/register.
· Friday, October 30, 2009, Charleston, SC, See details.
· Sunday, November 15, 2009, Washington, DC, details to come.
· Saturday, December 5, 2009, Chicago, IL, details to come.
14. Other educational events
We have been alerted to other educational events that you can find on the NACC website. They include:
· Tuesday, September 29, Chicago, IL, “Vatican II – Now More Than Ever.” Chicago, IL Click here for details.
· Wednesday, September 30, Thursday, October 1, 2009, Washington, D.C., “Foundations of Catholic Healthcare Leadership Program.” Click here for details.
· Saturday, October 3, 2009, Lisle, IL, “Spirituality in the New Millennium” with Rev. Richard Rohr, OFM. See details/register.
· Friday, October 9, 2009, Albuquerque, NM, “Health and Wholeness: Finding Harmony in a Stressful World.” See details/register.
· Monday-Tuesday, October 26-27, 2009, Mahwah, NJ, “RTS Bereavement Training in Early Pregnancy Loss, Stillbirth & Neonatal Death.” See details/register.
· Monday-Tuesday, November 2-3, 2009, Springfield, VA, 11th Annual Josefina Magno Conference "Pain Has a Measure: Suffering Has a Story." See details.
· Tuesday, November 3, 2009, Hartford, CT, Rabbi Bonita Taylor and Rabbi David Zucker, “Using Lamentations to Lament,” Connecticut Chaplains. See details.
· Thursday, November 19, 2009, Milwaukee, WI, Dr. Daniel P. Sulmasy, OFM, the Bartholomew Lecture Series, Cardinal Stritch University. See details/register.
· Los Angeles, CA, Loyola University Marymount offers certificate and degrees in bioethics. See details.
15. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. We continue to pray for Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (cancer: daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton); Fr. Bill Spacek (detached retina and other eye issues); Sr. Nancy Crane, OP (cancer treatment); Sr. Hilda Mallet, MHS (cancer treatment); Sr. Rita Rzeppa, IBVM (recovering/rehab from knee surgery), and Dennis Eldridge (Kathy's husband, for cancer treatment).
16. Recent Job Postings
The following positions have been posted in the last two weeks. Please go to www.nacc.org/positions/available.asp for more information about them.
CHAPLAIN (ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST)
Pittsburgh, PA - UPMC Mercy
CHAPLAIN
Burbank/Tarzana, CA - Providence
PRIEST/CHAPLAIN
Austin, TX - The Seton Family of Hospitals
CHAPLAIN
Dowagiac, MI - Borgess-Lee Memorial
DIRECTOR, PASTORAL CARE
Washington, DC - Providence Hospital
17. Positions wanted
In this time of change and uncertainty it is more important than ever to use every resource available. If you have lost your job recently, if you’re just seeking a new or better position, or if you are an employer seeking a chaplain for your organization, be sure to visit our Positions Wanted webpage. NACC members can take advantage of this free service by placing a job-seeking ad, for free, which will run for 60 days. To see the ads, visit www.nacc.org/positions/wanted.asp.
To place your own ad, send an email to Phil Paradowski: .
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