Monday, March 17, 2014 -- Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

(Read this issue online:

NACC

  1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
  2. A big thank you to those who have already become NACC 2014 Institutional Partners and Conference Sponsors! *
  3. Upcoming Network Calls *
  4. Disaster Chaplaincy: Tim Serban’s fifteen years of helping Red Cross respond with compassion to disasters *

CONFERENCE

  1. Don’t wait longer! Register today for the 2014 National Conference! Early Bird Deadline of April 11, 2014 is quickly approaching. *
  2. The Conference hotel room block is filling up fast! Don’t wait, make your reservation today! *
  3. Pre-Conference Workshops offer additional continuing education hours *
  4. Night Out in St. Louis - Monday, May 19, 2014 *
  5. As you register, please consider a donation to NACC Scholarship Fund *

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

  1. Final request: setting a network call for those who work in rehabilitation settings *
  2. The Peace Corps seeks three Disaster Preparedness and Response Program Officers *
  3. Save the dates for NACC 2014 webinar series *
  4. Enjoy an article by our NACC member, Charles Sidoti, BCC *
  5. Local gatherings *
  6. NACC co-sponsors an educational event at Fordham University
  7. The sixth annual World Catholicism Week will be held April 7-11, 2014, in Chicago *
  8. APC Educational Opportunities
  9. HealthCare Chaplaincy offers Caring for the Human Spirit Conference
  10. Healing Tree: a request for prayers *
  11. Recent job postings *
  12. Positions Wanted

* new/updated items

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *

I remember well when Dr. Ira Byock spoke at our 2010 National Conference in St. Paul, MN. He began his session by handing out “Steve’s Story” which was an excerpt from his book The Four Things That Matter Most: A Book About Living. In the story, Steve was “dying hard.” He was a “Marlboro” type man who did not express emotion, but was filled with anxiety due to many things, particularly fractured family relationships. Steve got to a point where Dr. Byock shared that “People often value saying four things to one another before they say goodbye. Please forgive me. I forgive you – because if this was a significant relationship there will always be some history of hurt. Thank you. And, I love you.” Steve is open to and taken by the suggestion, and ultimately shares intimately with his family members. Then Dr. Byock notes, “The effect was remarkable. Although his anxiety did not disappear, in the wake of his remarks, its grip weakened. Tenderness and affection were now evident in the family’s interactions that had not been present for years, if ever.” Dr. Byock’s final comment was, “Paradoxically, in the process of dying, he was becoming well within himself and helping his family become closer and more openly loving.”

(Read more >)

2. A big thank you to those who have already become NACC 2014 Institutional Partners and Conference Sponsors! *

The NACC is again deeply grateful to those health systems and institutions that have already committed to be NACC 2014 Conference Sponsors and Institutional Partners! Thank you!

Please consider becoming an NACC 2014 Conference Sponsor and/or Institution Partner!

Conference Sponsors / Institutional Partners
Alexian Brothers Health System
Plenary Speaker / Partner
Catholic Health East – Trinity
Ascension Health
Awards Banquet / Partner
Catholic Health Initiatives
Bon Secours Health System
Workshop / Partner
Presence Health
Catholic Health Association of the United States
Plenary Speaker / Endorser
Ascension Health
Catholic Health Initiatives
Plenary Speaker and Workshops (2) / Endorser
Dignity Health
Catholic Health Partners
Day of Reflection / Endorser
Mercy Health System
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Inc.
Plenary / Supporter
Avera Health
Loyola University Chicago
Coffee Break / Supporter
Bon Secours Health System
Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange – Ministry of the Arts
Sculpture / Supporter
Catholic Health Partners
St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis
Workshop / Supporter
CHRISTUS Health
St. Louis University Hospital
Workshop / Supporter
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Inc.
St. Louis CPE Cluster
Scholarship / Supporter
Franciscan Sisters of Charity Sponsored Ministries, Inc.

3. Upcoming Network Calls *

In the coming weeks, we will have several networking calls. If you are not yet signed up to receive notices of these calls, please contact Cindy Bridges () and she will add you to the email list for that group.

  • Monday, March 24, 10:00 a.m. – Deacons
  • Monday, March 24, 2:00 p.m. – Research Task Force
  • Tuesday, March 25, 10:00 a.m. - One-Person Department Call
  • Tuesday, March 25, 3:00 p.m. - African-Born Member Networking Call
  • Wednesday, March 26, 10:00 a.m. - Retired and Emeritus Member
  • Wednesday, March 26, 2:00 p.m. - Retired and Emeritus Member
  • Members working in the area of Rehabilitation Call – TBA
  • Thursday, March 27, 11:00 a.m. – Palliative Care/Hospice Networking Call
  • Thursday, March 27, 2:00 p.m. - Research Journal Call
  • Chaplains working in the area of Discharge Call – TBA

4. Disaster Chaplaincy: Tim Serban’s fifteen years of helping Red Cross respond with compassion to disasters *

Tim Serban attended the very first training that the NACC ever offered on disaster chaplaincy. Since then, he has deployed to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the Boston Marathon bombing, and he has watched the role of chaplaincy with the Red Cross evolve at those sites. To read about his 15-year journey in disaster chaplaincy in the March-April issue of Vision, click here.

2014 CONFERENCE

5. Don’t wait longer! Register today for the 2014 National Conference! Early Bird Deadline of April 11, 2014 is quickly approaching. *

Don’t wait longer to register for the 2014 National Conference! If you have misplaced your conference brochure, you can just click on 2014 National Conference to access one. For other questions, please contact Jeanine Annunziato (). We can’t wait to see you in St. Louis!

6. The Conference hotel room block is filling up fast! Don’t wait, make your reservation today! *

The guest room block with the special conference rate of $129 per night (plus taxes) will be held until Monday, April 14, 2014, OR until the room block is sold-out, whichever comes first. Don’t wait to make your reservation, rooms are filling quickly. For reservations or inquiries, please call the St Louis Union Station – a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel at (855) 271-3620.

Reservations may also be made online at

7. Pre-Conference Workshops offer additional continuing education hours *

For those looking to receive further continuing education hours before the conference, the taskforce is pleased to offer a selection of five pre-conference workshops. These four-hour workshops are offered in the morning on Saturday, May 17, prior to the official start of the conference. Don’t spend your morning looking for something to do, spend it with others learning new and exciting things about pastoral care.

Full descriptions for each of the pre-conference workshops can be found in the registration brochure. Additionally, objectives and educational resources for each pre-conference workshop can be found on the NACC website.

Register for a pre-conference workshop for a cost of $75. To be eligible for the $75 rate, registration and payment must be received by April 25, 2014. Registrations for pre-conference workshops will be accepted onsite at the conference for a cost of $80.

8. Night Out in St. Louis - Monday, May 19, 2014 *

While you are in the beautiful city of St. Louis we hope you will take time to experience a bit of what the city has to offer. The conference planning taskforce has planned two special opportunities for conference participants.

Select one and get a “taste” of St. Louis.

  1. Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour ~ Join fellow conference participants on a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in the city where the company got its start in 1852
  2. St. Louis Trolley Tour ~ Join fellow conference participants on an evening tour of the city of St. Louis from the comfort of a trolley provided by the St. Louis Fun Trolley Tours. This guided driving tour will offer an informed and entertaining look at major St. Louis sites.

For more information on each of the special events and for a registration form, visit the NACC website.

9. As you register, please consider a donation to NACC Scholarship Fund *

Please consider a donation to the NACC Scholarship Fund. All donations received help NACC members to attend the NACC National Conference. For those members who have contributed at past conferences through the purchase of Silent Auction items, please know that this year we will not have a Silent Auction. We ask that you consider making a donation directly on the conference registration form (Box E). Every dollar counts; no amount is too small or big. Thank you for your support.

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

10. Final request: setting a network call for those who work in rehabilitation settings *

We are making one more request to any of our members who are ministering even part time in rehabilitation settings. Many long term care facilities are including more and more rehabilitation services. Perhaps this is the case in your setting. Only twelve (12) of our NACC members identified themselves as working in rehabilitation settings... We would like to host a conference call for our members who work in rehabilitation settings, in order to provide an opportunity to network among one another, and to share common concerns, challenges and potential solutions that are specific to rehabilitation facilities. If you are interested in participating, please let us know by contacting Mary Ann Barragry ().

11. The Peace Corps seeks three Disaster Preparedness and Response Program Officers *

The Peace Corps has a need for three (3) Disaster Preparedness and Response Program Officers for the Philippines for six months for disaster response to Typhoon Yolanda starting this May. What they indicate is that they want returned Peace Corps volunteers for these short-term jobs. Sometimes they also take those who have not served in the PC yet. Are any disaster trained chaplains interested?

Here’s a link to the job descriptions:

Disaster Preparedness and Response positions - Philippines

Here is the link to the main Peace Corps Response volunteer page: www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/response/

12. Enjoy an article by our NACC member, Charles Sidoti, BCC *

Our NACC colleague, Charles Sidoti, BCC, wrote an article entitled, “Wag More, Bark Less: Hospitality and Spiritual Growth.” It was inspired by the memory of his dad, Charles B. Sidoti. You can access it at:

13. Save the dates for NACC 2014 webinar series *

We are pleased to announce the NACC webinars set for 2014. They address often-requested topics by our members. All are scheduled, as in past years, on Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 P.M. Central Time. For more details and registration information visit the NACC website.

April 10 and 24, 2014

Discerning Leadership: Purpose Informs Your Vision, Informs Your Leadership Skills

Presented by Bonnie McCulley, D.Min., BCC

June 5 and 12, 2014

Summary Point Charting for Interdisciplinary Effectiveness

Presented by Gordon Hilsman, D.Min., BCC-S

July 10 and 17, 2014

Developing a Spiritual Support Volunteer Program for the Acute Care Setting – Resources, Tools and Training

Presented by Beverly M. Beltramo, D.Min., BCC

August 2014 (Dates not yet set) - Two free webinars

Certification with NACC and Renewal of Certification with the NACC

September 18 and 25, 2014

Theological Perspectives: Mystery of Suffering

Presented by Robin Ryan, CP, M.Div., M.A., Ph.D.,

October 16 and 23, 2014

Pastoral Care Visitor’s Training Program for Volunteers

Presented by Beth Lenegan, D.Min., BCC

November 13 and 20, 2014

The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services: Implications for Spiritual Care Decision-Making.

Presented by: Rev. Thomas Nairn, OFM, Ph.D.

December 4 and 11, 2014

End of Life, Grief, the Divine, and Human Meaning-making: Exploring Their Relationships

Presented by Melissa Kelley, B.B., M.A., Ph.D.

14. Local gatherings *

Mark your calendar for Because You Never Died Before by Kathleen J. Rusnak, Ph.D, on June 6, 2014, at Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA. See details here!

15. NACC co-sponsors an educational event at Fordham University

NACC is co-sponsoring the Fordham University educational event, Contemplative Practice and Healing: Insights on Neuroplasticity for Spiritual Care, Friday, March 28th, 2014. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Dennis McAuliffe, Bryn Mawr University. Other speakers will be Dr. Kirk Bingaman, Dr. Lisa Cataldo, and Dr. Mary Beth Werdel, all of Fordham University. Click here to learn more.

16. The sixth annual World Catholicism Week will be held April 7-11, 2014, in Chicago *

The sixth annual World Catholicism Week will be held April 7-11, 2014, in Chicago at DePaul University's Lincoln Park Campus. This weeklong event is open to the general public, as well as all DePaul faculty, staff, and students. For more information go to worldcath2014.depaul.edu.

17. APC Educational Opportunities

The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) is offering a variety of educational offerings with webinars. Go to:

18. HealthCare Chaplaincy offers Caring for the Human Spirit Conference

March 31-April 3, 2014, HealthCare Chaplaincy is offering the Caring for the Human Spirit: Driving the Research Agenda for Spiritual Care in Health Care, at the New York Academy of Medicine, New York City. To learn more and register, go to:

19. 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: Jim Castello, Sam Meo, Luis Sanchez (husband of NACC member Evelyn Sanchez), Kelly Bigler (mourning the death of her father, Vernon), Jeff Michel (brother-in-law of David Lichter), Daniel Henze (son of Cindy Bridges), 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, Kelly Folan (daughter of NACC member Marty Folan), 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, Lourdes B. Ruta (wife of Peter Ruta), and Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton).

20. Recent job postings *

The following positions have been posted recently on our Positions Available page. Please go to for more information.

DIRECTOR - SPIRITUAL SERVICES

Waterloo, Iowa - Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

CHAPLAIN RESIDENT POSITIONS

Springfield, MO - Mercy Hospital

DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL CARE

Huntington, WV - St. Mary’s Medical Center

VICE PRESIDENT, MISSION INTEGRATION

Lubbock, Texas - Covenant Health

CHAPLAIN (part-time)

Manchester, CT and Rockville, CT - Eastern Connecticut Health Network

CHAPLAIN

Camden, NJ - Lourdes Health System

CHAPLAIN 1

Lafayette, LA - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center

MANAGER of CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION

Buffalo, NY - Sisters of Charity Hospital

CHAPLAIN

Durango, CO - Mercy Regional Medical Center

CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN

Sturgeon Bay, WI - Ministry Health

CHAPLAIN

Mission Hills, CA - Providence Holy Cross Medical Center

DIRECTOR of MISSION INTEGRATION and PASTORAL CARE

West Lafayette, IN - Franciscan Communities at University Place

SYSTEM MANAGER - PASTORAL/VINCENTIAN

Jacksonville, FL - Ascension Health

21. 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

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National Association of Catholic Chaplains

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