May 2007 Hugged, High-Fived and and Motor Vehicles That Flowed Over, In, We Went, Vol.17 No

Conference offers view of Portland and possibilities By Michael J. Doyle said with a welcoming smile behind her hen I checked in at the many years in patient care, Portland Marriott Hotel for “Congratulations, newbie!” Wthe recent NACC During the next three days, my view conference, I asked if I might get an seemed to change with each passing upgrade to a room with a view. The hour, as if we were in our own hotel clerk smiled and began tapping on miniature NACC triduum. I often vision found myself in a sea of new chaplain the computer keys. Not only did I end up with a marvelous 12th-story view of colleagues who, upon National Association of greater Portland, I also spent the next seeing my nametag (and Catholic Chaplains three days gazing out the window and fluttering ribbons), Everywhere pondering the variety of bridges, ships spontaneously greeted, May 2007 hugged, high-fived and and motor vehicles that flowed over, in, we went, Vol.17 No. 5 blessed me. As we and high above the beautiful chaplains come to bless we “newbies” Willamette River. and simply be with After settling into my room with a smiled, greeted, strangers in our ministry, view, I joined colleagues from around now in Portland new and congratulated the country for our first plenary session. peers were spontaneously As we gathered in the large hotel blessing the newly one another ballroom heralding the prophetic call certified strangers in their that we chaplains (among others) midst. Newly minted respond to in our ministry, I thought chaplains then posed for a group picture about the reasons why I was here in where we could see just who we are as a Portland for my first NACC national group in the hotel mirror behind the gathering. My nametag served as a cameraman. Indeed, new pathways and helpful reminder: “Bridges to Peace, In This Issue: future transformations could be seen in Paths to Transformation,” and three each smile. The view in the room was colorful ribbons fluttering with each changing for me as well; these are new Certification deadline change 2 breath I took: “First Timer,” colleagues, and they are only a phone Letter 2 “Volunteer,” and “Newly Certified Tom Landry 3 Chaplain.” Or as a colleague at my table See Conference on page 4 Karen Pugliese 5 Taizé service 5 Conference notes 6 Therapy dogs 7 Stress reduction 7 Plenary speaker reports 8 Bishop Dale Melczek 10 Alternative healing 11 Archbishop John Vlazny 12 Conference donors 13 Birthing a conference 14 Genuine NACC hospitality 14 CD and DVD order form 15 Research Update 16 Seeking, Finding 18 Online Vision delivery 19 NCHPEG 20 Vision seeks writers 21 At the conference in Portland, OR, in March, NACC members prayed, Positions available 21 studied, networked – and shopped. 2 Vision May 2007 Certification interview deadlines, dates to change in ’08 ACC members seeking chaplain certification in submitting applications and supportive materials by 2008 will have only one opportunity to do so. February 15 will be scheduled for an October same-year N certification interview. Candidates submitting Completed chaplain certification applications and applications and supportive materials by September 15 supportive materials must be sent to the national office will be scheduled for a certification interview in May of and postmarked no later than February 15, 2008 in order the following year. to participate in an October 2008 chaplain certification interview. This schedule change will not affect the previously Deadline for application Interview Dates announced fall certification interviews in 2007. and supportive materials Members who wish to interview in October of this year July 1, 2007 October 5-6, 2007 may still submit their applications and supportive February 15, 2008 October 4-5, 2008 materials by July 1. September 15, 2008 May 2009 In 2009 and beyond, we will return to two rounds of February 15, 2009 October 2009 chaplain certification interviews each year. Candidates without it? The quality of a pastoral intervention is already difficult to measure by clinical standards. As all chaplains Letters know, this challenges us daily to prove our effectiveness. The purpose of reiki is to assist with the healing process, not necessarily to cure. It accomplishes whatever is needed for a particular individual through the balancing of energy in Ancient practice of reiki body, mind and spirit. In fact, with my patients I often refer is ‘form of prayer’ to reiki as a form of prayer. I find it to be a wonderful common denominator that is accepted in all faith traditions. Editor: Having said this, it is important to emphasize that reiki As a board-certified chaplain with the Association of interventions need to be done with wisdom and discernment. Professional Chaplains, an ordained minister in the Often, it is a natural outgrowth of a pastoral visit where touch Presbyterian Church USA, and a certified reiki practitioner, and a deeper kind of sharing is welcomed. It is certainly not I would like to respond to Peter Mayo’s letter in the appropriate in all encounters. Trust always needs to be February issue of Vision. established first. I have integrated the practice of reiki into my ministry Mr. Mayo states that prayer and pastoral intervention in with patients, families and staff at St. John’s Mercy Medical general are “standards of spiritual ministry that are deeply Center in St. Louis for over seven years. I have found it to embedded in the tradition and are well within the discipline of be extremely effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and even pastoral care.” While these are worthy standards, are they never physical pain for those I meet. Reiki is, in fact, not a “new to be expanded? I have found the integration of complementary age” concept, but an ancient practice of Japanese heritage healing modalities into hospital ministry to be one of the most thousands of years old that has been revived in the past 30 exciting ventures of recent years. years. My challenge to Mr. Mayo would be to find a reiki As far as proven effectiveness of this intervention, ask practitioner and investigate its effectiveness. As my first reiki those who have received it. Mr. Mayo acknowledges that the teacher expressed it, “Don’t believe it until you see for yourself.” same skepticism could be directed to intercessory prayer. No Rev. Phyllis Kline, M.Div., BCC clinical trials have ever proven the effectiveness of prayer in St. John’s Mercy Medical Center pastoral interventions. Yet what would our ministry be St. Louis, MO May 2007 Vision 3 vision Conference’s meanings will Vision is published 10 times a year by the resonate for years to come National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Its purpose is to connect our members with By Rev. Thomas G. Landry III each other and with the governance of the Interim Executive Director Association. Vision informs and educates our membership about issues in pastoral/ spiritual care and helps chart directions for here were orange-hued sunrises the future of the profession, as well as the that washed Mount Hood on the Association. Thorizon, and there were strolls along the Willamette River across the ISSN: 1527-2370 street from the Marriott Portland Executive Editor Downtown Waterfront Hotel. There were Rev. Thomas G. Landry quiet consultations with NACC members and invited guests between plenary Editor sessions and workshops, and nearly David Lewellen [email protected] breathless marathons with our NACC Board of Directors and our NACC Graphic Designer Certification Commission. There was a Gina Rupcic quiet lunch with an NACC member, and the conference meals served to capacity The National Association of Catholic Rev. Thomas G. Landry III Chaplains is a professional association for crowds in Salons E & F. There were certified chaplains and clinical pastoral workshops for those preparing for about the place within our Church of educators who participate in the healing certification interviews and for the persons with a homosexual orientation. I mission of Jesus Christ. We provide renewal of certification process, and there standards, certification, education, didn’t hear a clash or confrontation as advocacy, and professional development for was Red Cross training for Spiritual Care much as I heard questions rooted in both our members in service to the Church and Response Teams. a deep desire to discover the fullest society. The National Conference Planning mysteries of our humanity and the rich Team, led by Cam Hanemann of NACC National Office revelations of God’s goodness to us in the 5007 S. Howell Avenue Suite 120 Portland, OR, and our national staff, with Paschal Mystery – our call to live, die and Milwaukee, WI 53207-6159 Susanne Chawszczewski providing lead rise with Christ. (414) 483-4898 staff support to the Planning Team, As the year and the years stretch out Fax: (414) 483-6712 worked tirelessly during the months [email protected] before us, I thrill to the possibilities of www.nacc.org leading up to and the days of our members of the NACC continuing the conference to ensure a fruitful experience Interim Executive Director prophetic work that is ours. I pray we Rev. Thomas G. Landry for everyone. John Reid joined us in will have the wisdom and the fortitude Portland to allow both the Board of [email protected] to address the challenges that are Directors and all our members present to Director of Operations uniquely ours and the challenges that we Kathy Eldridge participate directly in the ongoing Vision share with the entire community of the [email protected] and Action Initiative, our planning Church, as well as with the wider Director of Education & Professional Practice process that is intended to chart our life Susanne Chawszczewski, Ph.D.

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