December, 2009
Dear Chaplains,
I find it very difficult to believe that
it has been 21 years since I first began
working at the Office of Health Care
Ministry. I was privileged to have been
hired shortly after the Office was formed by
its first Director, Fr. Lucien Sawyer, OMI.
It has always been my conviction that my
being hired was a gift from God because I
loved being part of the mission of the
Church. The most rewarding aspect of my
work has been to support the wonderful
ministry that you do daily. You are the face
of Jesus to those who are sick among us. I
can only imagine the countless times that
you have been at bedside bringing the love
and compassion of Christ to those in need.
I’m honored to have known you and to have
shared so much with you. I know the Lord
will bless you abundantly for your
dedication and service.
You were so supportive to me at the
time of the deaths of my parents and I
thank you again for your care. I had felt
that I was wrapped in a blanket of
compassion and prayers.
It has been a joy to work with Jim.
You are blessed to have a Director who is so
pastoral and knowledgeable.
I am looking forward to retirement to
be able to travel and to be more involved in
parish ministry. However, it is bittersweet
because I will miss seeing all of you very
much. Those of us who work in the Lord’s
vineyard have many occasions to meet, so
hopefully I will see you at some time in the
future.
In Christ’s love,
Joanne
Volume 21, No. 6
A Christmas Prayer
“Loving Father, help us to remember the
birth of Jesus, that we may share in the
song of the angels, the gladness of the
shepherds, and the worship of the wise
men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of
love all over the world. Let kindness
come with every gift, and good desires
with every greeting. Deliver us from evil
by the blessing which Christ brings, and
teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us
happy to be thy children, and the
Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and
forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen!”
Robert Louis Stevenson
Merry Christmas and Many Blessings in
the New Year,
Jim & Joanne
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World Day of the Sick
February 11, 2010
Martin Luther King Day
January 18, 2010
Visit Martin Luther King Day of Service at:
http://www.mlkday.gov
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
World Day of Prayer
March 5, 2010
“Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God”
Information:
http://www.wdpusa.org/2010_order.pdf
Out of the mouth of God’s kids
“I only know the names of two angels.
Hark and Herald.”
Susan, 4
Some suggestions to observe World Day of the Sick:
Blessings of Health Care Workers
Communal Prayer Services & Celebrations of the
Sacrament of the Sick in Hospitals and Nursing
Homes
Mass on Boston Catholic TV at 9:30 AM (and rebroadcast at 7:30 PM) will be offered for persons
who are sick or homebound on February 11 and
will include an anointing of the sick.
Angels work for God and watch over kids when
God has to go do something else.”
Thomas, 8
“It’s not easy to become an angel. First, you die.
Then you go to Heaven. Then you have to go
through flight training. And then you’ve got to
agree to wear those angel clothes.”
Luke, 7
The theme and location of the World Day of the Sick
has not been announced as of this time. Please visit:
www.vatican.va and open “Latest Updates” as the
date draws nearer if you would like to review the
Holy Father’s message.
As you may know, the National Association of
Catholic Chaplains provides prayer cards for those
who are sick and for caregivers. You can see sample
and order cards by visiting their website at
www.nacc.org/resources/wds
LISTEN is a newletter for
Catholic Pastoral Health Ministers
published by
Office of Health Care Ministry
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184-3839
Farewell, Joanne
(617) 746-5843 fax: (617) 779-4570
e-mail: JGreer@rcab.org
Joanne_Gaffney@rcab.org
Editors Note: Please share some of the ways you
have celebrated the World Day of the Sick with your
colleagues by sending along information to the
Office by e-mail at DeaconJames_Greer@rcab.org.
We will publish the information in future
publications..
Editors: Deacon James F. Greer
Joanne Gaffney
This newsletter and other recent editions may be
downloaded from our website:
www.bostoncatholic.org; Open Offices/Ministries
link; Select Health Care Ministry; select
Publications; Click on Listen.
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Please let us know of any
chaplaincy staff changes that
may occur at your institutions
so that we may include them in
our
upcoming
newsletters.
Thank you.
Educational Opportunities
For Eucharistic Ministers
and
Pastoral Visitors
Mornings\afternoon of Prayer for Parish
Pastoral Visitors and
Ministers of Communion to the Sick
Pastoral Care to the Sick and
Homebound workshops
Saint Bridget, Lexington
Wednesdays, March 3rd to April 14th, 2010
(A change has been made. There will be class on March
31st. No class on March 24)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Our Lady’s, Lynnfield
1:30-3:30 PM
7:00-9:00 PM
Instructor: Kelly Dunn
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Holy Family, Duxbury
10:00 AM-12:00
Blessed Sacrament, Walpole
Thursdays, March 11 to April 22
(No class on April 1)
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Instructor: Betty Couble
Saturday, March 6, 2010
St. Francis, Dracut
10:00 AM – 12:00
Information/Registration:
E-mail: jgreer @rcab.org;
617-746-5843
Saturday, March 13, 2010
St. Theresa, Sherborn
10:00 AM-12:00
Saturday, March 20, 2010
St. John’s, West Roxbury
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Annual Gathering
for
Pastoral Visitors
April 24, 2010
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
Braintree
There is no charge for these Days of Prayer
To register: Call the Office of Worship and
Spiritual Life at 617-779-3640
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Sr. Ellen Reilly, SND, Director of Pastoral Care at N.E. Sinai Hospital, who celebrated her
50th anniversary as a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur on August 11, 2009.
We also congratulate Fr. Jack Crabb, S.J., CPE Supervisor, Beverly Hospital for being elected by NACC
members to join the NACC Board of Directors.
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Retreats/Days of Prayer
SAVE THESE DATES
March 20-23, 2010
Sacred Images: Contemplation and Art– Jan. 9, 2010
This experiential retreat introduces methods of meditation
based upon various spiritual traditions and simple are
exercises. An open studio environment will be facilitated
by group experiences using relaxation and guided
imagination exercises. Time will be given throughout the
workshop for personal art, journaling, and storytelling. No
art experience is necessary. A list of suggested materials to
bring will be provided upon registration. Rev. Robert
Gilroy, SJ
Winter Face of God, January 23, 2010
During midwinter darkness, we bring our
hearts’ concerns to God. We trust in
God’s Presence even in the midst of doubt,
uncertainty, sorrow, or disappointment.
During this winter day of retreat, we will
explore the belief that our shared prayer
can be for us a source of consolation and hope.
Kathryn O’Connell Cleary.
Both will be held at:
Campion Renewal Center, Weston
Information 781-419-1337
2010 NATIONAL NACC CONFERENCE
Winds of Change, Spirit of Promise
Crowne Plaza St. Paul – Riverfront
St. Paul, Minnesota
Saturday, March 20 – Tuesday, March 23, 2010
http://www.campioncenter.org/
Information: Visit: www.nacc.org
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Dreams and the Unconscious in Revelation &
Religious Experience, February 5-7, 2010
Save the Dates
Russell Holmes
Spring Retreat for Chaplains
Encountering Jesus at the Well: “If You Only Knew
the Gift of God” Feb. 22, 2010- Maureen Casey, SND
May 13, 2010
“A Path of Compassion for Ourselves: Ways to Receive
the Life We Are Living With a Heart of Compassion.”
St. Joseph Retreat Center, Cohasset
Sr. Joan Duffy, CSJ
Both will be held at:
St. Joseph Retreat Center, Cohasset
Information: 781-383-6024/6029
Collaborative Chaplains meeting
May 18, 2010
12:00 noon to 3:00 PM
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
“Be at war with your
vices, at peace with
your
neighbors, and
let every New
Year find you
a better
person.”
Annual Gathering for Chaplains
November 3, 2010
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, Braintree
Speaker Fr. David Couturier
Director, Pastoral Planning, Archdiocese of Boston
Benjamin Franklin
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