A message from David Lichter, Executive Director of the NACC:

Earl E. Johnson, our chaplain colleague with the American Red Cross uses the following Martin Luther King quote at the end of his e-mail, “Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about things that matter." So what do we say about Haiti?

The photos are haunting, are they not? The devastation of Haiti hangs over us, and daily the media captures the heartache and horrific destruction the earthquake caused. So how do I respond? We respond? What is the role of spiritual care professionals? The NACC? Read more...
 
Personally, I find myself drifting between the two worlds of the immediacy of daily demands and being drawn into compassion consciousness towards our family in Haiti, between wanting “just to do something right now” and reflecting on how we will be called upon in the long-term, between being numb and speechless before the agonizing outcomes of this natural tragedy and needing to “say something” if only a deep groan of grief for our brothers and sisters. I suspect these worlds are real for many of us.

Cecille Asekoff, the Executive Director of the NAJC, called me last Thursday and exhorted the SCC to make a statement of solidarity and support. The SCC Steering Committee quickly formulated a statement that is shared in the third item of the NACC Now. But what can we say and do? We mourn with our Haiti family. We each are responding personally in the way God calls each of us to do through prayer, financial support, and personal participation.

However, I believe our NACC members will be called upon today and many weeks and months into the future to minister in ways they initiate or are asked to do so that will help associates, patients, and families reflect on and respond to the people of Haiti. When we are burdened with our personal or family pain, illness, and loss how are we called upon simultaneously to embrace compassionately the enormous agony of others? In this question, we stand in the shadow of the cross, standing by/with the dying Jesus while experiencing profound personal loss and a sense of the senselessness of human suffering.

As a Catholic community, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) made a statement, and urged of parishes to take up a collection at yesterday’s liturgies. Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York spoke to this tragedy and how the Church is responding in a You Tube message. Both the USCCB statement and Archbishop Dolan’s message can be found at www.usccb.org.

Perhaps, we can be of most support and help to one another and those we serve if we shared with one another what we are doing or being asked to do to reflect upon and facilitate the responses of our associates, patients, and families. To that end, I encourage you to use this discussion group.

David Lichter
Executive Director
National Association of Catholic Chaplains