Mass of Christian Burial for Father Peter Paul Jaros

Message from The Catholic Conference of Illinois

We hope this finds you and yours safe and well.

Last week, the U.S. House passed the Heroes Act, which includes the laudable goals of providing more funding assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the legislation eliminates previous emergency funding of equitable services to Catholic and other nonpublic schools, as outlined in this Catholic News Service article.

Leaders of the U.S. Senate have said they will not consider the Heroes Act, and will instead craft their own legislation in the coming weeks. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking that you contact your U.S. representative and senators to tell them of the importance of Catholic education and the role it plays in lifting individuals out of poverty into a better life.

USCCB is asking that the following three education policy items be included in the next federal COVID-19 legislative package:

• Equitable access to K-12 federal funds for Catholic schools
• Direct funding to families for tuition aid
• Tax breaks for K-12 tuition payments

Click here to send a pre-written email to your U.S. representative and senators telling them of the value of Catholic education.

We appreciate your support.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois
For current information on COVID-19 click here.

NACN-USA 2019 Fall Newsletter

President’s Letter. Dear Members, As Fall begins, I write the President’s Letter on the Feast of St. Rose of Lima. In the Liturgy of the Hours today, St. Rose, a mystic, shared some words from Jesus, “Our Lord and Savior lifted up His voice and said with incomparable majesty: ‘Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. [READ MORE p1-2].

Are you as excited as I about the news that a nurse, a registered nurse, has been beatified by the Catholic Church and is headed for Sainthood? I first heard the good news at our NACN-USA Conference last year in San Antonio. One of the speakers was Dr. Gosia Brykczynska, the author of the book “Colors of Fire.” In her book she shared the story of Blessed Hanna Chrzanowska, a registered nurse who died in 1973 and was beatified on April 28, 2018. [READ MORE pp3-5]

The International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS) hosted an exhibit last month at the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. NACN-USA members Dr. Patricia Sayers, DNP, RN and Maria Arvonio, RN, MA (HCE) who are CICIAMS NGO Delegates to the United Nations and Ellen Gianoli, RN, BSN, PHN, MA (Theology), NACN-USA Pacific Regional Director were in Salt Lake City greeting the public, explaining the role of International Catholic Nurses and communicating live via video chat with fellow nurses around the world. [READ MORE p6-7]

The Scholarship is awarded to NACN-USA members who are enrolled and in good standing as “pre-licensure” nursing student in an accredited associate, baccalaureate or graduate nursing program. One scholarship of $1,000 is available annually. [READ MORE p7-8]

Archives and History Ad Hoc Committee: I am happy to report at this time, that, in the future, we will be Archiving in “the Archives” at the Catholic University of America (CUA)! …Along with discussing the prospect of archiving “our archives,” I was able to spend three full days researching at the Archives center. During that time, I “struck gold!” I found original documents of the NCCN…[READ MORE pp 9-11].

On June 22, 2019, the American Nurses Association (ANA) adopted a new position statement, “The Nurse’s Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying.” …In this new statement, their stated goal is, “not to frame a stance for or against medical aid in dying but rather to frame the nurse’s compassionate response within the scope of practice, based on the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.” While this statement may seem benign, upon closer examination it is anything but, for to replace a position opposing assisted suicide with one of “no stance,” one must now be open to what always had been ethically impermissible.[READ MORE] pp 11-12].

Caring for Christ in a Fading Christian Culture. I dropped my bus fare into the box. Thankfully, the ride to Our Lady of Good Counsel, a home for dying cancer patients run by the Dominican Hawthorne Sisters, only required one bus transfer. That meant I did not need to be in downtown Minneapolis too long… [READ MORE p13-16]

I recently felt deeply alone and separated during a summer camp, where I worked as a nurse alongside 10 other nurses, to a group of 1000 all-boy campers and counselors. While the majority of the nursing care involved pulling splinters and providing emotional support for homesickness, there was a troubling situation that required storing and administering a weekly injection of testosterone to a young girl… [READ MORE p16-17]

Our Mission The National Association of Catholic Nurses, U.S.A. gives nurses of different backgrounds, but with the same Roman Catholic values, the opportunity to promote moral principles within the Catholic context in nursing and stimulate desire for professional development. This approach to Roman Catholic doctrine focuses on educational programs, spiritual nourishment, patient advocacy, and integration of faith and health. As we continue to share our faith and values with each other, and with other healthcare providers, we simultaneously reach outward to the larger Church and also our communities, as we offer support to those in need.

Articles must be received by the following deadlines to be considered for the newsletter: Winter (published in Dec.): Nov. 15 Spring (published in March): Feb. 15 Summer (published in June): May 15 Fall (published in September): Aug. 15 Please send your submissions by e-mail to: Courtney Donahue Stathis MS, RN, FNP-BC, PCCN, Newsletter Editor at courtneydonahue15@gmail.com

NACN-USA MEMBERSHIP: Membership dues are $50 per year and can be paid through the website http://www.NACN-USA.org/ Send your billing questions to Jan Salihar, Treasurer at Billing@NACN-USA.org

September 25 to November 3

40 Days for Life Aurora
From September 25 to November 3, Aurora will take part in 40 Days for Life … a groundbreaking, coordinated international mobilization. For more info – click here.

September 28 Saturday
Knights of Columbus Bike for Life
Starts at Planned Parenthood, 3051 East New York Street, Aurora, 9:00 a.m.
Organized by the Knights of Columbus Council 1369, Naperville. Proceeds benefit Naperville K of C Pro Life Fund. For more info – click here.

Lisle, Illinois,June 1, 2019—The Diocese of Joliet Council of Catholic Nurses honored scholarship awardee, Marielle Rebello, at the annual Scholarship Brunch held at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle. Marielle will be entering her senior year of nursing school at Benedictine University in Kansas. She is active in her faith, both while on campus and at her home parish, St. Mary of Gostyn in Downers Grove. Marielle’s leadership abilities are also evident as president of her college’s Student Nurses’ Association and as a student athlete on the dance team. Marielle hopes to fulfill her call to nursing while working in pediatric oncology or within the NICU.

The annual brunch not only honors the scholarship awardee but is a fundraiser for the next year’s scholarship award. Multiple raffles opportunities were available to help with the fundraising. Also at this year’s brunch council advisor, Fr. Peter Jarosz, pastor of St. Ann Parish in Channahon, was honored on the occasion of his 30thjubilee.

For more information on the council, including membership, please see the website

https://www.catholicnursesjoliet.org/

.

For more information, contact:

Nanci Reiland DNP, RN

reilanna@lewisu.edu

Our council learned that Eula Sforza passed away.

Joliet Diocese Council of Catholic Nurses Receive Awards

On September 15, 2018, at the Joliet Diocese Council of Catholic Nurses meeting in Lisle, members gathered to view the awards received by 3 of their nurses.  Eula Sforza, Mary Pellizzari and Janet Salihar were each presented with the Living Legends Award from the National Association of Catholic Nurses USA in San Antonio, Texas, for their work creating and promoting the national organization. Pictured are left to right Nancy King; Mary Pellizzari; Sonia McMinn; Sandra Razka, Vice President holding a photo of Eula Sforza; Janet Salihar, Secretary; and Barbara Massura, President. Photograph by Judy Pagano.  The Joliet Council of Catholic Nurses provides support for nurses and students in their work and spiritual endeavors.  Many events provide continuing education credits, and every year a scholarship is awarded to a nursing student.  For more information visit https://www.catholicnursesjoliet.org/or call 630-668-3369.